"I have been accused of a murder I did not commit, yet I try to convince myself that I am not the culprit."
Ren Kagami, a 17-year-old boy, was accused of first-degree murder, as he was blamed for killing a girl of the same age. He was quickly arrested, and they claimed the culprit had been found.
———
In a small room, with a large mirror on the left side reflecting one's image, a table in the middle, and two chairs.
Ren was sitting on a chair, his hands bound with cuffs. His face bore traces of wounds and blows, with some dry blood stains on his cheek.
Ren Kagami was distinguished by his purple hair, some strands covering his left eye, and his eyes sharing the same hue as his hair. He wore a black jacket with a white shirt underneath, resembling a private school uniform.
He touched his wounds with his finger, closing his eyes in pain. Slowly moving his mouth, he spat out a large ball of blood that landed directly in the bucket beneath him.
"Bastards… not a single bone in my body is intact. And they don't even have real evidence, just false assumptions."
His tone was sharp as he spoke, holding his head in pain. He even slammed the table hard, grinding his teeth.
Behind the mirror, a woman with green eyes and messy black hair stood beside a man with a thick beard and brown eyes.
"So, Captain Lisa… is he truly the culprit, or are these just speculations you made?" the sergeant asked, placing his hands behind his back and staring at Ren.
"Yes, I am certain of it, sir… we found many of his fingerprints inside the victim's house, and there were also eyewitnesses who claimed he was present that night." Lisa spoke confidently while reading through some reports.
The sergeant turned and looked at her with a doubtful expression, but then slowly lowered his head before turning his gaze back toward Ren. Lisa noticed this, but she did not show any signs of hesitation or concern.
"A crime like this carries the punishment of execution, since he killed a girl—and not just any girl, but one from a well-known family in the heart of the country. However, because he is a minor, we cannot do that."
"Sir, leave the matter of punishment to me. I know exactly how to deal with him, especially for such a heinous crime he has committed." Lisa stood upright, placing one hand behind her back, speaking in a calm tone.
The sergeant looked at her with cold eyes, then walked past her, grabbing the door handle and saying:
"The matter is in your hands, Captain Lisa… make sure you give him the harshest punishment, so he suffers as much as that poor girl did. And you know very well what I mean."
She stood straight, placing her hand on the side of her head in salute:
"Do not worry, Sergeant. The case is in safe hands."
The sergeant left, closing the door behind him. Lisa lowered her hand from her temple, approached the mirror, placing her palm on it as a wicked smile curved her lips.
"Ren Kagami… you will be a pawn I move as I wish."
Inside the room, Ren sat cleaning the stains on his cheek. The sticky blood annoyed him.
"Three against one… quite a number just to punish someone who did nothing."
At that moment, the door opened, and Captain Lisa entered the room. Ren lifted his head, glaring at her with pure hatred. She sat down on a chair, placing a set of papers on the table, a vile smile on her lips.
"Looks like your wounds hurt, don't they, Ren?"
Ren wanted to attack her, but his legs were shackled with cuffs attached to the table.
"Nice trick, bitch. You framed me for her murder, and you're the one who knows best that I am innocent."
"Innocent? Your fingerprints were found all over the house. Are you trying to play dumb, Ren?" Lisa taunted, resting her cheek on her hand.
"Fingerprints? Hahaha, how funny… of course they'd be there—she was my sister. And how could I ever dare to kill her?" His voice was sharp, his fists clenched tightly.
"Your sister? You were just some jealous boy who grew up in an orphanage, while she was adopted by a prestigious family. That's why you committed your crime—out of envy." Lisa laughed quietly as she spoke.
Ren slammed the table hard, pointing his finger at her:
"These are nothing but fantasies from your filthy mind! I would never, ever dare to do such a thing…"
"But it seems her family thinks otherwise. They all point their fingers at you…" She opened the file, reading through some documents.
"Nonsense! These are just your dirty tricks to force me into the hollow worlds." Ren pointed at her, his tone seething.
Lisa organized the papers, smiling lightly, crossing one leg over the other:
"Since you're awakened, that benefits both society and the world. But you must know—there are many awakened out there…"
She stood up, moved behind him, and whispered in a soft voice:
"Don't try to act smart with me, Ren…"
Then she stepped back and sat down again. Ren glared at her with hate and anger, muttering softly to himself:
'I don't know what games this bitch is trying to play on me… but I bet she's hiding something wicked behind those eyes.'
Lisa tapped the table three times, her tone icy:
"Since you're a minor, you'll be sent to an adult prison. After all, this was not just any crime, but the murder of a girl from a prestigious family. Such a case usually ends in execution—but because of your age, we cannot do that."
"Nonsense. Execution or prison, I can break them both—and you know it. I am innocent and would never dare to kill my own blood." He leaned back, speaking with full confidence.
Lisa grabbed the papers, threw them into the trash, interlaced her ten fingers together, and rested them on the table:
"Then, that means we move to Plan B…"
"Plan B? What do you mean?" Ren asked in surprise.
"Being awakened does not make you invincible. But wasting such power would be a loss of a blessing…"
"Can you stop speaking in riddles and be direct?"
"What I mean is… you're given a choice: either remain awakened and enter the hollow worlds, or go to prison and spend your life within four walls."
Ren laughed, covering his face with his hand before saying:
"So what I understand from this… you're trying to negotiate with me?"
"We do not negotiate with criminals, Ren. But I am giving you options. The choice is yours alone." Her sly smile widened, as if she had planned this all along.
'I no longer know exactly what she is plotting… but I am caught between two fires, both with the same outcome.' Ren thought quietly, staring at his hands.
'Entering the hollow is also a kind of execution and prison. But… I cannot allow my freedom to be taken away for something I never did in the first place.'
'If she tries to manipulate me, then I will manipulate her as well.'
"So, have you made your decision, Ren?" Lisa asked while applying her lipstick.
"Yes… I will be awakened, and enter the hollow worlds."
The Hollow Spell… It appeared after the meteor incident that caused many changes on Earth, such as the sudden emergence of hollow worlds and the invasion of monsters into the real world. The awakened must destroy these worlds and slay the embodiments of death.
Yet despite this curse that struck the Earth, some individuals gained a blessing known as the hollow spell. It granted them special abilities based on their past or the thoughts they carried.
This is the philosophy of the hollow spell: it grants strength according to the mentality of the awakened…
Entering hollow worlds depends on the type of primary weapon the awakened possesses, and they must either wound themselves—or even kill themselves—to enter the hollow worlds…
"This is good… so, can I see the hollow spell you received?"
Ren shattered the cuffs on his hands. His palm glowed with a violet light, and a long-barreled pistol appeared, decorated with black engravings, its body a metallic gray. On his shoulder rested the spirit of a girl with delicate features, her white hair flowing smoothly despite the absence of wind. She slept quietly on his shoulder, while a violet aura emanated from them both.
"What an impressive spell you've obtained, Ren… such a strong and terrifying aura radiates from you. I bet you could annihilate the hollow worlds." Lisa spoke in a tone of admiration, her gaze fixed on the spirit upon his shoulder.
Ren pointed the pistol at her, wiping his mouth as he spoke:
"You know, I could kill you easily. But I want to prove—to you and to the world—that I am not the culprit. And you will be the witness to this truth."
Ren Kagami placed the barrel of the pistol against his head and pulled the trigger. A deafening shot rang out, piercing through his temple as a stream of violet liquid burst forth.