(Narration)
The world stopped.
---
One second—
Movement beyond thought.
---
The next—
Silence.
---
Haruto stumbled forward.
---
His legs gave out slightly as he tried to balance himself.
---
"…We're here."
---
Adryn's voice was calm.
---
Too calm.
---
Haruto lifted his head.
---
And froze.
---
"…This is it?"
---
In front of him—
---
A shrine.
---
Old.
Simple.
---
Nothing like what he imagined.
---
"…This is the Exorcists?"
---
Adryn glanced at him.
---
"…You're hallucinating."
---
A pause.
---
"Side effect of moving with me."
---
Haruto blinked.
---
"…What?"
---
He rubbed his eyes.
---
Looked again.
---
And this time—
---
It wasn't a shrine.
---
A Church
---
Large.
---
Ancient.
---
Towering.
---
A structure that felt…
Heavy.
---
As if it carried something more than just stone.
---
Haruto's breath slowed.
---
"…I see it now…"
---
Adryn walked forward.
---
"Good. Try to keep up."
---
The Threshold
---
They reached the entrance.
---
Adryn stopped.
---
Then tossed something toward Haruto.
---
A uniform.
---
White.
Marked.
---
"Wear it."
---
Haruto caught it.
---
"…Why?"
---
"So you can enter."
---
A pause.
---
Haruto frowned.
---
"…That doesn't make any sense."
---
And without thinking—
---
He stepped forward.
---
The moment his foot crossed the entrance—
---
Pain.
---
His body burned.
---
Not heat.
---
Something deeper.
---
As if his existence itself was being rejected.
---
"Ah—!"
---
He stepped back instantly.
---
Breathing heavily.
---
"What… was that…?"
---
Adryn didn't even look surprised.
---
"I told you."
---
"Wear it."
---
Haruto looked at the uniform.
---
Then silently—
---
Put it on.
---
He stepped forward again.
---
This time—
---
Nothing happened.
---
No pain.
---
No resistance.
---
He entered.
---
Inside
---
The atmosphere changed.
---
Quiet.
---
Cold.
---
Sacred.
---
Haruto looked around.
---
Crosses.
---
Everywhere.
---
Walls.
Ceilings.
Doors.
---
Symbols of something he didn't understand.
---
Something watching.
---
Something judging.
---
Adryn walked ahead.
---
"…The leader inside is a bit of a freak."
---
Haruto blinked.
---
"…What?"
---
Adryn continued casually.
---
"And this is going to be annoying."
---
A pause.
---
"He's not going to like you."
---
Haruto stiffened.
---
"…Why?"
---
Adryn stopped.
---
Then looked back.
---
"Because of what's inside you."
---
Silence.
---
"…The Crimson Devil."
---
The Meeting
---
They stopped in front of a door.
---
Adryn didn't knock.
---
He opened it.
---
And stepped inside.
---
"…Old man."
---
A pause.
---
"I brought someone interesting."
---
He turned slightly.
---
"Come in."
---
Haruto hesitated.
---
Then walked inside.
---
And saw him.
---
Trian
---
A man sitting behind a desk.
---
Young.
---
Too young.
---
Blonde hair.
---
Yellow eyes.
---
Calm.
---
Watching.
---
Haruto's first thought—
---
"…This is the leader…?"
---
Adryn didn't wait.
---
"He has a contract with the Crimson Devil."
---
Straight.
---
Blunt.
---
No hesitation.
---
Haruto flinched slightly.
---
"…Adryn—"
---
"And his clause—"
---
Adryn continued.
---
"He loses memories when he expands his Terrain."
---
Silence filled the room.
---
Trian didn't react immediately.
---
He simply stared.
---
At Haruto.
---
Longer than normal.
---
"…I see."
---
A pause.
---
Then—
---
"…How interesting."
---
He leaned back slightly.
---
"…I was just reading something."
---
Adryn's eyes narrowed.
---
"…What?"
---
Trian smiled faintly.
---
"An old text."
---
"A very old one."
---
A pause.
---
"It mentioned…"
---
"…that someone would appear."
---
Silence.
---
"…A human."
---
"…With a contract…"
---
"…with the Crimson Devil."
---
Haruto froze.
---
"…What…?"
---
Adryn didn't speak.
---
But his gaze sharpened.
---
Something was off.
---
"…Coincidence?" Adryn asked.
---
Trian smiled slightly.
---
"…Perhaps."
---
A pause.
---
Then—
He stood up.
---
And looked directly at Haruto.
---
"Let me introduce myself properly."
---
A brief silence.
---
"My name is Trian."
---
"…Head of the Tokyo Department of the Exorcists."
---
Haruto straightened slightly.
---
"…Haruto…"
---
"…Sir."
---
Trian observed him for a moment.
---
Then—
Looked at Adryn.
---
No words.
---
But something passed between them.
---
Unspoken.
---
Understood.
---
Adryn turned to Haruto.
---
"You're in."
---
A pause.
---
"Wait outside."
---
"…We need to talk."
---
Haruto hesitated.
---
Then nodded.
---
"…Okay."
---
He walked out.
---
The door closed behind him.
---
Inside the Room
---
Silence.
---
Adryn's expression changed instantly.
---
"…What was that?"
---
Trian didn't answer immediately.
---
"…The book."
---
Adryn continued.
---
"…Explain."
---
Trian walked slowly.
---
Thinking.
---
"…It wasn't detailed."
---
"A prophecy… maybe."
---
"A warning… more likely."
---
A pause.
---
"It mentioned the Crimson Devil."
---
"And a vessel."
---
Silence.
---
Adryn crossed his arms.
---
"…And you just 'happened' to read it today?"
---
Trian smiled faintly.
---
"…That's the interesting part."
---
No answer.
---
Only implication.
---
Something bigger was moving.
---
Outside
---
Haruto stood alone.
---
In the hallway.
---
Listening.
---
Waiting.
---
His mind still catching up.
---
"…Exorcists…"
---
"…Crimson Devil…"
---
"…Student…"
---
Everything felt unreal.
---
Then—
---
The door opened.
---
Adryn stepped out.
---
Trian behind him.
---
Both looked at Haruto.
---
For a moment—
---
Silence.
---
Then—
---
Adryn spoke.
---
"Congratulations."
---
A small pause.
---
"You're officially one of us."
---
Trian stepped forward.
---
"…Welcome."
---
Another pause.
---
"To the Exorcists."
---
Haruto stood still.
---
Processing.
---
Then—
---
"…Thank you…"
---
His voice was quiet.
---
But real.
---
Adryn looked at him.
---
Then smirked slightly.
---
"One more thing."
---
A pause.
---
"'Haruto' doesn't suit you anymore."
---
Haruto blinked.
---
"…What?"
---
Adryn turned.
---
Walking away.
---
"…From now on—"
---
A brief pause.
---
"We'll call you…"
---
He glanced back.
---
"…Haru."
---
Silence.
---
The name settled.
---
Slowly.
---
Deeply.
---
And just like that—
---
Haruto…
---
Became Haru.