Akira's words had barely finished echoing in the shattered room when the air suddenly ignited with dark crimson flames, and from its center, Benimaru appeared. He didn't look like someone who had just fought a battle; his red military uniform was flawless, but the aura surrounding him was boiling with an anger that could almost melt the walls. The Commander-in-Chief's gaze fell on the shattered glass, then on the burnt white feather, and finally on Akira, who was sitting on the floor clutching his bleeding shoulder while Shion stood before him with a grim expression. — "Shion..." Benimaru uttered her name in a terrifyingly calm voice. "I believe I asked you to keep an eye on him, not to let a celestial rat breach the capital's defenses and stab him." Shion flinched, and her imposing figure seemingly shrank suddenly to look like a guilty child. — "I... They used a maximum-grade spatial rift! And... and he's the one who saved himself at the last second! I swear I intervened immediately!" Benimaru's pupils narrowed. He looked at Akira, and at the wound that was emitting a faint fizzing sound due to the holy mana residue. — "Saved himself? A mana-less human dodged a stab from a professional celestial assassin?" Before Akira could answer, the room's door slid open very quietly. There were no flames, no terrifying auras, just light and elegant footsteps. A young woman with soft pink hair entered, wearing a traditional Japanese priestess outfit (Miko) that blended white and red. Her purple eyes radiated extreme gentleness, and an angelic smile graced her face. It was Shuna. The Princess, and the High Priestess of Tempest. — "Brother," Shuna said in a voice as soft and sweet as wind chimes. "I heard our guest has been injured." Despite the gentleness of her voice, Akira noticed something strange; the invincible Benimaru, the Commander-in-Chief who vaporized an army with a single word, swallowed hard nervously and took a half-step back. Even the terrifying Shion tried to hide behind her giant sword. — "Shuna... the situation is under control..." Benimaru tried to justify. Shuna smiled more, but there was no warmth in her eyes whatsoever. — "Under control? A guest from Rimuru-sama's homeland, stabbed inside the most secure building in our capital, under the guard of the First Secretary and the Commander-in-Chief?" She raised her hand gently, and a terrifying magical aura appeared, pure white interlaced with golden threads. "We will talk about 'control' later. Now, get out of my way." Shuna approached Akira and knelt before him. Her frightening aura vanished instantly, and she returned to being perfectly gentle. — "This must hurt, Akira-sama. Holy mana is designed to burn the soul before the flesh." She placed her soft hands over his bleeding shoulder. "I will remove it now."
[Warning: Massive external energy approaching.] [Type: Advanced Healing Magic (Fusion of Holy and Demonic).]
Shuna's hands glowed with a warm light. Akira felt the burning heat in his shoulder gradually fade, replaced by a comforting, cool sensation. But... the system didn't stop.
[Activated: Memory of Pain.] [High-purity healing energy detected.] [Merging energy to fortify damaged tissues rather than merely restoring them to their previous state...] [Muscle Durability +3]
Shuna opened her eyes in slight shock, and quickly pulled her hands back. She looked at her hand, then at Akira's shoulder, which had healed completely, leaving only a small silver scar. — "This is strange..." Shuna whispered, furrowing her delicate brows. "Your body didn't just 'receive' the healing... it 'devoured' it. It's as if your cells are feeding on the magic to rebuild themselves stronger than before." Benimaru and Shion exchanged complex looks. And in that moment, from Benimaru's shadow, Souei emerged in total silence. — "The preliminary investigation is complete," Souei said in his cold, emotionless voice. — "The angel army were just puppets sacrificed to distract the anti-air defense system. The assassin who infiltrated was carrying a spiritual tracking device." Souei looked directly at Akira. — "They weren't tracking magical energy, Akira. They tracked the 'scent' of the void in your soul. To the angels who worship light and order, your soul looks like a 'black hole' in the fabric of this world. Your very existence is considered a threat to the system." A heavy silence prevailed. Akira finally grasped the magnitude of the disaster he had fallen into. He wasn't just someone who transferred to another world to live a quiet life. His very existence, the system inside him, was a declaration of war against the gods of this world and its laws. Akira stood up slowly. His body felt a new strength due to the "Memory of Pain," but his mind was exhausted. — "So, as long as I am here... they will keep sending assassins, and I will be a danger to your city." Akira said, looking at the floor. "I should leave." — "Leave? To where?" Benimaru interrupted sternly. "Outside this shield, you will be killed before the sun sets. In this empire, we do not hand over our guests, and we do not run from threats." Benimaru approached and placed his heavy hand on Akira's sound shoulder. His crimson eyes were blazing with military determination. — "The assassins targeted you because you are weak and mana-less. They thought you were easy prey. But you survived a celestial assassin with a tiny fragment of your will, and your body evolves with every pain." Benimaru smiled a wide smile, revealing his true nature as an "Ogre." — "Since you can't hide your scent, the only solution is to become a monster so terrifying that the angels will think a thousand times before attempting to approach you." Akira raised his head in astonishment. — "Become... a monster? How? My major powers..." He almost mentioned the "Sealed Throne" but caught himself "... my powers are unstable and I can't use them!" Shion laughed proudly, punching her fist into her palm. — "Don't worry! We will teach you! Martial arts, danger sensing, how to use your surroundings!" — "No, Shion. If you train him, you'll break his spine on the first day," Shuna intervened with her angelic smile, silencing Shion instantly. Benimaru looked out the window at the sky, which was starting to return to its blue color. — "You start tomorrow at sunrise. I will take you to meet the 'Old Man.' If there is anyone capable of teaching a mana-less human how to kill gods with a wooden dagger... it's Hakurou." Akira felt a chill run down his spine. He didn't know who Hakurou was, but the mere mention of his name made Souei close his eyes in respect, and made Shion swallow nervously. The Empty Heart system pulsed slowly in his consciousness:
[Next Objective Set: Survive the training.] [Note: The probability of death during training is higher than the probability of surviving a celestial assassination.]
— "Damn it..." Akira whispered to himself, realizing that his peaceful days were over forever.