A man is standing in front of a man with white hair…
Then, the man pushed the man with white hair to the edge of ———
Then, the man with white hair falls…
In his falling state, he heard something…
He heard the words that make him able to "live" in this chaotic world again…
"When You Consider About The World's Order, Much of Its Meaning has Already Disappeared, Along with the Disappearance Of Their Creator…"
"The Boys and Girls, Men and Women, Children and Adults, Old and Young, Weak and Strong, Heroes or Villains, Spread the Blank Map and Go Out in a Journey, Seeking For an Eternal Solitude and Their Creator…"
"Nowhere to Go…and Nowhere to Return…"
"It's Sorrowful, isn't it?"
"However…You Must Know…"
"The Good and Evil Must be A Dream in This Chaotic World…when Everyone's Heart Is Not Able to Choose Between Them…"
"For That Holy Purpose, The Heroes, Who Came From The World Rise Up and Brandishing Their Weapons…"
"For The Sake Of Those Trying to Overcome The End of Chaos…"
"For The Sake Of Who Keep Shouting Out Loudly…Even Now, About The Value of Life…"
"Do You Know?"
"…This is A Battle About A Struggle Against The Past, Illuminating The Present And Overcoming The Future…"
"This is the Heroes' Tale Spun by None Other than You, As Your Journey Seeking for The Future…"
"…And As Your Journey to Find The Forgotten Light."
"…Remember, In This Chaotic World…"
"You Must Sacrifice Something to Obtain Something…"
"…You Must Killing Someone to Save Someone…"
"…And You Must Betraying Someone to Protect Someone."
"That is a Value of Life; Even You Must be Burned in the Deepest Part of Airlavannar Or…"
"…Even You Must Bearing an Eternal Hatred, while You Walking on This Perished Land of Hope…"
"In The End, Nothing Will Come and Nothing Will Be Gone. As You Learn about The Value of Life, You Grow as a Hero…"
"When The Darkness Comes, On The Same Time, The Light of Hope Appears…"
"Now Tell Me, Who Can Spun that Tale of Heroes?"
…Then, he opened his eyes to see the man who was always talking to him in the "unknown land."
…But the man has disappeared from his sight, nowhere to be found.
-------------------------------------------------
…Where Am I? Who Am I? I Can't Remember Anything Except One Thing
I Died…
Yes, I Have Died…
I Died Without Able to Protect The One Whom I Loved…
I Died After "They" Robbed Everything From Me…
My Wealth…
My Happiness…
My Pride As A Man…
My Promise As A Lover…
My Duty As a Brother…
My Position As a Leader…
My Responsibility As The Eldest Son…
My Heart…
…And Even…My Chastity…
I Have Been Naïve to Thought that My Journey Will End in "Happiness"
I Didn't Even Know About The Darkness That Lurked On My Back…
"The Darkness" That Devoured The People Whom I Loved…
…And I Can Only Move Forward, Without Looking Back…
I Forgot To Remember Them…
…And I Refused To Help Them…
…I Left Them To Die In Agony And…Misery…
I…Am…A Foolish And Naïve Man…
I Was So Fool Because I Trusted Everything That "He" Told To Me…
…More Than My Comrades' Words That Actually Meant To Me…
I Had Deceived By Him…Until I Gave Him Everything He Wanted…
…I Didn't Know That He Had Been Aiming For My Loved Ones From The Beginning…
…When I Realized It,
It Was Too Late…
…He Had Robbed Everything From Her…
…And Even I Had Received My Punishment In That "Eternal Black Flame"
…It Was An Endless torment without salvation, who mercilessly tormented my mind, body, and soul…
…But It Was All In The Past…
Now…I wonder…From Where And When Did All This Misfortune Begin?
Then The Man Closed His Eyes And Tried To Remember His Past
-----------------------------------------
"…ru-san!"
"Haru-san!!!" A girl is shaking my head.
"What?! Is it an enemy attack?!" I wake up. Well, half-awake to be exact.
"Geez…what are you talking about…It's already over 8 A.M.E and you are still sleeping?!"
"Uh...what? Who are you?" Then, a strong slap landed on my right cheek.
"HOW DARE YOU FORGET ABOUT YOUR OWN FIANCÉE!"
When I fully opened my eyes, I realized the girl that shook my head is Ayumi and she's still holding a knife.
"I HAVE PREPARED BREAKFAST SINCE DEAD MORNING AND IT'S ALREADY COLD RIGHT NOW. DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW MUCH EFFORT I PUT FOR THIS?"
"WAAAHHHH SORRY MA'AM!!!" I jumped from my bed and headed to my bathroom.
"Ara (Oh My)…what a pleasant morning" Said a beautiful woman while she is enjoying her morning tea.
Jetavien, 1st 2.481 A.E.V II
It's a New Eelvariash, yet my first morning in the Eelvariash turned into chaos. Meanwhile, my little brother, and my sisters can't stop laughing at me. Of course, she is sulking at me. What a complete disaster.
My name is Ishizaki Haruhisa von Alexandria, the eldest son of Duke Alexandria, one of the most influential nobles in The Holy Elf Kingdom of Northlandia. Of course, because I live in Holy Elf Kingdom Northlandia, that means I am also a Holy Elf too and I am proud to become a part of a race that favored by The Maker, The Valas, Earth Mother and Dragon Gods. They are supreme Divine Beings of this world.
I have a mother that serves as a captain of elite special force in the kingdom, three younger siblings and a…doting father. Well, I don't want talk about him because it will leave a bad taste in my mouth. It doesn't mean he is a cruel or pervert noble, but his character is kind of….weird. Who can persist to live with a 479.108 e.l Holy Elf with child-like appearance, doting character and cute plus innocent face? Wait, on the first place, why a dignified woman like mother who was born from distinguished and dignified Knight Family of Archengelloire Dunkleins Household married a man like him?!
Well, it will only bring endless confusion if I keep thinking about "that"…because both father and mother's personality and abilities defy any common sense of this world. It's better to go to Adventurer Guild ASAP.
"I must hurry otherwise Guild Master—OH SHIT AMERYL-SAN WATCH OUT!!!"
"Waaa, Young Master?!"
I tripped on my own feet, fell from stairs and crashed into Ameryl's body. Ugh, dammit! It was because I kept thinking that shota father and ara-ara mother when running from my room!
"Uuuhh…Young Master, are you okay…?"
(Uh-oh…so soft…) I feel a softness from her mind-blowing size chest.
"Young Master, are you okay?!" A Werewolf pulled my hand and helped me to stand.
The Werewolf and Kikimora's name are Ken Fanziel and Ameryl Perina. Both of them are servants of this household and the closest vassals of my father. Mother said they have served my father since end of Marikh, 2.588 A.E.V II. They were once a mercenary and battlefield medic hired by two famous organizations called [The Wardens] and [The Abyssal Hunters] during a calamity called [The Rain of Chaos] that destroyed almost the entire Dwarven Kingdom on the beginning of A.E.V II Era or around 2.599 until 2.588. After they met my father by accident and saved by him, they decided to serve him to repay his kindness, or it can be said as a "custom or tradition" for Kobold Familia.
Thanks to their abilities and skills respectively, the Alexandria Dukedom has never encountered any serious problem in our territory. Besides that, I feel indebted for their teaching and guidance to me, I can skip the Military and Magic School's Class from Northlandia Knight Academy and Magic Academy so I can graduate faster than the normal people can do. Well, to be honest, I don't like living in the dorms cause they don't have any privacy at all, as well as learning or hearing "Lawful" lectures, and speech from the fanatic knights every day.
"Thanks, Ken-san…uh…I'm sorry Ameryl-san."
"Ahaha…no, no problem…next time please do not run in corridor again, alright, Young Master?"
Ameryl smiled at me while rubbing her waist. It seems she endured a pain from 22 e.l adult Holy Elf who suddenly crashed from upstairs down to her body. I quickly picked up the scattered cloth that lying on the floor to make up my fault but Ken asked me to go to dining room since my mother and younger siblings have been waiting for me. I nodded and apologized to them once again, but my shoulders feel cold all of sudden. I looked behind and I found that Ayumi, has been standing behind me for a while showing a frightful smile at me.
"Haru-san…what was that I wonder…?"
"Aha-ahahahaha…i-it's n-nothing…"
"Why I felt like you were enjoying rubbing your face into Ameryl-san's chest?"
I glanced at Ken and Ameryl, and I see them have walked back slowly from here while smiling awkwardly. Oh shit, this is bad, Ayumi in "Oni Mode" is really dangerous, and if I can't calm her down right now, she will explode and hunt me to my grave!
"A-Ayumi-san, you know…I-I…"
"HAAAAAAAHHHHH…???"
She opened her eyes and right…that is an angry glare. I was sweating nervously and putting my hands in front of my chest, gesturing her to "calm down" but she won't bat an eye for that. I glanced at the clock and the time showed 8.24 A.M.E, which was surprised me.
"Excuse me, Ayumi-san!" I ran from her and accidentally hit her until she fell.
"…HAAAAARRRRRUUUUUUUUU-SSAAAAAANNNNN…!!!"
She chased me at full speed while glaring at me with mad expression. Seeing that I can't help but to run faster than she can, to save myself. But unfortunately, she grabbed my shirt and beat me. Thanks to that, I wasted 17 minerval from trying to calm her down and run from her. Now, I sit in the dining room with my mother and younger siblings. They keep giggling while glancing at my face that full of bruises and slap marks.
"BAHAHAHAHAHA WHAT HAVE YOU DONE ANIKI…?!"
Robert laughed at me sarcastically and he seemed to enjoy my suffering. I think it's a bit unusual of him to laugh like that because normally he is calm and quiet and also, he doesn't care to what happened around him.
"Your silly face is looking even more sorry, you know Ani-sama…"
Rebecca, my youngest little sister is like usual, she loves to throw sharp words at anyone without even care about their status or position. I remember mother has disciplined her again and again by sending her to a boot camp long last summer after she badmouthed a Human merchant in Yamato Island. But I think the boot camp only makes her trash talking level increased more than before.
"Moo…Onii-sama why you made Ayumi nee-sama sulking…"
Arianna, my eldest younger sister who is normally calm and gentle now scolded me after I made Ayumi angry. Well, Arianna and Ayumi have become close friend since they were young. Now, because Ayumi has become my fiancée, Arianna seems prefer to shield her future sister-in-law rather than her own brother.
From three younger siblings, only Arianna who has a blood relation with me since Robert and Rebecca are my foster brother and sister. They were orphans who lived in the ruined village around [Virizia Plain] and then adopted by my parents three Eelvariash after [The Third Rain of Chaos] ended. At that time, both of Robert and Rebecca were similar with a "lifeless doll". They didn't have a ray of hope in their eyes and it seemed they went through a lot of life and death situation. Mother somehow was able to get back their "ray of hope" by taking care and loving them with all her heart, when my (stupid) father tried his best to dote them, but both of Robert and Rebecca are ignoring him up until now.
Meanwhile, Arianna has been distancing herself from father because of the same reason. He is annoying to boot. She never shows her cold behavior towards her father, who becomes a distinguished person with title [Hero of The First Rain of Chaos], both in public and Imperial Family's matter. Arianna normally calm and gentle, she really likes clinging into me or doting her younger siblings, but when it comes to father, she will disappear instantly. She is also a unique type of girl who dislikes "muscle brain" and "fanatic" person, which hurt mother's heart when she rejected mother's request to study in Northlandia Knight Academy with cold reason.
"In a married life, this quarrel will always happen. Not only breakfast, but also troubles with woman or anything like that, fufu…." Said my mother while she is looking at Ayumi and me.
"Did you hear that, Haru nii-sama?" Arianna said that with mocking tone.
I nodded and lowered my head, "I'm…deeply sorry Ayumi-san…"
"Hmph!" Meanwhile, Ayumi is still sulking, but her expression is really cute.
"All right, it's my loss here. Is there something you want?" I asked her then sipping my tea.
"A baby…" said my eldest little sister, mimicking her voice.
"PFFFTTTTTTT—!" I spit out my tea. Truly, that surprised me.
"BAHAHAHA WHAT DID YOU SAY ANEUE?! BAHAHAOGRUHDSHOHOK…!"
Mother shouted, "Robert! Do not speak when your mouth is full! Oh my…"
Rebecca made a disgusted face and said, "Ewww…disgusting, nii-sama…"
"Look, what have you done to your nee-sama" We look at her and her face is very red like a tomato.
"Awawa…" Yeah, she is blushing. Now, she is covering her face with her hands. How cute.
Mother sipped her tea, "Though I don't mind…."
"Cough, M-Mother!" I surprised and shouted to my mother while blushing hard.
She gently smiled at me, "What's it my dear?"
Robert glances at Ayumi, "Oh look, Nee-chan's face is redder than usual and her eyes are spinning!"
"Oh my, my…can't be helped then. Haru, it's better for you to marry her sooner than later. Oh right, by the way I heard you and Robert will join The United Forces to the [Raklera Valley] for a "clean up" mission?"
"Yes, Mother. A report of demonic monster hordes has been sighted there. We would like to farm some EXP and materials. I also intend to earn some money and train myself there. It'll be a nice experience for all of us."
My motivation is to save money as much as I can as marriage savings for an independent life. I must be a proper husband for Ayumi and if not, her father will hang me for sure. Well, I have engaged with Ayumi for two Eelvariash and her parents keep asking me about the date of our marriage but because our adventurer schedule is really tight, we keep delaying and delaying our marriage ceremony until I didn't realize it has more than two Eelvariash since I engaged with her. My savings from adventurer life also keep depleting over times because the sudden expenses and I also don't want to rely from that shota. If I do that, I can't live by my own and keep depending on him, which will stain my pride as her future husband and my image in society.
"Good thing you have prepared your things, Haru, Robert. I give you my permission to go."
"Thanks Mother."
Mother gently smiled to us and advised few military survival skills that hadn't taught in Academy's non-elite class, like how to purifying river's water with coal, sand, rocks and cloth, setting advanced type of trap that doesn't need rope and bait, also how to find source of underground water only by using stick and shovel.
"Be sure to bring good news to me Haru, Robert."
"Yes we will back with our achievement—"
"No, not that my dear…" Mother cuts my sentence while Robert is sipping his tea.
"…?" Then mother motion her hands as if she is carrying something in front of her chest.
"Bppfffftttttttt—" Robert spilled his tea.
"I have great expectation from you Robert." But Robert glances away.
Well, unlike me who am still a bachelor that doesn't have marriage date yet, Robert has married twice, with a beautiful Kitsune girl from Konoe Empire, Yamato Island when he was 16 and an Owl Harpy girl from Azertith Kingdom, Yggdrasil World when he was 18. But I suspect, that shota might be the one who pulled the strings behind Robert's marriage with that Kitsune girl. Since, she is close to the Great Empress of Konoe Empire and she holds a high position on a great temple there. Truly, I won't be surprised if this was my father's work.
"Now, Arianna, Rebecca have both of you signed the form to join Wardens Army?" Mother changed the topic, leaving me confused. Robert covered half of his face with his hand in embarrassment.
"Yes Mother. We have signed it and sent it back to academy. We will probably attend Northlandia University again long after we graduated from there."
"The Mentors will train you into very dependable and strong women. But do not hope they will spoil you."
"Of course, we know that, but mother, will you become our Mentor there?"
"If My Queen allows me, I will, Arianna."
Mother is one of the Imperial Knights of Northlandia Kingdom. She is the leader of [White Pegasus] Squad, on of elite squads in the kingdom that only move by The Queen's order. Father once told me, mother has been serving The Queen of Northlandia Kingdom, Anne Petroskyvia Reina since her youth. On that time, father said mother was stricter and colder than she is right now. Besides that, mother is also working as a Military Instructor in Northlandia University, Divine Knights and Wardens Army Academy. She is famous of her strict, merciless, and cold teaching method.
"Millio-san, prepare the carriage. We will depart now."
After we took our luggage, all of us leave the mansion. We said our goodbye to Mother and the servants. She kissed and hugged each of us with love. Then, we ride our family horse carriage to Capital City of Nartellia, the heart of Northlandia Kingdom. After we have arrived at the main city square, we parted away with our sisters.
"Onii-sama, please be healthy and stay vigilant okay?" said Arianna and I nodded.
"Robert nii-sama, please do not flirt with other girls ok? If you do that, I'm sure Mira and Fiel nee-sama will definitely kill you."
"Hey! What—" then Rebecca kissed Robert in the cheek and hugged him, then she did that on me and Ayumi.
My sisters are going to Central District of Imperium Airallevium, where the Royal Castle, Adventurer Guild Office, Military and Magic Academy located. Thanks to them, we can shorten the travel time because they dropped us right in the front of Northlandia Guild Office. I tidied my coat and then walked to the guild's door.