Rylan couldn't help but notice the admiring glances and swooning expressions from girls on the sidewalk and across the road. It was as if his very presence commanded attention, much to the irritation of boyfriends who glared at him with jealousy.
"Tsk... This is becoming annoying," he muttered to himself.
"God of heavens, who's that hottie?" a group of girls gushed, their cheeks flushing with excitement.
Seeking to avoid further attention, Rylan ducked into a nearby store and quickly purchased a face cap.
"Thank you very much," he said to the storekeeper.
"Uh... No, you're welcome," the storekeeper replied, a bit embarrassed as he scratched his head with a smile.
Rylan knew he had to hurry. He was losing time, and Nana was waiting for him. He understood her well; she was adept at gathering information, almost like a spy.
"Maybe she's been spying on me this whole time. Scary and creepy," he thought aloud, a shiver running down his spine.
With his new face cap securely on, Rylan stepped back onto the bustling street, hoping it would help him blend in and reach Nana without further distraction.
Aaron and Elana sat on the steps of a staircase, both dressed in their ninjutsu uniforms. Aaron absentmindedly spun one of his katanas with a finger, while he pondered aloud.
"Elana, I was wondering, what was their business with that boy?"
Elana gazed up at the sunny sky, her expression thoughtful. "I would ask you the same. Rylan has always been special. He might not be the ideal kind of person you or the community like, but he is a good person."
"He must have meant a lot to you, then," Aaron replied.
Elana's eyes softened as she reminisced. "Hmm... You could say he was my hero. Back in our village, I was such a weak and helpless girl. After school, I would be bullied by some of the boys, but..." She paused, a flush of warmth spreading across her face as she smiled. "Rylan would always come to help. He's such a fighter despite being weak. Sometimes he would take the blows instead while protecting me."
"Uhh, he's quite the hero, then," Aaron responded with a straight face.
Elana's expression darkened as she continued. "But one fateful day, I was being bullied as usual when Rylan arrived and helped me. The next day, I went to school hoping to thank him, but he was absent. I decided to go over to his house, but when I got there, the area was burnt to a crisp. There were no traces of Rylan anywhere. I thought he was dead. I cried my eyes out. My parents moved out of the village after getting new jobs, but the thought of Rylan never left my mind. I vowed to get stronger and kill whoever was responsible for his death." Streams of tears rolled down her cheeks as she spoke.
"But I'm glad," she said, her voice softening. "I'm glad he's fine."
"Then what are you going to do? The council has already decided his fate," Aaron said, his expression turning grim.
Elana stiffened, clenching her fists in frustration.
"How about enrolling him in the hero candidate selection?" Saske suggested from behind them, capturing their attention.
"That's ridiculous! The hero candidate selection is not a cakewalk for birthday children," Aaron protested, standing up.
"Hmm, well said, but that's the only way," Saske replied calmly.
"It's still not good. Shoji—"
"I'm not worried about Shoji. I'm more curious about the boy. He's the first human to merge with a hollow and still remain human. That being said, it's like he made a deal with Shoji."
A look of shock appeared on both Aaron and Elana's faces.
"No way... This is bad news. If he made a deal, it's definitely not a good one," Aaron said, his voice tinged with concern.
"But still, I... I don't want him to die. I'll have to convince him to become a hero candidate," Elana said with full determination.
"Well, I'd do that fast if I were you. The reaper has already been sent to execute him," Saske warned.
"Sorry I'm late, Nana," Rylan said as he took a seat opposite her. Nana looked stunning in her short skirt and shirt, her full dark hair neatly tied into a ponytail with a few strands framing her face.
They had decided to meet at their favorite spot, Blum's Coffee, a quaint coffee shop with few customers, run by Old Blum. Nana and Rylan were practically the only regulars.
As Rylan settled in, Nana turned to look at him and couldn't believe her eyes. She scrutinized every inch of his new look.
"What happened to your voice? It's deeper. Your hair—hey, it's longer than mine. Your face, it's... never mind," she said, her voice tinged with disbelief.
"Relax, okay? Besides, you wanted to see me," Rylan replied, gently pushing her away.
Taking one final look, Nana heaved a sigh and returned to her seat.
"What business do you have with the Elite Squad Zero?" she asked.
"Squad Zero?" Rylan asked, puzzled. He had no idea what she was talking about.
"Huh, so you don't know them?" she fired back, surprised.
"Not at all," Rylan replied, shaking his head.
"Hmm... Squad Zero. Every four years, highly skilled adventurers like the S-ranks seek a new fate. Some have their own reasons, training hard to become S-rank adventurers so they can enroll in the hero candidate selection. The hero candidate selection was created by the seven gods of heaven—Astrael, Seraphis, Zelthar, Ymir, Elion, Thalor, and Vaelis—to fight off the threat of higher hollows, like the Vasto Lordes and Lords, who pose a significant threat to humanity."
Rylan was shocked. "Hollows... that must be them," he said, biting his lip and clenching his fists on the table.
"Hollows are born from humans' negative energy and grief, making them large in number. Thus, we humans are responsible for the creation of hollows. If it were just hollows, it would have been a piece of cake for adventurers. But somehow, they undergo a series of evolutions, becoming stronger than even a full squad of S-ranks."
"Tsk..." Rylan muttered, frustrated.
"Thanks to the gods who have shown us mercy, a criteria was established to destroy the stronger hollows."
"The hero candidate selection," Rylan guessed correctly, and Nana nodded.
"That brings us back to Squad Zero. Those who undergo the harsh hero candidate selection and pass are bestowed powers by the gods. They are then placed in the elite hollow eradication squad called the Zero. Believe me, they are extremely strong, beyond any adventurers, and each possesses a special technique of the gods called Havens," Nana explained further.
"Havens..." The word triggered a blurry memory in Rylan's mind, recalling his encounter with Aaron and Elana. The sudden recollection caused a sharp headache.
"Ahh," Rylan groaned softly, holding his head.
"Are you okay?" Nana asked, her voice full of concern.
"Yeah... Yeah, just a slight headache," Rylan replied, trying to shake off the pain.
"Nana," Rylan called, looking at her seriously. "Do humans know that hollows exist?"
"Hmm... Only a few people can see hollows. Aside from that, I don't think everyone can," Nana said thoughtfully. Suddenly, something struck her. "Huh, not many people know about the existence of hollows. They're more often referred to as monsters. Something's not right here. Why would people think hollows are just monsters? Or maybe..."
"Memory replacement," Rylan said with a stiffened face. "Somebody might have been replacing people's memories."
Nana's eyes widened at the suggestion. "That would explain why so few people know the truth. If someone has been tampering with memories, it could keep the knowledge of hollows hidden from the general population."
Rylan nodded, his mind racing with the implications. "But who could have the power to do something like that? And why?"
Nana pondered the question, her expression serious. "It would have to be someone—or something—with immense power. Perhaps one of the higher hollows or even an entity beyond our understanding."
Rylan clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes. "We need to find out who's behind this and why they're doing it. The truth has to come out."
Nana nodded in agreement. "You're right. But first, we need to figure out our next steps. If Squad Zero is involved, we need to be careful. They're not just any group of adventurers; they're the elite."
Rylan took a deep breath, feeling the weight of the situation settle on his shoulders. "Let's start by finding out more about the hero candidate selection. If that's our only way to get closer to the truth, then I'll do whatever it takes."
"Ridiculous, Rylan! You can't pass the hero candidate selection," Nana protested strongly, standing up.
"What makes you think I can't?" Rylan retorted, a hint of annoyance creeping into his voice.
"Because... you'll die, Rylan," Nana said, her voice softening.
Rylan felt a wave of calm wash over him at her reaction. He knew how much Nana cared for him, but he also understood that being weak would eventually get him killed anyway. His desire for revenge for his mother, Thorn, Seraphine, and others still burned deeply within him. He walked calmly toward Nana, embracing her tightly.
"I promise to live, Nana. Thank you," he whispered.
Streams of tears rolled down her cheeks. "I don't want to lose you, Rylan. I... I..." Nana said somberly.
"Shhh," Rylan said, cupping her face in his hands. "I love you too, Nana."
"Ah, two young teenagers in love. Oh, how I miss my youthful days," Old Blum said with levity, smiling warmly.
Nana clumsily slapped Rylan while withdrawing, her cheeks red and filled with excitement. "Damn it, Nana, what was that for?" Rylan fired at her.
"I'm your senior, dumbass. You may be hot now, but I'll never be head over heels for you," Nana said, her expression clearly betraying her lie.
"Huh, you only senior me by two years, you information freak," Rylan retorted, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
"Hmph," Nana whined loudly before walking out.
"Tsk..." Rylan muttered, heading out and putting on his cap.
"Heeee," Old Blum sighed deeply, shaking his head with a smile.