The last descendant of Angels? What is he talking about?
"I see you're confused, Haruto, but I'm right on this point," Shien says, his voice dripping with pride.
"Ahh, what am I doing? Take a seat, both of you!" Shien gestures lazily to the empty space. As if on command, two chairs made of black-purple stones materialize, their surfaces shimmering like liquid shadows.
My confusion is understandable—after all, I know nothing about this world. First, Shien told me all the Angels were dead, but now he's claiming this girl is the last descendant? And what's with this blinding glow surrounding her?
I glance at her face, half-expecting to see the same "truth revealed" look I've seen in countless stories, but to my surprise, she looks just as bewildered as I feel.
We both slowly walk toward the chairs and sit. The air feels heavier now, thick with the weight of unspoken truths. Shien remains on his throne, his grin wide and unsettling. It's hard to tell if it's a grin of amusement or something more sinister. The silence stretches out, thick and suffocating.
"Oh, I didn't introduce myself properly," Shien breaks the silence with an air of casual indifference. "My name is Shien, the last Demon in this world."
The girl, fixes him with a steady gaze, her eyes searching his face as if trying to understand something she can't quite grasp. After a few moments of tense silence, she speaks.
"Hm. I thought you could see my name, but I guess in this realm our abilities don't work the same. So, my name is Kiyomi Hikarashi. I don't know anything about angels. I'm just a normal human."
Shien bursts into laughter, a loud, jarring sound that echoes through the room. It's the first time I've heard him laugh like that, and it sends an uncomfortable shiver down my spine. His laugh holds a strange mix of amusement and something darker—almost like he's savoring a secret.
"Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were joking." He wipes a tear from his eye as his laughter dies down. "You must be an Angel. If you're not, how do you explain this blinding glow around you? Or the shield you conjured during the battle with that scorpion?"
But Kiyomi doesn't react right away. She simply sits there, her face unreadable, as if trying to piece together the fragments of a puzzle she's never seen before.
"Then I will tell you both my story," Kiyomi says, her voice soft but steady, as if preparing herself to reveal something she's kept locked away for years. She looks at us, her eyes filled with an unsettling calm.
"I don't know anything about my parents. I grew up in an orphanage in Lunaria. The caretakers always told me I was left in front of the orphanage one evening—alone. All I had with me was a letter, my name, and my birthday. That's it. I never thought much about my parents. Some of the other kids said they remembered their parents, even if just a little, but for me, there was nothing. Just silence. It was easier to let it go... until everything changed when I turned 18." Kiyomi pauses, as if the memory still carries weight.
"A few months before my 18th birthday, the caretakers gave me a wooden box. They said it had been with me in my cradle when they found me. They tried to open it, but no matter what they did, the box wouldn't budge. No scratch, no dent. It was like it was waiting for me." She leans forward slightly, her fingers gripping the armrest as the tension in her voice grows.
"So, they decided to give it to me. Days passed, and on the morning of my 18th birthday, I woke up to a blinding light coming from the box. At first, I thought I was dreaming. But when I picked up the box and placed my hand on top of it… it was like a spark of magic ignited. The box, which had refused to open for years, suddenly gave way. Inside, there was an old book and an earring with a red gem." Kiyomi falls silent for a moment, her gaze distant as if reliving the moment.
"Hmm, so there was nothing inside that box except a book and the earring. Is there anything in the book?" Shien asks, leaning forward, his voice calm but laced with a hint of curiosity.
Kiyomi closes her eyes, her fingers absently brushing the red gem at her ear. I can see her mind drifting back through the haze of memories. It's almost as if she's stepping into another world with each passing second.
"Yes… there was something," she says softly, her voice breaking through the silence. "A letter."
Her words come slower now, as if the memory itself weighs heavy on her shoulders. "It said that they—my parents—wanted to tell me something, but that times were hard. They hoped that, one day, when I met them… they could explain everything to me." Her voice falters. "At the end… they said to use this book for the sake of those around me…"
She pauses, her eyes growing distant, and the words begin to fade. I watch as a single tear, delicate as a falling petal, traces down her cheek. For a brief moment, I see her pain mirrored in my own—living without parents, with nothing but an empty space where love should be. But I had Kenta. He and his parents gave me what I needed. Kiyomi? She had nothing.
"And at the end… the letter finished with 'For our lovely daughter, from—'" Kiyomi's voice cracks, and her breath catches.
"Mitsuki Hikarashi and Renjiro Hikarashi" Shien interrupts her with a sharpness that echoes through the air. He gazes at the vast emptiness of the abyss as if looking back through time itself.
The room falls silent, the weight of the names hanging in the air. Did Shien know about them? How? My gaze shifts to Kiyomi, and I see the questions flicker in her eyes—each one more frantic than the last. But as for me, this revelation isn't much of a surprise. It's as if the pieces were always meant to fit together.
"Yes! Those are the names in the letter! How did you know? Do you know them? Where can I find them?" Kiyomi's voice rises with the urgency of someone grasping at the last thread of hope.
Shien remains calm, his expression unreadable, but I can sense the weight of his thoughts. He's carefully choosing the right words, the ones that will soothe and yet leave the truth intact.
"Hmm, so this is your gem, huh Mitsuki…" After several minutes of thoughtful silence, Shien finally speaks again. His voice is almost reverent.
"Listen, Kiyomi," he begins, his eyes distant as he reminisces. "Your mother and father were the most brilliant angels I've ever encountered. Most of the angels you'd meet? They simply help humans and elves… nothing more. But Mitsuki and Renjiro…" His voice softens. "They wanted to study Lumirith. They weren't interested in just understanding it—they wanted to master it."
Shien leans back slightly, lost in his own memories. "That's when they came to me. They wanted to create something—real—with the Lumirith Crystals. Not the ones in these caves, but something more… pure. Aether Lumirith Crystals. At first, I laughed. I thought they were chasing a dream too far out of reach. But when they explained it… something clicked. I saw the potential in their idea."
He exhales, a wistful look crossing his face. "They wanted to bridge the gap between civilizations. Goblins, oni, humans… all these races with centuries of conflict. They hoped this crystal would unite them all, bring peace. I tried, over and over, to make one, but the Aether Lumirith wasn't something to be created lightly. There were many failures, many sacrifices…"
Shien's hand motions toward Kiyomi, his voice steady but heavy with the weight of years. "In the end, I succeeded in making only one crystal. One perfect crystal. The one you're wearing now, Kiyomi."
His gaze hardens as he looks at me. "Haruto, you asked why Kiyomi can understand creatures like the Wolf King. It's not just because of the Aether Lumirith, though. It's the connection she has to it. The crystal isn't just a tool—it's a conduit. It links her to creatures in a way no other human can experience. That's why she can understand them without even knowing how."
That explains everything. How she can talk to the Wolf King and others without a problem. It must also be why she can lift the Hikariken.
"But still, you haven't answered me. Where are they now? How can I find them?" Kiyomi's voice is sharp, cutting through the air like a blade. Her desperation is clear, her questions relentless.
I glance at Shien. His face is unreadable, but his silence speaks louder than words. He's searching for the right way to say something he knows she won't want to hear.
"If you truly want answers, I'll give you what you seek." Shien's voice finally breaks the silence, heavy with an emotion I can't quite place. "But first, you must know the truth about the war humans declared against us."
Kiyomi nods, her gaze unwavering.
"In that war, the angels didn't raise their weapons against the very humans they swore to protect. Even as they were slaughtered, they remained steadfast. But humans didn't care—they labeled every angel as a 'monster' and killed them without mercy. Your parents, Mitsuki and Renjiro, saw this unfolding and made a choice. They fled here, into the Demon Forest, and joined us—Demons—in our fight to survive."
Shien's voice falters for a moment, the weight of his memories pressing down on him. "We fought together, side by side, but as you can see… I lost my brethren. And in the same way, I lost my angel friends—your parents, too."
As Shien's words come to a halt, the silence that follows is deafening. The weight of his story lingers in the air, heavy and suffocating. I glance at Kiyomi. Tears trace silent paths down her cheeks, shimmering with her radiance. Despite her brilliance, the sorrow etched into her face is undeniable.
I wish I could say 'everything will be alright,' but how? Will everything be alright? Her hopes feel shattered into a million tiny fragments, scattered beyond reach. I know this feeling all too well—losing those you love. My parents' laughter, now just an echo. Kenta's unshakable grin, a fleeting memory. And her... the girl who held my heart... all gone.
But that's the past. This is my new life.
I reach for Kiyomi's hand, holding it gently in mine, hoping to share even a fraction of the weight she carries.
"Listen, Kiyomi, I can't say 'everything will be alright,' but I can promise you this: if you ever need someone by your side, I'll be there. To share your joy as well as your sorrow."
Her tear-streaked face turns to me, her blue eyes wide with surprise. For a moment, it feels like her burdens lift, even just a little. A faint, trembling smile breaks through her sadness.
"Haruto… you don't know how much those words mean to me. In this lonely life I've been living... those are the words I've always wished someone would say to me." Her voice quivers as her lips form the words, each one heavy with emotion.
"Now wipe your tears and smile with your beautiful smile!" I don't know where these words come from, but they seem to land right where they need to. Her smile grows brighter, and a soft blush spreads across her cheeks. Her blue eyes, glistening with tears, shine even more vividly against the warmth of her red-tinted face.
For a moment, the abyss around us feels a little less cold.
"Kiyomi, I want to ask you something," I say, my voice steady but my heart racing. "With the help of Shien—don't worry, I'll tell you my story later—I'm searching for answers about this war. I don't think it's just an ordinary war. There's something deeper behind it, something hidden. But on this journey, I also want to help everyone I can—whether they're human, elf, or any other creature. So, I'm asking you... will you join me?"
"Yes!" Kiyomi exclaims before I can even finish my sentence. She leaps to her feet, her usual grace replaced with unrestrained excitement. Her sudden movement catches me off guard, and I almost lose my balance.
"I'll come with you! I want answers too, and I'll gladly help you with anything!" Her voice is steady, filled with determination that seems to light up the abyss around us.
From the corner of my eye, I catch Shien watching us, a faint smile tugging at his lips. His usual stoic expression softens, as if seeing this bond gives him hope for something he thought he had lost long ago.
Suddenly, something hits my mind fast, like lightning.
"Shien, you saw that scorpion's stats, right? What does 'Corrupted' mean? And if the Hellfire effect came from me, then what is that 'Dreadmire' effect? Do you know anything about them?" I ask.
"Hmm, yes, I saw it. But I have no idea what they mean. I've never seen someone who can corrupt other creatures before," Shien replies, his words surprising me a little.
"Alright, we've been here for hours, so let's end this conversation for now. If I need to talk, I'll notify you. And if you're planning to do something, I recommend waiting until summer because winter in this world is harsh," Shien continues.
"And one more thing, Haruto. Once you're in the overworld, check the Hikariken with the Demon's Vision. If I'm right, there will be a gift for you!"
Kiyomi and I stand up and bow to Shien. Surprised by our gesture, Shien jumps up from his throne. We close our eyes, and suddenly, a warm sensation covers my body. The warmth spreads like a wave, a comforting force that seems to embrace me from the inside out. When I open my eyes, I see a few wolves cuddling around us, their fur soft against my skin. Looking down, I notice the wolf pup I played with on the first day is sleeping soundly on my legs.
I glance at Kiyomi, and she looks just as surprised as I feel. As we move slightly, the wolves wake up and start walking toward the cave entrance. Just as they leave, the Wolf King enters the cave, exuding his mighty presence.
"Lord Haruto, I didn't have the time to talk to you after both of you entered Lord Shien's domain. So, I asked other wolves to keep you both warm in these days," the Wolf King speaks, sitting in front of the cave entrance, his tone filled with respect.
"WHAT? Days? What do you mean? We were in the domain for like hours, not days!" Kiyomi's words show the struggle of her mind to coordinate all the information.
"Ah, I'm sorry Kiyomi! I forgot to tell you. In Shien's domain, time is slower than outside world. So, a few hours in the domain means days in the outside world," I explain to Kiyomi. As I explain, she nods, showing that she understands.
"So why Lord Shien suddenly calls both of you? Is there something wrong?" Wolf King asks.
"No there wasn't anything wrong, but there is something we need to discuss." I explain everything Shien told us. He calmly listens to my every word.
"Hmm, I see Lord Haruto, then there is something I need to tell you too." Wolf King says but his words not commanding. They are more like calm and innocent.
"Lord Haruto…" Wolf King continues.
"I wanted to thank you for what you've done. Because of your help, we have more than enough food for the winter. And also, thanks to your help, I'm still breathing," the Wolf King bows as these words come from him.
The heat of embarrassment rises to my face as Wolf King bows, a king showing gratitude to someone like me. I'm just a guy who's been thrown into this world, caught between the weight of responsibilities I never asked for and a growing need to protect those around me.
"Stand up, Wolf King! I did what I had to. You gave me shelter. You gave me food. You helped me in every way possible. So, I had to do something in return. And also, all of you were under Shien's protection. Since now I'm walking on his path, you all are my responsibility too," I say, feeling a heaviness in my heart. These responsibilities might be heavy, but I have no choice. I can't take the step I already took long ago. I will do my best!
In the corner of my eye, I see Kiyomi staring at me as if looking at a hero. This makes me feel even more awkward.
"Very well… Lord Haruto, Lord Kiyomi, once you're ready, please come outside. There is something both of you need to see." The Wolf King stands up and slowly walks outside the cave.
"Haruto, why does the Wolf King call us 'Lord'? And why did Shien say 'in this world' when he mentioned about winter? And what's the gift he was talking about?" Kiyomi starts to pour out her usual buckets of questions.
"Hold on! Hold on! I will give you answers for every question of yours. First, let's check out this gift Shien was talking about."
I close my eyes and focus on Demon's Vision. As I open my eyes, I look at the blade that was sitting in the corner of the cave. Blade seems kind of dusty but its sharp edge still gleaming from crystals' dim light.
Name: Hikariken
Type: Claymore
Level: ??
Traits: Devourer, Hellfire, Toxinfang
'Toxinfang'? I think that's the gift Shien was talking about. It seems with the 'Devourer' trait, the blade can absorb abilities too. And what's wrong with the level?
I turn around to Kiyomi as I come back to my normal vision.
"Let's go. Wolf King might be waiting for us outside." I say grabbing the blade.
We both walk out of the cave to the main hall. Inside, all of the wolves gather around a small stone platform, raised slightly off the ground. On it, I see the Wolf King waiting. As we walk toward him, the other wolves make a path for us. Once we reach the platform, I see all of the wolves sitting silently around the platform, their eyes watching us with a quiet intensity.
Suddenly, a wolf starts to walk toward the platform. Out of nowhere, she starts to speak!
"I'm here to speak on behalf of all the other wolves. Lord Haruto, you might think only our king talks, but the truth is, we were angry with you. Angry because you killed our previous leader in front of us. After that, even Lord Shien and our King accepted you, but we didn't want to treat you or speak to you. So, our king gave us permission to either talk or stay silent. But after our king told us that you helped hunt down a lumithorn and also saved our king's life, we all felt bad for not treating you right. So, we want to say we are sorry and thank you!"
As the wolf finishes her speech, she lowers her head and bows to me. Following her gesture, all the other wolves, one by one, lower their heads, their sleek fur shimmering in the pale light. This really warms my heart. Even though on one side, I'm a half-demon, the other side is still human. It wasn't the first time I'd been thanked, but this was different. My hands clenched around the hilt of Hikariken. I never asked for this responsibility, but here I am. I'll protect them. I have to.
"Listen, everyone!" I raise my voice to speak all of them.
"First of all, I'm the one who should apologize to all of you. My lack of knowledge about this world led to many problems. So, I'm sorry for my mistakes," I say, lowering my head.
"But now I have knowledge, thanks to Shien and the Wolf King. And behalf of Shien, every creature in this forest is also my responsibility. And I'll do my best to keep them safe. I only ask for your help to keep moving forward on this path." As I finish, I glance at Wolf King and Kiyomi. Both of them nods simultaneously assuring my thoughts.
"You will always have our help, Lord Haruto!" As Wolf King exclaims, all the wolves start to howl. But this howl doesn't feel scary or dark; it's filled with joy. And as the Wolf Den fills with joy, in outside snowflakes start to fall down from heavens to earth. So winter is starting…
Far off, in the distance, the sound of boots striking the frozen earth echoes across the land. Hundreds of soldiers, their armor gleaming under the setting sun, march with cold precision toward the heart of the forest. Their intentions are clear, and the air itself seems to vibrate with the promise of destruction….