[Luminus grew up in the Sterling family. She had an older brother and a younger sister—complete opposites in personality. Fethan often heard that both her father and older brother were extremely strict with her, especially the brother. Every time he visited his girlfriend's home, a certain gaze would pierce through him—belonging to the man standing before him now.]
This man was Fethan's complete opposite in every way.
Born into a noble family. Demonstrated sword and magical talent at five. Heir to the Sterling line, one of the pillars of the nation. Wealthy. The first son of the family patriarch. Future head of the Demon Slayer Order.
Lumi often spoke with pride about Shiel, her older brother. He'd earned his standing not just through talent but through relentless effort. Fethan didn't hate him, but it was hard to admire someone who never once offered him a kind word.
To Fethan, Shiel was a respectable elder brother figure—but not someone he wanted a relationship with. And it seemed Shiel felt the same.
Shiel appeared the moment Fethan collapsed. It was too convenient. Fethan was certain he'd been watching the entire battle with the Reaper, choosing not to interfere.
'Cold-blooded bastard.' Fethan suppressed the anger and recounted everything he knew. Shiel listened without a hint of emotion, examining his sister's lifeless body. His face was as still as a statue, betraying nothing.
"So you're saying you chased the Reaper in here, found Luminus dying, and accepted the System's power to claim her soul before it could?"
"Yes."
"Soul Fusion… That's how you used Ninetails."
"Correct. If I hadn't, I'd be dead."
Shiel stared as if calculating something. Silence filled the air. Neither of them looked away from Lumi's corpse. The interrogation felt one-sided until Shiel finally stood.
"Luminus wouldn't fall easily to a Dark Magus. It's unfortunate she encountered a Soul Larva Curse."
"Soul Larva Curse?"
"A highly specific hex. Takes a year of preparation. It feeds on the target's daily-used items. It harms no one but its intended victim."
"So someone had wanted Lumi dead for a long time…" Fethan couldn't believe she'd made any enemies. Lumi never sought rivalry. Her job focused on Hollow Gates, not hunting Dark Magi.
'If someone killed her, there's only one reason...' Fethan looked at Shiel's handsome face, perhaps a bit too intensely.
"You think I'm behind her death, don't you?"
"No."
"My father and I have sent hundreds of scumbags to Hell. We were strict to help her survive. Seems we missed something." Shiel drew his sword and held it at Fethan's throat before he could react. His eyes hinted at something far from friendly.
"What are you doing, Shiel?" Fethan asked, bewildered.
"A curse that specific requires someone close to her. And you're a suspect."
"Me?"
"Hair. Cream. Sweat. Daily-use items. Aside from family, only you had access. A man who couldn't gain mana just fused with a soul and resurrected the dead. Advanced sorcery no amateur could pull off. Using human souls for rituals is a capital offense. You really expect me to let this go?"
"That's insane. I just got this power. I changed class today. You know I wanted to be a Demon Slayer, not a Dark Magus."
"You could be lying. Dark Magi always lie."
'Lying… Me?' Fethan's gaze shifted. His shoulders trembled—not from fear, but something else. He looked at the uniform Shiel wore, the one he once dreamed of donning. His fear of the blade at his neck vanished.
"You think I wanted this? That I chose to be a Dark Magus? I don't know why you hate me, but I've kept my mouth shut. I never measured up to Lumi. I was useless. Trash with no mana. But I tried my best not to embarrass her. I became what I hated to save her. And you? Where were you when she was dying?"
"You're testing my patience."
"So what?! I'm a Dark Magus. You're a Demon Slayer. You'll kill me regardless. But know this—I saved your sister. And I'm not the trash that killed her!" Fethan's voice cracked. Whether it was grief, prejudice, or rage, he didn't care. He'd had enough.
He grabbed Shiel's collar, pulling them nose-to-nose. Fethan's eyes were bloodshot. Shiel's, ice cold.
"I ran to her. I saw her dying. That bastard tried to take her soul. I had to kill her myself, with my own hand. I used the one power I loathe most—just to keep her with me. What would you have done, Shiel? Answer me!"
His voice was a shattered cry. Hours ago, they were dating. Now, she was gone. It broke him.
Shiel swatted his hands aside and kicked him down. The sword was sheathed. He pulled something from his pocket and tossed it to Fethan.
It was an energy bar.
"Eat it."
"..." Fethan tore it open and wolfed it down. He hadn't eaten since before the Hellhounds. His body was starved.
Shiel knelt beside Lumi and wrapped her in cloth. His face still betrayed no emotion—but Fethan could tell.
He was hurting. Enough to lose reason.
"I'll investigate everyone close to her. Including you." Shiel's tone left no room for argument. He likely meant friends, family, even himself.
"You're letting me go?"
"Hard to believe an idiot like you is a Dark Magus. I wanted to test you—but neither of us is in the right headspace."
"..."
"It was all so sudden."
"You're right. So what now? Throw me in jail?" Fethan knew the law. Almost all dark magic was criminal. He'd confessed everything.
"Normally I'd behead you. But I can't kill the man who saved my sister. That's against my principles. As long as you don't break the law, I won't arrest you."
'This guy's obsession with beheading people is unsettling.' Fethan looked at the Demon Slayer standing there smoking. His eyes looked like those of a dead fish—emptier than his face.
Fethan never expected him to turn a blind eye. He assumed jail was a given.
"But if another Demon Slayer catches you doing something illegal, I won't save you. And if you ever cross a moral line, I'll be the first to cut your head off."
'Sadist.' Fethan instinctively rubbed his neck. He had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time his head would be in danger.
"I swear. I'll only use my power to help Lumi. I won't hurt anyone. I hate Dark Magi as much as you do." Fethan meant every word. He had spent a decade hating them. Just saving Lumi had already broken his moral code. If he had to go further, he'd rather die.
'Luminus's soul is with him. He's still useful to us.' Shiel thought silently.
"What's your next goal?"
"Goal? Develop Everland Dominion. It's an SSS-ranked system. Maybe if I max it out, I can save Lumi."
"The Gate's still open. Whoever cursed her might still be inside. You could go after them."
Hollow Gates don't let anyone leave until they close. That only happens if you kill the boss or seize the core. Until then, everyone's trapped—or until the Gate ruptures.
"They're still here somewhere. Let's find them."
"They're gone," Shiel said, snuffing his cigarette. "This Gate was summoned through a ritual. It's artificial. They can enter and leave freely. Only we remain."
"So they hurt Lumi, then just went home for dinner? No risk at all?"
"Yes."
'Bullshit!' Fethan cursed. This wasn't fair.
"We need to shut this Gate down and get out. I can't stand this place. It's cursed. The monsters are sparse, but everything screams 'run.' Especially that thing carved on the wall. I almost went insane just looking at it."
"Unfortunately, we can't."
"Why?"
"My core detector doesn't work. We can't close the Gate the usual way." Shiel pulled out a magical device—expensive, compass-like. It pointed to a Gate's core to help close it.
He flipped it open. The needles didn't move.
"This Gate has no core?"
"Something like that. I've never seen one like it."
'Something's wrong.' As a top student with hopes of becoming a Demon Slayer, Fethan had read official manuals. He'd heard of Hollow Gates without cores. No matter how many monsters you killed, they'd never let you leave.
'There has to be a condition. A rule. Gates always have one. We just have to find it.'
Shiel moved off to inspect the ruins. He jotted notes in a small book, never once looking up. Not even he dared meet that carved entity's gaze.
Fethan sat beside Lumi's shrouded form and opened his System. The only clue he had was the first message from when he entered:
Welcome to the Nameless Forgotten City—where no sane soul returns.
'So this used to be a city? The key phrase is: "No sane soul returns." What is 'sane,' then?' Fethan pondered.
Shiel returned, deadpan as ever—maybe to provoke him. Their eyes met. Neither could find an escape route.
'I am not spending eternity alone with this guy.'
'Looks like your brain works better than I thought. I feel the same way.'
Their eyes said everything.