The smoke still hung in the air as Kazuki slowly stood. Magic energy swirled wildly around him, as if the atmosphere itself bowed to his presence.
In front of him, the crime boss trembled—not from pain, but from the invisible pressure wrapping around him like unseen chains. But Kazuki merely gave a small smile.
"Well, well, well... How interesting," he said lightly, as if watching a cheap stage play.
His voice was relaxed. Too relaxed. As if all of this… was merely the prologue to a far greater performance.
The crime boss roared, veins bulging.
"DAMN YOU!! WHERE THE HELL DID YOU COME FROM?!" he screamed furiously.
Without waiting for an answer, he lunged forward, swinging a massive black blade shrouded in deadly poison.
SWOOSH!!
Kazuki simply tilted his body slightly. The wind from the slash barely grazed his cheek. Yet he… remained calm.
The next strike came, but this time—CLANG!—Kazuki blocked it with White Blade, his silver magic sword. A loud clash rang out, sparks of energy bursting forth.
He stayed silent. Unmoving.
His eyes were as calm as a still lake… but within them was a bottomless abyss.
Then he turned slightly to glance at Neera.
"Relax. Just leave this to me."
"A weakling like this isn't even worth you getting up twice."
Kazuki's voice was lethargic, as if commenting on the weather… not a life-or-death battle.
Neera, still kneeling, looked at him—her eyes now glowing. She knew. That aura… wasn't ordinary.
It was the aura of an annihilator.
The crime boss roared again, his body swelling. Poison magic merged into his muscles, black veins surging violently across his skin.
"I'LL RIP YOU TO SHREDS!!"
But Kazuki...
Only let out a small sigh. As if he'd just yawned.
"A decent warm-up."
SHRAK!!
His movement was fast. Too fast. White Blade flashed—and time itself seemed to slow.
A diagonal slash opened across the boss's body. It didn't bleed immediately. But within seconds…
DZZZTT!!
A surge of energy exploded from within. His magical flow was cut off in an instant.
That massive body collapsed… like a puppet with its strings cut.
BOOM.
Kazuki slowly spun his blade and sheathed it. The click echoed like the closing gong of a stage performance.
He looked back at Neera. His expression was blank.
"Trash eliminated."
"…Too easy."
And without looking back, Kazuki walked away. The dust began to settle. Silence returned to the night.
But his presence… still lingered in the air.
Neera slowly stood. Her body was still weak. But… her eyes burned brighter than before.
"My lord…" she said, her breath heavy, but her heart full of certainty.
Kazuki turned slightly, his black cloak fluttering gently in the night breeze.
"Don't call me lord…"
"Call me… White Reaper."
The air seemed to stop moving.
Kazuki raised his left hand. A magic circle appeared, swirling with silver-violet light.
"System Unlock: Seal Break - Judgement Release."
CLINK. CLANK. SHATTER!
One by one, the magic chains binding the slaves shattered. A gentle light enveloped their collapsed, kneeling bodies.
A young beastkin child looked up at Kazuki in awe.
"Who… is he?" the child whispered softly.
Kazuki didn't answer. He simply stood there, a shadowed silhouette bathed in light. Cold. Distant. Yet irreplaceable.
Neera continued to watch him, her heart shaken deeply. But not from fear. From awe. From… conviction.
Kazuki stepped closer. His whisper was quiet, meant only for Neera.
"This is just the beginning. Our stage… isn't even halfway open."
Then he turned toward the imaginary 'camera' in his head, with a sly grin befitting a shadowy main character.
"Because this world… doesn't know who the real protagonist is yet."
A few minutes later…
Kazuki glanced at Neera.
"Neera."
"Yes, White Reaper?"
"Take them to safety. Then… choose those worthy of joining us."
Without hesitation, Neera dropped to one knee.
"Yes! At once!"
Kazuki looked up at the sky, now tinged with early dawn.
"I'm heading home. It's nearly morning… And you… don't run away."
Neera clutched her chest tightly, firm.
"I won't! I swear it."
Kazuki didn't reply. He simply flew—WUSH!—soaring into the sky like a shadow that refused the sun.
On the way home...
Kazuki floated lazily through the air.
"Hmm… All according to plan."
"Dramatic? Check. Intimidating aura? Check. Cool exit? Check."
But then...
His expression changed.
"Wait a sec… I feel like… I forgot something?"
When he arrived back at the Altherion noble estate…
Kazuki leapt in through the window. Morning had just begun.
He stood there. Silent. Then...
"AHHH!! I FORGOT!!!"
"I DIDN'T WANT TOO MANY GIRLS IN THE GROUP!!!"
Kazuki collapsed to his knees, covering his face with both hands.
"This… is a fatal violation… of the true shadow protagonist code!"
[End of Chapter]