That morning, Kazuki was still in his room. He had woken up earlier than usual and walked slowly toward the dining room, where his family was already seated for breakfast.
As he walked casually, he murmured in his mind,
"Come to think of it, I've never used my ultimate move, Death Bloom, on any opponent."
He gave a cynical smile, half mocking himself.
"Well, of course. All my enemies are just small fries... Maybe even the Demon King would be a small fry to me."
Kazuki kept walking calmly, but in his mind, he knew—Death Bloom was reserved only for those truly worthy.
Upon arriving at the noble family's dining hall, Kazuki saw the Altherion family already seated neatly, accompanied by several maids preparing the dishes.
With a relaxed gait, Kazuki walked to his seat and sat down.
"As usual... I only ever show my weak side," he muttered with sarcasm.
His eyes scanned the room, then he looked at his father.
"Father, where's sister?" he asked casually, though there was a hint of sarcasm in his tone.
His father frowned and replied,
"Maybe she's still asleep... She usually wakes up early. Could she be feeling unwell?"
His mother quickly added,
"I'll go wake her up."
Kazuki simply nodded, his eyes flashing slightly from a vague, nagging curiosity.
Meanwhile, Kazuki's mother gently opened Lycia's bedroom door.
The moment it opened, chaos greeted her eyes. Items were scattered everywhere, some had fallen to the floor, as if the room had been hastily abandoned.
"Lycia!?" she called out, slightly panicked.
But there was no reply.
Her expression changed. She quickly turned back, calling for her husband and the rest of the family. In no time, the entire Altherion family, including Kazuki... had gathered in front of Lycia's room.
Kazuki stood at the doorway, looking at the mess inside. He gently stroked his chin, as if analyzing the situation—though in his mind...
"Come on... this is way too cliché. Messy room, empty bed, missing person—classic setup for weird stuff."
Kazuki's parents looked panicked. The Altherion family's servants whispered among themselves, confused and growing restless at the sight of Lycia's trashed room.
Meanwhile, Kazuki just stared for a moment... then turned away without a word. He walked slowly back to his room as if nothing had happened.
Once the door closed, he sat on the edge of his bed and raised one hand. A black magic circle spun slowly in the air.
"Neera... have you found the members?" Kazuki asked calmly.
Soon, a soft, composed voice replied through the magical link.
"Yes, Lord Kazuki. I've found them all. They have sworn loyalty to you."
Kazuki gave a small smirk. His eyes were blank, yet full of meaning.
"Good..." he whispered.
He stood, walking over to the window and staring at the sky that felt too peaceful.
"Neera, you may return. We have a mission tonight... and I want all the main actors on stage."
The magic circle faded, and the room fell silent once more.
Kazuki leaned against the wall and closed his eyes.
"Come to think of it... this feels like the start of a new arc. Heh, sounds fun."
Night crept in, wrapping the Altherion estate in aristocratic silence.
Unbeknownst to anyone—except Kazuki—a group of black-cloaked figures slipped in through a hidden passage at the back of the main villa. Led by Neera, they leapt over the walls gracefully, moving like shadows in the night.
Kazuki's window was already wide open.
One by one, they leapt in without a sound, like trained ghosts. Inside, Kazuki was already seated, waiting calmly with one leg crossed, expressionless—radiating the aura of a leader absurdly steeped in mystery.
He said nothing. He didn't need to.
As the members entered, they immediately knelt in respectful silence, bowing deeply in perfect formation. Not a word was spoken.
Neera stepped forward, then spoke.
"These are our new members, Lord Kazuki… I mean… Lord White Reaper."
The atmosphere grew solemn. The air became theatrical.
Kazuki slowly raised his head, his eyes sweeping across his new members. And then—
"Huh?!" he shouted inwardly.
"Why are they all girls?!"
His face stayed emotionless. But inside, absurdity surged like a wave.
"Come to think of it... is this a secret organization or an idol group?"
Still, he quickly calmed himself.
Kazuki stood up slowly, then gazed at them all with a cold stare.
"Welcome... to Nocturne Eclipse."
(His words were short, but their effect was like a spell. The members trembled—whether out of awe, fear, or sheer reverence at his overwhelmingly ridiculous charisma.)
Then Kazuki raised one hand. A dark silver magic circle appeared in the air, glowing with a strange, cold light.
"This isn't a blessing. This is a blood pact," Kazuki whispered internally.
The light shattered into several small fragments and floated toward the new members. As they touched their bodies, the fragments merged and spread slowly like silver ink beneath their skin.
Their bodies shivered for a moment. Power... flowed in.
Kazuki stared at them. His eyes were cold, his voice sharp.
"I've given you a bit of my magic... but listen carefully."
He paused, then said in a chilling tone,
"Anyone who dares betray me... I will kill."
His gaze pierced like an icy blade.
"And I don't care... even if you're girls."
At once, the new members knelt and swore their oaths.
"We swear eternal loyalty to White Reaper... until the end."
Kazuki didn't respond. He simply walked to the window, staring at the dark, calm night sky.
The night wind gently stirred his white hair. He gave a faint, dangerous smile.
"Alright then," he muttered.
Then said sharply,
"Tonight... the stage is ours."
Without a signal, they all leapt out the window, slicing through the night at unseeable speed.
The mission to rescue Lycia... had begun.
And this chapter...
ends.