Among the items that can appear from a Stigma Lucky Box is one called the 「Rune of Fortune and Misfortune□」.
Depending on the grade, it has a drop rate of 10%, 1%, or 0.1%—an exceptionally rare item. This rune is absorbed by the player and drastically increases their luck at specific monts, such as when enhancing or pulling gacha draws.
Because of that, when players faced an important enhancent with a risk of breaking their gear, they would hoard Lucky Boxes and search for the 「Rune of Fortune and Misfortune□」. I too had been a player and had experienced that countless tis. But even for —this was a first.
< You have pulled 「Rune of Fortune and Misfortune□ (Rare)」. Great luck will soon befall you. >
□ [Rare] Great luck is now in effect!
< You have pulled 「Rune of Fortune and Misfortune□ (Heroic)」. Imnse luck will soon befall you. >
□ [Heroic] Imnse luck is now in effect!
< You have pulled 「Rune of Fortune and Misfortune□ (Legendary)」. >
After opening the three Lucky Boxes in a row, a sphere shaped like 「 □ 」 sank deep into my chest.
"……"
As if heralding sothing—sothing far from ordinary.
***
Tomorrow was the day we would leave Count Kahla’s territory. Tonight was the eve.
Dragged everywhere to help with disaster recovery, the Dante assassination team had finally returned to the castle at the Count’s invitation. And then we all frowned.
“What the fuck, a party?”
Gray sneered, because a lavish banquet had been laid out.
It was winter outside. We’d been eating cup noodles next to corpse incinerators. And yet the Count was throwing a festival? Granted, given that this had beco a battle against a monstrous beast that would be rembered for generations, the celebratory mood was understandable. But the Count had ignored the suffering of his own people and only now decided to throw a banquet.
“…Let’s leave.”
Just as the four of us turned at Balmung’s words, the Count’s butler hurried over.
“Ah, you’ve arrived? The Count has been searching for you. As tonight’s VIP guests, may I ask you to join us this way?”
If it had been anyone else calling us, we would’ve ignored them and left. But since the Count himself had summoned us, we couldn’t.
Unexpectedly, there was sothing pleasant waiting at the Count’s table.
“…Ah, you guys?”
“Kaiser. You bastard.”
It was Kaiser—despite being in the sa territory, our paths had never lined up until now. He bumped fists with Balmung and Elize, waved at Gray, and then—uh… “Uhh… (h-hi…)” …What the hell happened to Kendreik while we were apart?
But the greetings ended there.
“Great assassins, welco to my palace.”
It was Count Kahla.
“I am aware that you are already employed assassins. However, I wonder if you are being properly compensated. If not, might you grant a chance? As you know, Count Kahla’s territory has started gaining international recognition, and I believe this is an opportunity. I hope to extend my influence beyond the Reuyan region and into southern Hiaka…”
The point was, “Stay in the Count’s territory,” but the way he rambled on, he could have circled half the planet.
And Balmung, already annoyed, thought:
‘…This bastard is trying to claim the Bomiteka battle as his own achievent?’
He had apparently wedged himself into the royal rit list using his capital connections. It was absurd.
“I’ll make you an offer. Whatever you’re being paid—I’ll pay you double.”
“No.”
Balmung finally opened his mouth.
“Thank you for your offer, but we must decline.”
“Why?”
“Didn’t every participant in the war already turn down your recruitnt offer?”
The Count’s eyes crumpled.
“…That’s true. Abeltus, Eymon, even Moong all rejected … But aren’t assassins supposed to move for money? If twice isn’t enough, I’ll pay triple.”
The persuasion that followed circled the entire planet twice. We hadn’t touched the banquet and were bored to death. Just then, Gray, mid-yawn, suddenly widened her eyes.
“…Eh?”
Hmm? Balmung turned his head to look and stood up.
Soone was entering through the banquet hall doors. Soone we hadn’t seen in days.
At the sa ti, every voice, every note of music in the banquet hall quieted.
A tall figure. Pink eyes. Each step slow and deliberate.
Every gaze in the hall turned toward him. He hadn’t said or done anything—just appeared.
But of course. He was the hero of this war.
“Ah, Professor Dante Hiakapo! Over here!”
The Count welcod him with an awkward smile. But everyone else in the hall felt sothing was off. The professor’s expression was strange.
Approaching quickly, Professor Dante said:
“Count Kahla.”
“…Huh?”
“Where is the Hero.”
At those words, the palace knights looked horrified. ‘That, that…!’—how dare he speak so arrogantly? But no one dared stop him.
“…If you an that lunatic, probably in the house I gave him…?”
“He’s not there.”
The Count’s face hardened.
“…Well… he’s an unpredictable guy…”
Dante closed his eyes and wiped his face—a gesture that put many on edge.
Soldiers who had seen him shake the heart of war by himself tensed instinctively. Civilians tensed just from his reputation.
“This is deeply disappointing. Only the Count can oversee the whole of Kahla territory. Did I not ask you, with full authority, to keep watch over the Hero?”
“…Well, yes, but… co now, why like this? It’s a joyful day. You know that, don’t you? What’s important right now isn’t that. Co on. Join us for the banquet…”
As Dante’s rude tone continued, even the nobles began to frown. Human hearts are like pots—they boil and cool easily. The war was over. This was their ho. They expected Dante to show them and the Count proper respect.
“Excuse , Professor—!”
Just as soone couldn’t bear it anymore and opened their mouth to interrupt, Professor Dante snapped his fingers.
Snap—!
Light gathered midair, forming a massive screen in the center of the hall. It was a scene only seen through “crystal orbs,” and Dante had recreated it with [Illusion].
A scene appeared—and then, screams rang out.
“Kyaaaaaa—!”
“Wh—what the hell?!”
“What… what is that?!”
It was footage released about ten minutes earlier on Imperial broadcast.
The final nation whose [Quarantine Wall] had not yet fallen, along with Hiaka—the weakest of the seven: the Duchy of Holanche.
“—As you can see, it has been confird that all 41,157 people within the quarantine wall have died. This refers not to casualties, but total fatalities.”
Not a single body recovered.
The Duchy of Holanche was in shock.
“The giant monster has been identified as ‘Bomiteka.’ It devoured everything in Holanche to grow. The Empire dispatched several Challenger-ranked observers, and succeeded in locating the fully evolved Bomiteka.”
The final form of Bomiteka—sothing prevented in other nations—had been born.
“Please refer to this footage.”
Dante projected what ca after as well.
It had twin pairs of mbranous wings trailing from its back. A tail hundreds of ters long, fused like a machine to its nape. And a massive black-and-purple halo above its head, shaped like a crown of thorns.
A massive head soared across the sky.
It was the final form of Bomiteka.
“The worst luck may have been that Holanche’s reserve warehouse of giant dark magic reagents was entirely consud by Bomiteka.”
Everyone in the banquet hall—even those who had seen Bomiteka themselves—turned pale with fear at Dante’s illusion.
“Humanity could only watch, helpless, as this great disaster was born.”
At last, the evolved Bomiteka disappeared into a thunderous storm over the sea.
“…It will return to humanity one day.”
The [Illusion] ended there.
Everything shattered like glass and fell.
And the expressions of every noble and soldier watching Dante went pale.
They realized the Hero’s whereabouts. He had run off to fight that thing. He was the madman who had willingly walked into Bomiteka’s mouth to save others.
“Count Kahla.”
A professor of the Assassin Academy opened his mouth. His tone was slow and heavy.
“As a professor, I can read what people are thinking.”
“……”
“Even now, the Count is wondering how to extend his influence over Holanche.”
Whether it was a joke, truth, or threat—no one could tell.
“Heh, hehe… What could you an by that…”
The Count broke into a cold sweat.
In the heavy silence, as soone nearly felt they couldn’t breathe, Professor Dante added a single line.
“…Enjoy your banquet.”
In the silence that followed, Professor Dante gestured to the four assassins and Kaiser. “Let’s go.” And so, the five heroes—the true focus of this banquet—vanished with him.
The Hero would be fine. He was strong enough not to die easily. Besides, Dante had already attached a tracker to him.
Even if he had ghosted away for now, sooner or later—they would et again.
***
"Everyone, you did well."
The five of us who ca out of the banquet hall with Dante finally shook off the discomfort we had been carrying.
Soone wanted to say, "Professor, we were so worried because you were so badly hurt."
Soone else wanted to say, "Your achievents were incredible."
But no one could bring themselves to say such things easily, not when the weight of his presence had crushed the entire banquet hall.
Then Elize's stomach let out a growl—grrrrkkk—and Professor Dante gave a faint smile.
"You're the one who sat through the banquet, so why are you growling?"
And for so reason, it suddenly felt like it was okay to speak.
He had pressed down on everyone in the hall, but in front of his own assassination team, he never acted that way.
"Uuugh, it’s not my fault…"
Elize grumbled.
"The Count guy talks too much…"
"You’re not still hungry after eating all that, are you?"
"Uuh? No, I didn’t eat anything at all…"
If she had a tail, it would’ve started wagging.
Elize smiled as she asked:
"What about you, Professor? Did you eat?"
"I skipped too. Wanna do a barbecue?"
"Really?"
"Uuuh?"
Balmung and Gray’s faces brightened too.
All of us had been starving from labor outside, dragged straight into that banquet—so of course we were hungry.
"Ah, uh…"
Just then, everyone turned their eyes to Kaiser, who was leaning on his cane.
"…Can I co too?"
Dante responded with his usual deadpan.
"No, you can’t."
"…Ah, yes, uh… sorry…"
"Just kidding."
"…Huh?"
"Yesss!!" Kaiser cheered internally, and the barbecue began.
From Kaiser’s point of view, it started when a TA he’d never seen before (who for so reason didn’t seem human) ca walking up with ingredients.
Then, unexpectedly, Dante himself started grilling the at.
Everyone sat beside him, holding a can of beer, reminiscing about the past few days.
"Professor, your hand… is it okay?"
"Is your eye alright? We were really worried when you were bleeding earlier."
"Uuh?"
Finally, they asked about the professor’s condition.
"Ehh? Weren’t you studying to beco a doctor?"
"I was… once…"
"Then what the hell are you doing here? And what’s with this Dominion business?"
"……"
Thus began the story of how Kaiser’s life got completely tangled.
“Protheshor… wha’f wifh the… mmph…?”
"…Chew before you ask, will you."
Elize’s cheeks were puffed like balloons as her question got steamrolled.
"That war god Abeltus… Professor, did you create him?"
"Yeah."
"…You’ve got to be kidding ."
So that’s what it was—Abeltus, who had dominated the Count’s territory as a seemingly non-existent entity, who had left Kaiser confused for days thinking he was possessed by a ghost—that was all Dante’s doing.
"Hey, Balmung. Stop that bastard from stealing all the bones."
"…Huh?"
"…Why the hell are your hands full with that many bones…?"
And finally—
"So, why the hell did you all skip the first and second floors?"
"We thought that was part of the training you gave us, Professor…"
"……"
We even got to see the rare sight of Dante’s eyes losing focus for a mont.
So many conversations passed like that.
"Ah, fuck, this is good…"
Gray, usually uninterested in food, figured she must’ve gotten drunk off one can of beer. Otherwise, how could the at taste this good?
At that mont, Kendreik reverently took a bite beside her and furrowed his brow.
He precisely evaluated the internal doneness, external sear, seasoning, and aromatics…
Then wiped the juices off his lips and raised one finger.
"Uugh (★★★★★)"
The guy who never gave more than two stars even when eating raw honey—gave five.
Only then did Gray realize it wasn’t the alcohol. The at really was good. Because Dante had grilled it perfectly.
"…What the hell? Professor, why are you so good at grilling at…?"
She asked, bewildered.
Dante didn’t answer.
"……"
Because he couldn’t say he was an S-rank forr slave who used to grill at every three days at forced faculty dinners…
After that ca the mont everyone had been waiting for.
"Now then, we will begin the patch award ceremony for the Kahla Territory Erosion Incident."
Kaiser blinked. Patch award ceremony?
"Ran."
"Yes."
Then he suddenly felt a little bitter—because he finally realized what the patches the assassination team wore on their armbands were.
So Professor’s team had sothing like this now…
And it had all happened after he dropped out…
While Kaiser quietly sagged under that realization, Ran, having finished her calculations, opened her mouth.
"Everyone risked their lives this ti, so all mbers will receive a B-rank patch."
Thus, all four mbers received a patch with a [B] engraved on their armbands.
Dante personally handed each one with a quiet, “Well done.”
"Hmm… draw a bell on mine…"
Gray got a bell engraved.
"And ! I want a bone!"
Elize’s patch got a bone.
"Uuh."
Kendreik’s, for so reason, had a chicken engraved.
"……"
And finally, it was Balmung’s turn.
To Kaiser, Balmung’s usual stoic expression—which always tried to project strength—looked a little off.
He didn’t know why, but Balmung looked unusually serious.
"Balmung. You’ve finally earned one. Shall I draw sothing on yours too?"
"…Please."
"What."
"…I, um… a bone too… please…"
So Dante added a bone to Balmung’s patch.
Then he extended his hand.
Balmung took it, hand trembling, and shook.
"You did well."
"……"
Balmung bowed his head in silence.
By then, Kaiser was feeling an odd sense of alienation growing stronger—a sensation that he alone was disconnected.
They were sharing the sa space and ti now. But eting here had been coincidence. Once the barbecue ended, they would return—to the Academy. He, on the other hand, would remain here in the Reuyan region.
They would walk different paths, apart.
He had known that from the start. Even now, his mind accepted it. But his heart didn’t feel settled.
"Kaiser. Should I make you sothing too?"
Then, suddenly, the Professor said that.
"…For ?"
"If you’ll # Nоvеlight # accept it."
"…I will. But I don’t have an armband."
Dante reached out and drew a [Symbol] on Kaiser’s chest. A snowflake-shaped 「❆」symbol. Exactly the sa form as the temporary one he had used earlier.
As Kaiser stood there feeling sothing strange,
the barbecue ended.
And Professor Dante walked over, just to say:
"Let’s et again."
Kaiser felt sothing wondrous. The sense of separation, the hollow feeling, the alienation—it all lted away.
Wherever, whenever—they would et again soon. He felt that, with absolute certainty.
"…I’ll see you again."
That was the end of their ti in Count Kahla’s territory.
***
Humanity’s First Erosion, Aftermath
AND……
It was the next morning.
Balmung frantically searched for his sniper rifle. Then shoved the muzzle into his own mouth, and Kendreik had to slap him across the face and wrestle the gun away.
"Uuuugh!?"
"Let go! Let go, you fucker…! I said LET GO!!"
"Uugh!"
"I have to die! I’ve lost the right to live…!!"
He had lost his patch.
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