The Arie Family dical Center.
When he had finally shaken off illness and stood back up, he had thought he would never return here again—
yet here he was once more, in a far worse state than before.
Beep— beep— beep—
The steady rhythm of machines and the sound of the shinsu respirator Albelda was using filled the hospital room.
Then, from outside, footsteps approached.
It was Anna.
As she carefully opened the door and stepped inside, her eyes imdiately t Albelda's, lying on the bed.
Her pupils trembled violently.
"Noona…?"
At her younger sister's voice, Albelda slowly, painfully opened her eyes.
The eyes that had always shone so beautifully now looked as though they had lost both their light and color.
For a mont, it felt as if Albelda had returned to how she was five years ago.
"Ugh… why are you sick again, Noona…!"
Albelda hated this.
She hated that, after finally becoming healthy, she was being dragged back to her frail past again.
She hated that she was once more making Anna and Vicente worry.
At least this ti, Vicente had been brought to the dical center too—no, rather, Vicente had carried her in on his back.
Hehe…
Albelda forced a smile, hiding how much she was hurting, and looked at Anna.
She wanted to reach out and stroke her sister's hair, but the arm with the IV needle wouldn't move properly yet.
Beside her, Vicente questioned the doctor examining her, his tone sharp.
The sudden turn of events had tightened his body, and perhaps because of that, his hunger had dulled slightly—just enough for him to endure the pain and stay by Albelda's side.
"What happened? Albelda was definitely cured. Her condition had improved to the level of an ordinary Arie."
At Vicente's question, the doctor answered carefully.
"W-well… Lady Albelda's illness is incurable… There is no such thing as a complete recovery. For unknown reasons she fell ill, for unknown reasons she improved, and now—"
"So you're saying, for unknown reasons, the illness has relapsed?"
The doctor lowered his head.
That was a yes.
Because they didn't know how she had improved in the first place, they also couldn't know why it had worsened again.
When her body had been gradually improving despite the unknown cause, they had been overjoyed.
Now, that very uncertainty ca back to haunt them.
"Then at least let's contact Hoaquin—"
"Don't."
Albelda stopped Vicente as he tried to reach out to Hoaquin.
Despite Vicente looking troubled, her resolve was firm.
"Albelda, but—"
"I don't want to worry him unnecessarily."
At her insistence, Vicente had no choice but to give up.
This ti, Leblanc—who had been quietly observing—spoke up.
"So, what are you going to do about becoming a Regular? Honestly, from what I see, it seems reckless."
Leblanc spoke calmly, offering only her opinion, not telling Albelda what she must do.
From a safety standpoint, giving up on climbing the Tower was the best option.
But Leblanc also knew better than anyone how desperately Albelda had wanted to beco a Regular and climb the Tower, and she couldn't bring herself to tell her to give up.
After Leblanc, the doctor added his professional assessnt.
"W-well… first, we need to proceed with surgery. Her condition is showing signs of further deterioration, so for Lady Albelda's safety, surgery is unavoidable."
"If she has surgery… will she get better again?"
"…No. To be honest, there's no guarantee it will help.
However, what is certain is that if we don't operate, her condition will only worsen. As a doctor, it pains to say this, but… if her condition deteriorates further in this state, she may not even make it through this year—"
"Waaah— Sis…!"
You tactless doctor.
Why would you say sothing like that in front of a child?
Albelda hurriedly comforted Anna while glaring slightly at the doctor.
Realizing he had spoken out of turn, the doctor coughed awkwardly and bowed his head.
Even with surgery, there was no guarantee of improvent.
Without it, things would only get worse.
The atmosphere grew even heavier.
Becoming a Regular in three days, and now surgery.
Even if everything went well, there would inevitably be postoperative aftereffects.
At best, she might reach the 2nd Floor the day after surgery.
At worst, she might be forced to go the very sa day.
No matter how much of an Arie she was, in her current frail condition, going to the 2nd Floor would be…
Even so, Vicente couldn't bring himself to tell Albelda to give up becoming a Regular—for the sa reason as Leblanc.
He knew how earnest she had been.
As if she had read both Vicente's and Leblanc's thoughts, Albelda forced a relaxed smile.
"It's fine. I've had surgery plenty of tis already. It'll be over quickly. And I am an Arie—my recovery will be fast."
Vicente felt bitterness rise in his chest.
Those words ant only one thing: she had no intention of giving up becoming a Regular.
"…Ugh."
His hunger was starting to return.
Before the pain worsened any further, he should leave quickly.
This hospital, in particular, had many blue orbs drifting around.
Albelda wanted him to get examined too, but this wasn't sothing dical treatnt could fix.
Apologizing silently, he slipped out of the hospital while she was still weak and locked himself back in his room.
"…Ha."
Of all tis, for her to collapse now.
The timing couldn't have been worse.
Three days wasn't exactly a long ti.
Even if they rushed into surgery the mont preparations were complete, there was no way she would fully recover from the aftereffects before reaching the 2nd Floor.
Wasn't there anything he could do?
She would never give up becoming a Regular.
But at this rate, her life would be in danger even on the 2nd Floor.
Her condition could worsen further as she climbed the Tower.
Was there anything he could do…
—Want to help? Shall I make her better?
"…Is there anything you can do?"
The demon's voice slipped into the gaps of his thoughts.
—Didn't I tell you, Vicente? We can achieve anything.
Three blue orbs that had been floating outside drifted into the room.
They glowed richly, stimulating Vicente's hunger and appetite.
"Ghk…! What are you doing—!"
—Those are souls. The source of your power.
The three blue orbs—souls—began to scatter particles and seep into Vicente.
The extre hunger eased slightly.
—With this, you can sate your hunger, gain power… and even achieve what you want right now.
—Albelda's recovery.
His thoughts aligned perfectly with the demon's.
Though he couldn't see it, Vicente felt as though the demon was smiling.
—If you wish, I can make her condition improve. Using these souls, it's possible.
—However… there will be a price.
Hunger. Headaches.
He had already suffered more than enough of those.
Even using just one soul before had pushed his body and mind to their limits—with three, the risk was unimaginable.
But…
'Yes. I want that. Heal her.'
What happened to him didn't matter.
What mattered most right now was Albelda's safety.
No matter how much power he gained—even if he could surpass his father—priorities still existed.
Albelda. Anna. Hoaquin.
Without them, nothing had aning.
Together.
It sounded childish, but it was the most important thing of all.
The demon seed satisfied, its laughter fading from his mind.
—…Heh. A deal, then.
The three souls that had filled his starving body began to drain away.
Vicente clenched his teeth.
The pain to co—the hunger—would be beyond imagination.
Vooooom—
"…!"
A dizzying hunger, enough to blur his very sense of self, swallowed him whole.
No—had it already blurred?
His mind went blank.
Hungry hungry hungry
Soul soul soul
Indescribable thoughts tore through his head, bringing a splitting headache.
A hunger that felt like it would devour everything rampaged through his soul.
Vicente drooled uncontrollably.
This was no longer sothing he could endure.
It felt as though his organs were being churned inside his abdon.
Could this curse even be called "hunger" anymore?
The price of saving a friend was rciless.
"Gaaah… aaagh—!"
....
Two days later.
Vicente remained locked in his room, only hearing news in fragnts.
According to what he heard, Albelda's condition had improved.
Anna was devotedly nursing her.
A child caring for another child.
It was almost amusing—but Vicente was in no state to smile.
He gave up trying to describe it.
He simply accepted the pain.
To the limit.
No—he felt he had long since surpassed that limit.
This was no longer sothing that could be called re hunger.
He was hungry for all life.
He felt desire for everything alive.
"Hh… hhh…"
Half-buried in the floor, his sword.
Vicente clung to it, kneeling as if in prayer, gasping for breath.
He didn't even have the strength to stand.
Only enough strength remained to grip the sword and breathe.
The relentless hunger had stripped him of everything.
Yet it didn't stop—it continued to crave sothing.
Each wave twisted his mind in unbearable agony.
"Kh… ugh—!"
The pain churned his stomach, and he vomited violently.
His clothes were soaked with bile and saliva, the stench foul.
The headache was so intense he could barely think, ravaging his sanity.
How long would this suffering last?
The souls drifting around the floating castle—honestly, he didn't want to touch them.
They were likely those who had died defending the family's honor, or children who had perished bitterly in power struggles.
He didn't even know how to take them in the first place.
The hunger grew so severe it felt as if it would consu even himself.
It was unbearable.
Too unbearable.
As if on cue, the surroundings were engulfed in crimson-black mist.
In his half-conscious state, Vicente didn't care anymore.
Amid the agony and dizziness, even moving his eyes was difficult—yet he looked up at the being erging from the crimson mist.
—Don't you want to be freed from this pain? Even if this is a price you must justly pay, this power was never ant to require such a cost. This is rely a penalty for not consuming souls.
—Don't you want to break these shackles of suffering?
"..."
—Ah, you don't even have the strength to speak. I'll help you.
Shaaa—
Thud—
Several sheets of paper fell before Vicente.
They looked like pages torn from a book.
Sothing was written on them, partially erased, but in bold letters remained the title:
"On Souls."
—It's a ritual.
"..."
—Follow it and perform the ritual. The pain tornting you will lessen to a bearable level. The thod of acquiring souls is written there—just do as it says.
—With your current body, it'll be hard. But the longer you delay, the more the hunger will gnaw at you.
Before your mind completely breaks, you should hurry.
—Perform the ritual written there.
That ominous feeling again.
The sa feeling he always had toward this demon.
Yet alongside it ca those honeyed words, sweet as fully ripened fruit.
At the thought of easing his pain, Vicente's gaze fixed on the pages.
Before he realized it—no, perhaps he already had—
he slowly began to stand, the ritual pages in hand.
Kiiiiiik—
Saring so of his own blood, he dragged his sword along the floor, carving out a magic circle.
Following the ritual exactly, the circle was completed.
Vicente planted his sword at its center.
He poured everything he had left into it—just before hunger and starvation completely destroyed him.
"Hh… hh… hhh…"
Kiiiiing—
—Hahahahaha… You really did it. You've begun.
The circle began to glow.
Crimson-black matter poured out from the ritual array.
"…!"
The hunger did not subside.
The headache didn't lessen.
No—rather than easing, it grew several tis worse.
Why?
Sothing was wrong.
He had already been on the verge of breaking from the pain.
There was no way he could endure this.
Vicente felt sothing snap inside him, like a single thread being cut.
"Gaaah…!"
Whooosh—
Crimson-black mist engulfed him.
The mist gathered and gathered, until it took form.
The demon approached him and gently closed his eyes.
"You bastard—!"
—Stay buried in your unconsciousness. The ritual has already begun.
The last thing he saw was his body starting to move on its own.
Then his eyes shut.
....
"Noona, noona. Should I bring you so water?"
"No, Anna. I'm fine—go back and get so good sleep."
Anna looked up at her with bright, sparkling eyes.
Albelda, finding her unbearably cute and precious, ruffled her hair again and again.
"Noona, you're not sick anymore, right? You won't get sick again, okay?"
"Hehe… alright, Anna."
The surgery had been canceled.
Her condition had suddenly improved.
Instead of surgery, she'd only needed so light treatnt, and her body had returned to the healthy state she'd enjoyed recently.
She had already been discharged and was back in her room.
The gloom that had weighed on her heart was washed away in an instant.
Now—now she really, truly, really wouldn't be sick anymore.
With such an adorable little sister, she couldn't afford to be ill.
I'll wake Vicente up properly too… and later, I'll see Hoaquin.
What should we all do together when we et?
Thinking of Hoaquin, she instinctively sent him a ssage.
By now, it was almost routine.
"Noona, can I sleep here with you tonight?"
Looking at Anna's pleading face, Albelda had no choice but to agree.
"Alright. Co over here—let's sleep together."
At that mont—
Ziiiiing—
Soone entered the room.
At the sa ti, Albelda and Anna both turned toward the doorway.
"…Huh?"
"…Huh?"
You—!
Crunch—
Gnash—
.....
Drip. Drip.
Blood was falling.
What was this?
It wasn't his blood.
Then whose was it?
What had he been doing…?
"Igh—"
A sudden headache struck.
Then, information flooded his mind.
All of his mories—every last one—ripped through his brain.
From the tangled, chaotic ss, he began pulling on the severed threads, reconstructing what had happened.
A white monster.
A white demon.
Sothing pale… sothing…
…attacked the two girls—
"…Huh?"
What is this?
Whose mories are these?
What's happening?
Why—why—why—
As if he had seen sothing he was never ant to see, Vicente's expression froze.
No—froze wasn't enough.
His face twisted in agony, swallowed by every emotion imaginable.
No.
This is wrong.
These mories are wrong.
They can't be real.
He ran.
He ran down the corridor without stopping.
Sothing was wrong with his mories.
Yes—he just had to confirm it.
That's all.
Please—please—
Because it was close, he soon reached the room Albelda used.
Yes.
Albelda and Anna were sleeping together in one room.
Yes—they definitely were…!
"…!"
The door was open.
Inside the room, an overwhelmingly ominous presence lingered.
But why… why did this sinister aura feel so familiar?
Vicente hesitated to step inside.
No—what was he thinking?
He had to hurry—
"Albelda! An—!"
They weren't there.
Neither Albelda nor Anna was there.
They were gone.
Not moved—gone, as if they had evaporated from the bed.
What remained was only crimson blood soaking the sheets.
At last, every fragnt of mory surged back into place.
As if replaying it all, every scene he had lived through unfolded before his eyes.
His pupils shook violently, losing all focus.
"Aaah… ah…"
Thud.
His legs gave out.
He collapsed to his knees.
A scream spilled from his mouth without his consent.
Like a flashback reel, detailed mories of everything he had done rushed past him.
The white boy—No, the white demon—approached the young girls.
Its greedy mouth, hungry only for souls, slowly opened.
Crunch.
Gnash.
The white boy.
The white demon.
.
I devoured my friend and her little sister.
The two young, fragile souls were swallowed by that greedy maw.
And in that horrific scene—
I was there.
"Ugh—gh—blegh—kh—!"
He retched.
I ate the friend and sister I loved most.
He couldn't forgive himself.
It was disgusting.
Even as he suffered, unfamiliar thoughts kept being forced into his mind.
What… what happened?
Albelda—Anna—what happened to them?
I have to fix this—
I have to undo it—
Why —
What did I do—
It's not over—
It's still not enough—
More souls—
More power—
Albelda—Albelda—
Anna—Anna—
What is this?
Is this a dream?
Is this not real?
Please—
"Ugh… ah…"
His mind was a complete ss.
His thoughts wouldn't settle.
It felt like his head would split apart.
Thoughts that weren't his own were unfolding inside his mind.
Then, split and chilling—yet still sweet—a voice echoed.
—So? How does it feel to have a vessel capable of holding souls?
"You… what are you…!"
That was it.
That was the source.
—With this, a vessel to contain power has been completed.
—I'll handle the next one too, so just sleep soundly like you did this ti.
This thing—
This thing is really my true nature?
The space around him was swallowed by crimson-black.
As though his head were being torn apart, unbearable pain surged and his consciousness began to fade.
No—if this continues—
In the chaos of his mind, another mory surfaced.
The girls' eyes as they looked at him.
They were filled with fear.
They were trembling.
And yet—
They trusted him.
They kept looking at him—
Right up until the mont he devoured their souls.
The hunger vanished.
And that made him feel utterly repulsive.
He wanted to draw his sword and slit his own throat right then and there.
But his body was no longer his.
A silent, soundless scream tore through him as his consciousness was eaten away by crimson mist.
He continued to retch.
Only silent despair filled the room where they had vanished.
What… have I…
....
That night.
Arie Leblanc, a Ranker assigned to guard the dormitory of Arie trainees, walked the corridor.
Normally, she would be stationed outside the building—but for so reason tonight, she felt compelled to inspect the inside.
The mont she entered the hallway, she sensed sothing was wrong.
"What…? Why does it feel so eerie…"
An ominous feeling.
The surroundings were silent—no presence, no disturbance in the flow of shinsu—yet an unmistakable unease crept over her.
It was precisely this animal instinct that had allowed her to beco a Ranker.
She did not ignore it.
Her eyes glowed as she pierced the darkness.
Activating her abilities as a Scout, she perceived everything in the area.
The mories imprinted on this place.
She was seeing the past that lingered here.
"…Vicente?"
She saw the mory of him running desperately down the corridor.
The firm, upright boy she knew was gone—
replaced by soone shaking in terror, flailing as if drowning.
What had happened?
Sensing grave danger, Leblanc hurried in the direction Vicente had vanished.
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