The sky was entirely gray.
Clouds pressed low, swollen and endless.
Rain fell without pause—
straight down,
sideways,
everywhere.
Mist rolled in thick sheets, dulling the world to shadows and silhouettes.
The cold bit deep enough to numb thought itself.
On the edge of a cliff stood a giant starry blossom tree.
Its branches stretched outward, reaching past the cliff as if yearning for the void.
Rain slicked its bark dark.
Water slid from pink leaves in steady drops, falling into nothing.
Haruto stood at the cliff's edge.
Sleeveless white shirt, soaked through.
Loose black pants clinging at the hips, heavy with rain.
He looked up into the gray abyss above.
Not searching.
Listening.
A bell rang.
Soft.
Distant.
Echoing from nowhere and everywhere at once.
Like a church bell.
Like a wedding bell.
Haruto's hair plastered to his face.
Rain streamed down his skin, tracing lines that looked like tears.
He didn't shiver.
Didn't react.
His eyes held something wrong.
Not pain exactly.
Not anger.
Something quieter.
Heavier.
Footsteps approached from behind.
Soft.
Measured.
Haruto didn't turn.
"Why are you standing in the middle of the rain, Haruto?"
Liora said, stopping a few steps behind him.
Haruto's eyes widened just a fraction.
He turned his head halfway.
Rain slid down his face, blurring his expression—
giving the illusion of grief.
"Oh… it's you, Liora,"
he said quietly.
His gaze dropped.
Eyes narrowing, distant.
"Liora,"
he continued, voice low.
"Can you hear the bell?"
Liora frowned.
She closed her eyes, focusing.
Listening past the rain.
Past the wind.
"…Hmm."
She opened them again.
"Sorry, Haruto,"
she said gently.
"There's no bell ringing."
"I see,"
Haruto murmured.
A faint smile touched his lips.
Barely there.
"So you can't hear it."
"…That's good."
"Good?"
Liora echoed, confused.
Haruto turned fully and stepped toward her.
Rain soaked them both now.
No shelter.
No pause.
(Why can't I ever read him…?)
Liora thought, frustration burning sharp.
(I hate this. I hate not knowing.)
Without warning—
Haruto reached out and took her hand.
Liora stiffened.
Not from force—
from surprise.
"Come on,"
Haruto said calmly.
"Let's go home."
He tugged gently, already walking.
Liora stumbled once, then caught his pace.
She glanced up at him from beneath wet bangs.
Sideways.
Careful.
She searched his face.
Nothing.
No cracks.
No tells.
No answers.
It felt like staring into still water that hid unfathomable depth.
Her gaze dropped.
Hopeless.
They entered the forest.
Mud sucked softly at their steps.
Small pools rippled under falling rain.
Leaves sagged, heavy with water.
"You seem troubled, Liora,"
Haruto said quietly, eyes forward.
"I'm not,"
she replied, turning away.
"If you're trying to understand me,"
Haruto said evenly,
"you won't succeed."
She stopped breathing for a moment.
"The person who truly understood me…"
he continued, voice steady,
"died a long time ago."
Liora's eyes narrowed.
Her hands curled into fists at her sides.
She knew the truth of it.
Haruto endured.
Always had.
Pain.
Loss.
Responsibility.
He never complained.
Never leaned.
"I wasn't taught how to heal,"
Haruto said after a pause.
"Only how to keep going."
Rain swallowed the silence that followed.
Haruto and Liora reached the main mansion.
Stone steps slick from rain.
Cold air clinging to skin.
Before either of them could touch the door—
It opened from the inside.
Two maids stood on either side of the double doors, hands on the handles, heads bowed in perfect symmetry.
"Welcome home, Lord Haruto.
Lady Liora."
Their voices were calm.
Practiced.
Warm.
Haruto inclined his head slightly in return.
"Thank you."
The doors closed softly behind them.
The maids stepped back into place, hands folded neatly in front of their waists.
One was tall and dark-skinned, an elf with long midnight hair tied low.
Emerald eyes.
Pointed ears held straight.
Her black maid dress was immaculate, white apron crisp.
She lifted her gaze to Haruto.
"Is there anything you require, my lord?"
her tone formal, respectful.
Beside her stood another elf—
fair-skinned, pale-blonde hair falling gently over her shoulders.
Bright blue eyes.
A soft, polite smile.
Her black maid dress was trimmed with white ruffles, a teal bow resting at her chest.
"Shall we prepare a bath?"
she added gently.
"We'll use the hot spring,"
Haruto replied.
"Understood."
Both maids bowed in unison.
Haruto and Liora ascended the Y-shaped staircase, their footsteps echoing faintly through the hall.
—
Steam rose into the gray sky.
The rain had stopped.
Clouds still hung low, heavy and unmoving.
Haruto sat submerged in the hot spring.
Water lapped quietly against stone.
His posture was loose.
Shoulders lowered.
Eyes open.
Aware.
A faint ripple disturbed the surface.
He turned his gaze.
Liora stood at the edge of the spring.
A white towel was wrapped around her body, hanging like a short skirt.
Even covered, her curves were unmistakable.
She hesitated only a moment.
"You don't mind if I join you?"
she asked softly.
She didn't wait for an answer.
The towel slipped free.
She stepped into the water slowly, careful—
until it reached just beneath her chest.
"Do as you wish,"
Haruto said quietly.
Liora exhaled.
A long, relieved sigh.
Her shoulders loosened as the heat embraced her.
"…That feels good,"
she murmured.
The steam softened her expression.
"Liora,"
Haruto said after a moment, voice calm.
"Are you doing well in life?"
She turned to him immediately.
"My life is perfect,"
she said without hesitation.
"Because of your wisdom."
Haruto smiled.
Eyes closed.
The smile lingered a fraction longer than usual.
"I'm glad,"
he said.
Liora studied him.
"Why do you say it like that?"
she asked.
Haruto opened his eyes.
"In the coming war,"
he said evenly,
"every one of my subordinates will live."
Liora's breath caught.
"Their path isn't to die for me,"
he continued.
"It's to grow."
His gaze softened.
"Especially my children."
"The Servants."
Liora felt relief bloom in her chest—
And beneath it—
Unease.
A spider's instinct.
A quiet warning crawling along her spine.
(Something is wrong.)
(Not now… but soon.)
Haruto looked down at the water.
Steam curled around his face.
(I don't know when.)
(I don't know how.)
(But someone will die.)
His fingers tightened slightly beneath the surface.
(Someone close.)
Rain returned without warning.
Cold droplets struck the surface of the hot spring, sending small ripples outward—
soft shockwaves spreading, colliding, dissolving.
Haruto lifted his gaze.
The sky above darkened, clouds thickening as if drawn inward.
He raised two fingers.
Turned his wrist once—slow, deliberate.
The air shimmered.
A translucent, light-blue barrier unfolded around the entire hot spring, seamless and silent.
Rain struck it—and vanished on contact.
No sound.
No splash.
Liora looked up, eyes widening for just a moment before she composed herself.
"…I didn't know you could use the skill "Barrier Creation","
she said calmly, though surprise lingered beneath her tone.
"I've had it for a while,"
Haruto replied.
"I analyzed your barrier."
Liora studied him, then smiled faintly.
"Aren't you a clever one,"
she said.
Haruto didn't respond immediately.
(Not exactly.)
(Seraphina acquired it.)
(Instant replication.)
(I avoided the process.)
His expression didn't change.
"You could say that,"
he answered.
The barrier pulsed once—stable, flawless.
("Barrier Creation"…)
(Law override.)
(Internal physics control.)
(Infinite expansion.)
Satisfaction settled quietly in his chest.
Haruto leaned back slightly against the stone.
"Oh—Liora,"
he said casually,
"could you get me a new outfit?"
"If you don't mind."
Liora blinked—then nodded without hesitation.
"Of course,"
she said.
"I already have several prepared for you."
Haruto turned his head toward her.
A small smile touched his lips.
"You're really helpful,"
he said.
Liora looked away, cheeks warming faintly beneath the steam.
"…It's my duty,"
she replied.
"So… do you want to go right after this?"
Liora asked.
"Hm…"
Haruto murmured, searching his memory.
Nothing surfaced.
"Yes."
He nodded once.
"We can go right after."
"I don't want anything planned."
Liora rose from the spring.
Water slid from her skin in thin streams—
down her shoulders,
along the curve of her body,
disappearing back into the steam.
She faced him.
Haruto didn't react.
No hesitation.
No embarrassment.
Only calm.
Liora stepped out fully, then turned her back to him.
She bent to retrieve her towel.
Haruto followed shortly after.
They moved into the dressing room.
Haruto stood before the mirror.
The ceremonial robes settled onto his frame.
White.
Immaculate.
Heavy with presence.
Wide sleeves fell loose—
priest-like—
edged in deep violet bands carved with gold sigils.
Not decoration.
Seals.
Beneath, a sleeveless black tunic clung cleanly to his body.
The gold-lined neckline formed sharp ritual geometry.
The lower garment flowed in dark, weighted folds.
Faint pale sigils traced the fabric—
worn, deliberate.
Marks of rites already performed.
Pale boots grounded everything.
Simple.
Unadorned.
Liora stepped closer.
She adjusted his sleeve.
Smoothed the shoulder seam.
Her movements careful. Reverent.
"This fabric…"
Haruto said softly, fingers brushing the robe.
"It's spider silk, isn't it?"
"Yes,"
Liora replied.
"It won't unravel."
"It offers protection."
"Physical weapons can't cut it."
She stepped back, giving him space.
Haruto turned fully toward her.
"That's useful,"
he said.
"But why did you already have this prepared?"
Liora smiled faintly.
"It was a gift,"
she said.
"From one of your kin."
"She owns a clothing store."
"One of the best in the nation."
Haruto's lips curved slightly.
"I should visit her,"
he said.
"Thank her properly."
"That would make her very happy,"
Liora replied, hands resting on her hips.
"I doubt my presence alone brings true happiness,"
Haruto said quietly.
Liora shook her head.
"You're wrong,"
she said.
"It does."
"You are the god every spider across the universes worship."
Haruto went still.
"…You're right,"
he said softly.
(Their god.)
(What kind of god am I?)
(One who lets them die.)
(Across universes—)
(trillions erased in seconds.)
His reflection didn't change.
Haruto sat at the table beside the window.
A porcelain cup rested before him.
Steam curled upward.
Hot cocoa.
Another cup sat across from him.
Outside, the garden stretched in quiet symmetry.
Wet leaves.
Muted colors.
Rain-scented air.
The weather felt heavy—
yet Haruto felt calm.
Liora sat opposite him, fingers wrapped around her cup.
"What are you looking at, Haruto?"
she asked, taking a slow sip.
He turned from the window.
A faint smile touched his lips.
"I just felt something,"
he said softly.
"Achievement."
Liora's brows lifted slightly.
"Achievement?"
she repeated.
"I built a nation,"
Haruto said.
"One where species coexist in peace and freedom."
Liora's eyes softened.
A quiet, proud smile formed.
"You did,"
she said.
"You've earned multiple titles for that."
"Lord of Monsters."
"Wisdom Lord."
"Hero—from some humans."
Haruto couldn't suppress the smile that followed.
"Hero, huh…"
he murmured.
"I'm not a hero."
"But I am the one who will fix the world."
"I thought you'd say that,"
Liora replied.
"You know me well,"
Haruto said, leaning back in his chair.
She nodded once.
"On another note,"
Liora continued,
"the world government is watching us closely."
"Especially after you declined their invitation."
Haruto exhaled slowly.
"I don't understand what they're missing,"
he said.
"My nation is independent."
"We'll create our own currency under the Satoria Federation."
Liora smiled.
"I'm starting to think you simply dislike relying on others,"
she said.
"It's simpler than that,"
Haruto replied.
"My nation doesn't need external kingdoms."
"I'm here."
"Trees, food, infrastructure—everything."
"I can create it from nothing."
He lifted his cup.
The steam brushed his face.
His tone was calm.
But beneath it—
absolute certainty.