---
**[Scene - Royal Magic Academy – Temporarily Closed]**
The academy halls were empty.
No lectures. No students. No magic lessons.
But Kuro and Rei were not idle.
While the world stood still...
They moved.
---
**[Scene - Night - Capital of the Ironwood Kingdom]**
Kuro, now wearing his mask and black robes, stood on a rooftop, the wind whipping the long ends of his garment.
His silver hair had faded to black—the true color of the Shadow Lord, Shujin.
Below him, a corrupt city slept, its alleys hiding festering darkness—illegal auctions, ritual sacrifices, demon blood, and deceitful experiments, unaware.
> "Still rotting," he recited. "Let's clear it out."
---
**[Scene - Shujin and Rei Split Missions]**
Rei stood behind him.
> "Master will clear out the capital's syndicate... Rei will exterminate the demonic trash in the southern district," she said with a wicked smile. "Let's see who finishes first."
> "Hmph. Don't destroy the whole street this time."
[Rei destroyed an entire street during the Academy invasion.]
> "Can't promise that, Master~"
Rei disappeared into a swirling shadow.
---
**[Scene - Ryuto Watches the Night - Searching for Shujin]**
Elsewhere, Ryuto stood on the academy's north spire, gazing at the stars.
His chest felt adrift, like a lone hero in a forgotten painting.
> "Where are you, Darkness Lord…" he whispered. "Why haven't you shown yourself again?"
But the night gave no answer.
The one he sought was only a few districts away—wearing the very chest he watched over that night.
> *"We will meet one day,"* Ryuto thought. *"Then I'll see if you truly hold the evil... or the justice you claim."*
---
**[Scene - Princess Alisa Sneaks Out]**
In the royal capital, Princess Alisa, dressed in a simple robe and leather boots, slipped through a palace side door.
She had brought no guards.
She didn't want anyone to know.
She climbed an old bell tower, one where she had played with her brother, now soon to be a battlefield, and looked at the stars.
> "You're back, aren't you?" she whispered...
Then suddenly—
The wind shifted.
A dark silhouette appeared behind her, cast by the moonlight.
> "Do you remember me, Princess Alisa"
> "It's you—!"
She stood and turned. Her heart raced.
She hadn't forgotten that voice. The day he saved her… the mysterious robed boy. The dark eyes beneath the mask.
> "You're the Darkness Lord, Shujin"
> "Sounds like a myth the way the Princess says it."
> "....Why did you save me?"
Shujin paused.
> "I didn't know you were the Princess. I just saw something worth protecting, Princess Alisa-sama."
> "So are you a hero or a villain?"
The air grew still.
Shujin turned to look at the moon through the narrow temple courtyard.
> "No," he said. "I am the shadow. Hero or villain... light or shadow... it doesn't matter."
> "Then why do you fight?"
> "Because only in darkness can light shine. The darkness will illuminate this lying world."
Princess Alisa didn't understand.
But for some reason, her heart didn't refute his words.
In the blink of an eye, Shujin vanished into the night, leaving only the echo of his voice.
> "Farewell, little Princess of Light."
---
**[Scene - Devil Guild Headquarters - The Final Hunt]**
In the city's seedy east side stood a large stone mansion—hidden under an illusory barrier.
Inside, nobles, mages, blood merchants laughed with wine glasses.
But they froze the moment the doors burst open with unseen force, revealing a black-clad, masked presence.
> "Who... who are you!?"
> "You can call me…" the boy said, half-removing his mask, his glowing purple eyes piercing the room, "...Death."
The guild leader, a high noble and grand mage named Duke Vornem Drastel, was surrounded by top guards.
> "So you're the famed 'Shujin' who slew the Demon Lord. You're just a brat."
> "But your bones are trembling, aren't they."
The entire structure shook.
The battle began.
---
**[Scene - Shujin vs. Vornem Drastel]**
Vornem unleashed forbidden magic—hundreds of dark spears, fire tornadoes, undead wraiths.
But Shujin didn't flinch. He walked through them.
> [Time Hand I – Time Slow]
All attacks slowed to a crawl. Shujin's shadow formed into a spectral blade.
> "Too slow."
In three steps, the entire room fell silent.
The golden rug was stained with blood.
Only Vornem remained alive, kneeling, trembling.
> "What... what are you...?"
> "I am the reason you won't touch any more slaves."
A touch of his fingers, and the final rune swallowed the noble's existence into a void.
---
**[Scene - Rei – Southern District]**
Meanwhile, Rei danced across rooftops, performing a dark spectacle with both hands.
Demons screamed. Blood rained.
She giggled.
> "You belong in hell."
A demon tried to flee. She stopped him with a magic rod.
> "Oh~ You're not going anywhere. Master hates rats."
---
**[Scene - Shujin's Reflection – After the Battle]**
Walking through the ruins filled with the guild's corpses, Shujin recited.
> "Humans... are still weaker than demons"
But something felt wrong in his chest.
It wasn't mere brutality.
> *"No... that's not it. Why are humans always the prey, who is the true mastermind behind them?"*
He looked up.
The answer… wasn't here yet.
But it would come.
---
**[Scene - Return to Dormitory - Midnight]**
Rei was waiting.
> "Master is late~"
> "Just went sightseeing."
> "So did you see anything beautiful, Kuro-sama"
> "No, just found another piece of trash"
They laughed.
But both knew...
This night was only the beginning.
---
✦ **To be continued...**