The lobby of Himinn Stigi City Hospital was crowded with families of the victims from the strange illness that had struck Malaya Bank yesterday. Grief and anxiety clung to the air, heavy and unmistakable, because no one could get a satisfying answer from the medical staff about the condition attacking their loved ones.
The doctors called it a "strange illness" because they still couldn't identify its cause. All they knew was the result: severe mental dysfunction. The patients couldn't respond to anything, yet physically their bodies continued to metabolize and still required food and water. The hospital had given the condition a name—Apathy Syndrome.
Half an hour had passed since Kira woke up and found himself lying in a hospital bed in the inpatient ward. It took him several minutes to process what he had just lived through: the armed robbery, the bizarre world, the red-haired girl, Aigis… and his mother.
Kira's chest ached the moment his thoughts returned to her. He was grateful—because the doctors said his mother was still alive. But he had to swallow a bitter truth when they explained she had contracted the strange disease they called Apathy Syndrome.
After hearing the explanation, Kira could only interpret it in one cruel way: a sickness that left people with nothing but a functioning body—while their soul had vanished to some unknown place.
In the middle of his confusion, Aigis's voice returned, soft against his ear.
"Sir Kira…"
"…Aigis?"
"You look sad. What is it, Sir…?"
"…About what happened yesterday, Aigis." Kira's voice cracked. "My mother and those innocent people… they ended up with this strange illness. I don't know where to start. I don't even know what I'm supposed to do…"
Suddenly, blue light spilled across Kira's hospital room. It gathered, shaping itself into a transparent female figure. Slowly, the figure became clearer—more real—until a woman with long blonde hair descended beside Kira's bed and sat gently across his thighs.
Her sky-blue gown draped over a tall, well-proportioned frame.
It was Aigis.
She lifted both hands and cupped Kira's cheeks, forcing him to meet her gaze.
"…Don't be sad, Sir Kira."
"Uh… A-Aigis… I…" Kira stammered, shaken by the miracle in front of him—and by her breathtaking face.
"We can return your mother—and the people who became victims in Konets Sveta—back to normal."
"W-what…? Is that true, Aigis?"
"It is. If a Knight succeeds in killing the clan leader of yesterday's armed robbers inside Konets Sveta, then the victims of those robbers will return to normal."
"…Wait. Konets Sveta? What is that?" Kira asked, trying to catch up.
"A world created by Diablo. The battlefield you entered yesterday."
"O-oh… that's what it was." Kira swallowed. "But what do you mean by 'clan leader'? You mean the leader of those armed robbers? Didn't I kill him in there?"
"The sword-bearing knight was not the clan leader," Aigis said calmly. "A clan leader is someone chosen by Diablo through Zadyaraka to become his representative in the Second Heaven's world later. For now, clan leaders are tasked with collecting 666 souls—meaning, killing 666 ordinary humans during Konets Sveta—and destroying the Pandora Box that has already fused."
Kira's brow tightened. "Honestly… I don't understand most of what you're saying." He exhaled sharply, then his eyes lit with raw hope. "But… if that's true… I can still bring my mother back, right? As long as I kill the clan leader?"
Kira grabbed both of Aigis's hands and held them tightly. For the first time since yesterday, he felt a new kind of air enter his lungs—hope.
"Yes, Sir Kira. I believe we can save them," Aigis said with a gentle smile.
At that moment, the hospital room door opened.
A red-haired girl stepped in, wearing casual clothes and a long skirt. She froze—stunned—after seeing the man she came to visit holding the hands of a beautiful blonde woman.
Her foot stopped mid-step.
"Niezalezny…?" Kira blurted, confused.
"…Pervert," Nieza said flatly—and turned around, leaving the room.
"W-wait! Nieza! You've got it wrong!" Kira shouted, springing out of bed to chase her.
"…So this girl is your Engill?" Nieza asked later, still baffled. She stared at Aigis, who sat calmly beside Kira's bed.
"That's right," Kira answered shortly. He looked exhausted after chasing Nieza down and explaining everything. He sank back onto the bed.
"Why didn't you explain earlier…?" Nieza asked innocently, sitting beside the bed—right next to Aigis.
"I could've explained easily if you hadn't stormed out so fast that I had to explain while chasing you!"
Aigis tilted her head, studying Nieza. "You are Lady Niezalezny, correct?"
"Uh…? Y-yeah. I'm Niezalezny. Um…" Nieza replied, suddenly nervous.
"…Are you a representative of Engill Aliniere?"
"Yes! I mean—wait, how do you know?" Nieza blurted.
"Because I am an Engill. Engill can recognize other Engill representatives."
Kira leaned forward, frowning. "Aigis… what exactly is an Engill?"
"Engill are second-heaven beings created by God to guard Diablo, who was sealed inside the Pandora Box."
"Diablo…?" Kira repeated.
"Diablo is the source of all evil. In the year 40xx, he escaped because of Zadyarika, who shattered the Pandora Box into four parts. Diablo has not fully revived. He currently exists in one of the First Heaven worlds—Earth. Specifically, in the city of Himinn Stigi."
"He's in this city?" Kira muttered, half awed, half disturbed. "The source of all evil is here…? I'm curious what he even looks like…"
"The only complete part of his body is his left eye," Aigis said. "You saw it when Konets Sveta appeared."
Kira went rigid. "What?! So that giant eyeball was Diablo's eye?!"
"Yes, Sir. That is when he activates Konets Sveta."
"…And the world becomes a mad battlefield," Kira muttered bitterly.
Niezalezny crossed her arms. "Aigis, you said Engill guard Diablo while he's sealed in the Pandora Box. So what are you doing now? Trying to seal him again?"
"You are correct, Lady Nielza," Aigis replied. "However, we are beings of the Second Heaven and do not have the right to directly participate in war within the First Heaven. That is why we choose humans as our representatives—to seal Diablo once more."
"With the Pandora Box, right?" Nieza asked. "So where is it?"
"The Pandora Box was split into four parts. Zandayarika gave each fragment to four humans—those classified as the highest Monster class: The King."
"Monster…?" Nieza echoed.
"Any human who becomes Diablo's representative is called a Monster," Aigis answered.
Kira's eyes sharpened. "Wait. Does that mean the highest Monster class you mentioned… is the clan leader I have to kill in Konets Sveta?"
"That is correct, Sir Kira," Aigis said. "But remember—your target is the clan leader who commands the armed robbers you faced yesterday."
Kira shrugged as if it were simple. "Well… if I kill the wrong one, I'll just kill them all."
"…." Nieza could only stare, speechless at Kira's blunt answer.
"…Won't that be troublesome for you, Sir Kira?" Aigis asked carefully.
"No," Kira said. "You gave me power. So it's only right I help you to the end."
Aigis smiled softly. "Thank you for your assurance, Sir Kira. I, Engill Aigis, promise I will not disappoint you in our effort to save your mother."
Nieza cleared her throat, cutting in. "Okay… even if you two are beings from different skies, you look weirdly close. Why can't I meet my Engill like this, Aigis? I mean—face-to-face."
"Because you are a Level One Knight—Warrior—and you do not yet have access to two-way communication as I do with Sir Kira."
Nieza's brows jumped. "…Then what level is Kira?"
"Sir Kira is a Level Two Knight—Knight."
"Knight, huh?" Nieza muttered. "This is like a game…"
Then she stood abruptly. "…I'm leaving, Kira. Aigis. Thanks for the info."
"Hey, wait! We're not done, Nieza!" Kira rose and stopped her at the doorway.
Nieza's eyes stayed fixed on the door, her voice turning cold. "…What do you mean?"
"Work with me. Aren't we both Engill representatives?"
"Why are you asking me for help…?" Nieza snapped. "Aren't you the one with a higher rank than me?"
"What does my rank matter?" Kira insisted. "After yesterday, I know I need you."
Nieza's jaw tightened. "…We're both representatives with the same overall goal. But I have a personal goal, too."
"Personal goal? What do you—"
"DON'T LOOK DOWN ON ME!" Nieza cut him off.
"W-what?"
"DO YOU THINK YOU'RE STRONGER THAN ME? I DON'T NEED YOUR PROTECTION! I—I—"
Her shout broke into a violent cough. She clutched her chest, swayed, nearly collapsing—
Kira caught her.
"Nieza… are you sick?" Kira asked, alarmed. Her face looked paler than before.
"Let go of me," Nieza rasped, pulling free. One hand stayed pressed to her chest as she forced herself to breathe slowly, evenly.
"Nieza, I—"
"Sorry, Kira." She didn't look at him. "But I can't work with you right now. Our goals are different. Goodbye."
Then she walked out.
Kira didn't chase her. Something was driving Nieza—something tied to Konets Sveta.
Kira turned back toward Aigis, his eyes narrowing with sudden urgency.
"Aigis… can an Engill know when Konets Sveta will happen? Or the date after it happens?"
"Yes, Sir Kira. Not only the timing—we also record various events that occur while Konets Sveta is in progress."
Kira exhaled, a fierce spark returning to his eyes.
"Aigis… I knew I could rely on you."