Null slowly opened his eyes.
The first thing he saw was a ceiling.
A very expensive ceiling.
The intricate carvings, crystal lights, and polished decorations made it obvious.
This wasn't a hospital.
This was Max's mansion.
"...I see."
Null sat up.
A dull ache immediately spread through his head.
The last thing he remembered was injecting all four syringes.
Then that massive expansion of Axiom.
After that...
Nothing.
As he tried to stand, a maid near the door immediately spoke.
"Master Null, please don't force yourself."
Null looked at her.
"Where's Lana?"
"And why am I here?"
The maid bowed.
"I understand."
"Please give me a moment."
She quickly left.
Null stared at the closed door.
A moment later, he sighed.
"I'm not waiting."
Ignoring the maid's warning, he got out of bed and walked toward the door.
Just before he touched it—
The door suddenly opened.
"Lana?"
The moment she saw him standing, Lana rushed forward.
Then she hugged him.
Tightly.
"Thank goodness you're alive!"
Null blinked.
"Alive?"
"You thought I died?"
Lana immediately stepped back.
"I told you not to inject all of them!"
"...Fair."
Null scratched his cheek.
"Sorry."
Lana crossed her arms.
"You always become reckless when someone tells you not to do something."
"That's not true."
"It absolutely is."
Before Null could defend himself, another voice interrupted.
"You know, you scared her quite a bit."
Rose entered the room.
Null looked surprised.
"Rose?"
She sighed.
"You were unconscious for two entire days."
Null froze.
"...Two days?"
"Yes."
For the first time, even Null looked genuinely shocked.
Two days.
That was far longer than expected.
His expression immediately changed.
"Where's Leo?"
"Did he beat the assassin?"
Rose smiled.
"He's alive."
"Right now he's talking with Max in the garden."
Null finally relaxed.
At least Leo was safe.
Meanwhile...
In the mansion garden.
Max and Leo sat across from each other.
The atmosphere was calm.
At least until Max suddenly looked at Leo's hand.
"Interesting."
Leo blinked.
"What?"
"Your ring."
Leo looked down.
"The ring?"
He raised his hand.
"This one?"
Max nodded.
"Were you wearing any other ring?"
"No."
"Then yes. That one."
Leo stared at the ring.
It looked completely ordinary to him.
"A very important person gave it to me."
Max shook his head.
"I didn't ask who gave it to you."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"I asked about your connection to the Council."
Leo nearly choked.
"My what?"
Before Max could continue—
"Dad!"
A cheerful voice interrupted them.
Charlotte came running across the garden.
"Dad! Dad! Look!"
Max instantly softened.
"What is it, Charlotte?"
The little girl proudly held up a glass of water.
"I found something interesting!"
Without warning—
She poured the entire glass over her own head.
Splash.
Max stood up.
"Charlotte!"
"What are you doing?!"
"You'll catch a cold!"
Charlotte simply grinned.
"No I won't."
"Look."
Max stared.
Leo stared.
Charlotte's clothes weren't wet.
Not even slightly.
The water had disappeared.
Yet the ground wasn't wet either.
"What..."
Max frowned.
"What was that?"
Charlotte proudly puffed out her chest.
"An interesting thing."
Max rubbed his forehead.
"Yes."
"I figured that part out."
Before he could investigate further, a maid hurried into the garden.
"Pardon me, Sir Max."
"What is it?"
"Master Null has finally awakened."
Max immediately stood.
"He's awake?"
"Yes, sir."
A relieved smile appeared on Max's face.
"Thank goodness."
The group quickly headed toward the living room.
A few minutes later...
Everyone was gathered together.
The moment Max entered, he looked at Null.
"I'm glad you're alive."
Null tilted his head.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
"Did all of you assume I was dead?"
Max coughed.
"To be fair..."
"No doctor in the kingdom could explain your condition."
Null considered that.
"...Fair."
Then he noticed Leo.
The two immediately looked at each other.
Both alive.
Both unharmed.
The assassin was truly gone.
For a moment, neither said anything.
Then Max suddenly stepped between them.
"Before we celebrate..."
His expression became serious.
"I have concerns regarding your friend."
The room instantly became quiet.
Null frowned.
"What?"
"You've already met him."
"I know."
Max nodded.
"But after recent events, I have reasons to suspect he has connections to the Council."
Leo looked completely lost.
"The Council?"
Null immediately shook his head.
"No."
"I don't believe that."
Max folded his arms.
"And I don't believe someone can fall from the sky and know nothing about where he came from."
Charlotte suddenly tugged on Rose's sleeve.
"Mom."
"Does that mean Uncle Leo is a fallen star from the stories?"
Rose smiled.
"No, dear."
"Adults are talking right now."
Charlotte puffed her cheeks.
"But I want to stay."
Rose gently patted her head.
"A good girl listens to her mother."
"And if you do..."
She leaned closer.
"I'll give you a present later."
Charlotte's eyes sparkled.
"A present?"
"Yes."
The little girl immediately nodded.
"I'll be good!"
Then she happily ran outside.
Only after she left did the room become serious again.
Leo looked around.
"First, I really don't know how I fell from the sky."
"And second..."
"What exactly is the Council?"
Null answered.
"A group of criminals."
"The kind of people willing to commit any crime imaginable if the price is high enough."
Leo's expression became strange.
"That sounds incredibly illegal."
"It is."
Leo then turned toward Max.
"Why do you think I have anything to do with them?"
Max pointed directly at Leo's ring.
"That ring."
Leo looked down again.
"What about it?"
"It was recently purchased by a member of the Council."
The room became silent.
Null frowned.
"Maybe it's a cheap imitation."
Max stared at him.
Then he slowly rubbed his temples.
"Null."
"What?"
"Are you pretending to be stupid?"
"Huh?"
"You know perfectly well that making fake jewelry is illegal."
Silence.
Leo blinked.
Null blinked.
And for the first time since arriving in this world—
Leo realized something was very, very wrong.