The city hadn't recovered.
Even hours after the incident, fear lingered in the air.
Hunters were on high alert.
Guilds issued emergency warnings.
And for the first time…
people began whispering about something beyond gates.
Kael walked home quietly.
No rush.
No tension.
But something inside him felt… different.
When he opened the door—
warm light greeted him.
His sister stood in the kitchen.
"You're late."
Her voice wasn't angry.
Just worried.
Kael paused.
For a moment… the world outside felt distant.
"…Something came up."
She walked toward him.
Closer than usual.
Then stopped.
"…You're different."
Kael didn't respond.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
"…What happened today?"
Silence.
He could erase entities beyond reality.
But this question—
was harder to answer.
"…Nothing important."
She stared at him for a few seconds.
Then sighed.
"You always say that."
But this time—
she didn't push further.
Instead, she turned back toward the table.
"I made your favorite."
Kael sat down.
For the first time that day…
the pressure around him faded.
This place—
was normal.
And for some reason—
he didn't want that to change.
"…Thanks."
She smiled slightly.
A small one.
But real.
And something inside Kael—
shifted.
Not power.
Not authority.
Something… human.
The next morning—
the Hunter Guild was already waiting.
"Kael Veyron."
He turned.
A woman stood near the entrance.
Black uniform.
Calm posture.
Sharp eyes.
An A-rank hunter.
"…You're coming with me."
Kael looked at her.
"…Why?"
She didn't hesitate.
"Because you erased something that shouldn't exist."
A pause.
"And because you didn't even try to hide it."
Inside the guild—
tension filled the air again.
But this time—
it wasn't just fear.
It was curiosity.
The woman sat across from him.
"My name is Elena Virel."
She placed a file on the table.
"You're currently listed as D-rank."
A faint pause.
"…That's obviously wrong."
Kael didn't deny it.
Didn't confirm it either.
Elena leaned forward slightly.
"I don't care what you are."
Her voice was calm.
But serious.
"I care about one thing."
A brief silence.
"Are you a threat to this city?"
For a moment—
Kael didn't answer.
Images passed through his mind.
The collapsing sky.
The descending entity.
The fear in people's eyes.
Then—
his sister.
"…No."
Elena watched him carefully.
"…You hesitated."
Kael's gaze didn't change.
"I was thinking."
Another pause.
"…About what?"
For the first time—
his answer came without delay.
"…What matters."
Elena leaned back slightly.
For some reason—
that answer felt more dangerous than anything else.
But also…
more human.
"…I see."
She stood up.
"Then prove it."
Kael looked at her.
"There's another anomaly forming."
Her eyes sharpened.
"Not like yesterday."
A pause.
"This one is inside the city."
Silence.
The air grew heavier.
Elena turned slightly—
but stopped.
"…And Kael."
He didn't respond.
"If you're lying…"
A faint pause.
"I'll stop you myself."
Kael stood up.
For the first time—
a faint hint of something appeared in his expression.
Not anger.
Not arrogance.
Interest.
"…You can try."
As he walked out—
Elena watched him.
For a brief moment—
her heart beat slightly faster.
Not from fear.
But from something unfamiliar.
"…What are you…?"
Far away—
in a quiet apartment—
Kael's sister looked out the window.
The sky still felt wrong.
And for some reason—
she felt like something was taking her brother further away.
"…Don't disappear…"