There’s a city not too far from the academy, shrouded in thick fog that obscures the sun even during the day.

The City That Doesn’t Weep—**Rukiyé**.

It’s the largest slum in the Empire, notorious for its shady atmosphere and the perpetual darkness that envelops it, creating the perfect breeding ground for crime.

Rukiyé is a haven for the wicked.

_"All dirty money passes through Rukiyé."_

Though officially labeled as a slum filled with beggars, in reality, it’s more of a den for assassins, dark magicians, and murderers. Even the imperial guards rarely dare to patrol the area. It’s a lawless zone, teeming with criminals.

Among the many crime organizations that plague the city, the most infamous of all is...

_"The slums have been turned upside down again."_
_"Was it 'Astro' that did it this time?"_
_"Yes, that’s right."_
_"The world’s truly going to hell."_

**Astro**, sometimes called "The Star Without Light."

They emerged about two years ago, swiftly taking control of the slums and rising as the new rulers of the underworld, a dangerous force not only in Rukiyé but across the entire Empire.

Recently, however, their activity had quieted down.

_"Astro? They’ve been unusually silent lately."_
_"Do you think another organization took them out?"_
_"I heard a rumor that they’ve left the Empire."_
_"No, some say they split up internally."_

There were plenty of rumors, but no one knew the truth. Astro had always operated in secrecy, so all people could do was hope those nightmares would never return.

---

In the center of the city, inside a building draped in black curtains, a girl sat alone in a dimly lit basement.

Her long silver hair cascaded down, and her empty eyes reflected nothing but void. She was the **vice-leader of Astro**, the second-in-command of the criminal organization that controlled the Empire’s slums.

The girl remained motionless, breathing but barely alive, resembling a living corpse. To her, nothing in the world had any meaning. Breathing was merely a mechanical act to sustain life.

She was like a doll with its strings cut.

_"...I miss you, Commander."_

Out of nowhere, the girl mumbled to herself, tears gathering in her eyes as memories surfaced.

A short, hastily written letter appeared in her mind:

_"A brief farewell. I hope everyone is doing well."_

That was the last message the Commander left before disappearing. He vanished without a trace, leaving behind only that single letter.

The girl gently touched the paper, as if it were the most precious thing in the world.

_"Where are you?"_

Nearly six months had passed.

Though he had always been elusive, this was the longest he had gone without any contact.

Had he abandoned them?

The terrifying thought crossed her mind, and she quickly pushed it away. The mere idea of being abandoned made her chest ache, and tears dripped from her eyes.

_"No, he would never abandon us... I mustn’t doubt him."_

She tried to calm herself, but the silver in her eyes trembled with longing. Just as she sat there, drowning in her loneliness, a sudden noise came from outside.

Laughter echoed loudly before the door slammed open.

_"Neria!!"_

Bang!

A middle-aged man with red hair barged into the room. His breath reeked of alcohol, and when his eyes met hers, he grinned foolishly.

_"Neria! You’re here!"_

_"...What is it?"_

_"He’s back! The Commander finally sent word!"_

_"What?"_

The silver-haired girl, **Neria**, was momentarily stunned. She seemed to be processing what she had just heard. Slowly, her previously empty eyes lit up with hope.

_"Is that true?! When, where, how did he contact us?"_

_"Calm down. Here, look at this letter."_

_"Give it to me, quickly!"_

Neria snatched the letter from the man’s hands. He smiled, pleased by her reaction.

_"The message was simple. He asked us to protect a few children—ten fox demi-humans in total."_

The girl quickly scanned the letter. The handwriting, the style, even the way the dots were placed—everything matched the Commander’s. Her silver eyes sparkled with joy.

_"I’ve already handled the preparations. I gathered our best forces to ensure the guests arrive safely."_

_"Huff... Huff..."_

_"I guess you didn’t hear me."_

Neria buried her face in the letter, inhaling its scent. The faint fragrance of the Commander lingered on the paper, making her shoulders tremble with emotion.

After a moment of breathing in the faint scent, she spoke with renewed determination.

_"Prepare yourself. The Commander will need us soon."_

Her silver hair fluttered as she clutched the letter to her chest like a precious treasure. She bowed her head in reverence.

_"Everything for him."_

It was a prayer—her devotion to her one true god.

---

The snake and the fox walked side by side.

We soon reached the entrance of the academy.

Even on second glance, it was an imposing structure. Even Irene couldn’t stop admiring it.

We’d be spending the next three years here.

A strange mix of excitement and nerves filled the air.

As we stepped inside, making our way to the main building where the entrance ceremony was taking place, we ran into a familiar face. I greeted her right away.

_"Lady Regia! It’s been a while."_

_"...Lord Snaikers?"_

Green eyes looked back at me, and her pink hair swayed in the spring breeze, resembling cherry blossoms in full bloom. The flying goggles around her neck were her signature look.

**Regia Pirates**.

In the original game, she was the protagonist.

And she had been my favorite character.

When our eyes met, Regia froze, seemingly uneasy around nobles. I smiled faintly.

_"Have you been well?"_

_"Ah... y-yes."_

_"Oh my, you seem so tense. I thought we became friends the last time we met."_

_"I-I’m sorry."_

_"Was I wrong in thinking that?"_

_"N-no... It’s just, it’s a bad habit of mine..."_

Regia was nervously explaining herself, clearly afraid of offending me.

She didn’t need to be so anxious.

Even her inability to express discomfort felt true to her role as the protagonist.

I stepped closer to her.

_"I’m glad you kept your promise."_

_"Huh?"_

_"You said we’d meet again when we both entered the academy."_

_"Oh... I remember now."_

_"I almost felt a bit hurt."_

I added with a teasing smile.

_"Congratulations on your admission, Lady Regia."_

It was a simple congratulatory message.

It might have seemed like a polite formality, but to me, it held a deeper meaning.

_'I wanted to say this. Even just this much.'_

Regia had no family.

She lived a wandering life without a place to call home, so naturally, no one was there to congratulate her on her admission.

I remembered it well—scene number 1943.

Every time, she stood alone at the entrance ceremony.

Though she tried to appear cheerful, I could always sense a hint of loneliness through the screen.

In those moments, I always wished I could say something to her.

_"I hope you enjoy your time at the academy."_

Even just a warm word like that.

Regia seemed momentarily stunned. Her green eyes wavered slightly. Then, after a brief pause, she smiled—a bright, pure smile.

_"Yes...!"_

_"Haha, shall we head inside then?"_

We resumed walking together.

Regia seemed more relaxed now, her tension easing. She even showed some interest in Irene.

_"Wow! This is the first time I’ve seen a fox demi-human!"_

_"W-what are you doing?"_

_"I’ve met many demi-humans during my travels, but never a fox! Can I touch your tail?"_

_"Absolutely not!"_

_"Aww..."_

Irene hissed angrily, and Regia, whose eyes had been sparkling with excitement, deflated at her sharp response.

It was an amusing sight, watching two popular characters from the game interact.

We reached the main building shortly after.

This was where the entrance ceremony would soon begin.

_"Shall we join the queue? It looks like they’re giving instructions over there..."_

The hall was crowded with students.

As I scanned the room, ready to line up, someone called my name.

_"Yuda Snaikers."_

_"...?"_

_"Yuda Snaikers. Is that you?"_

I turned to see a man who appeared to be a staff member based on his attire. I tilted my head slightly in confusion before responding.

_"Yes, that’s me... Is something wrong?"_

_"Your seat is over there. Please take the first chair on the stage."_

_"Excuse me?"_

He gestured toward the stage, stopping me from heading to the general seating area. His words left me momentarily puzzled, but he was firm as he nudged me forward.

_"The ceremony will begin soon. Please hurry."_

_"Wait, can you at least explain what’s going on...?"_

_"As you were informed beforehand, you are the top student of this cohort, Yuda. You’ll be delivering the welcome speech as the representative of the new students."_

_"Excuse me...?"_

For a moment, I thought I misheard him.

What? Top student? Student representative? Speech?

What the hell was he talking about?

Still in disbelief, I looked at the staff member with a questioning expression.

_"...Top student?"_

_"Yes, that’s correct. Didn’t you receive the notification?"_

The staff member finally paused, seeming slightly unsure.

_"Yuda Snaikers, you are the top student of this year’s cohort. You’ve been chosen to deliver the welcome speech as the new student representative."_

_"...?"_

Top student? Me?

I felt dizzy as his words sank in.