Kaelan stared at the masked man with narrowed eyes.
"...You’re not bluffing, are you? You really have information about all of this?"
Shadow nodded calmly.
"I do. My organization doesn’t merely worship the God of Death. Our true objective something more than just praying, it is to bring peace to this world."
He folded his arms behind his back. "For that purpose, we’ve built an extensive intelligence network. We gather information from every corner of the world. Only by understanding the dangers before they emerge can we hope to stop them before innocent people suffer."
Kaelan remained silent.
He carefully analyzed every word.
If... if this mysterious man was telling the truth. Then the organization behind him possessed an intelligence network capable of rivaling, or perhaps even surpassing, those of the Empire’s greatest noble families.
Still Kaelan couldn’t find a convincing reason to join him.
Yet his recent experiences made him hesitate.
First, the cultists in the forest near Okahaven had nearly sacrificed him alongside his classmates.
Then, during the academy’s practical examination. Demons had infiltrated the test solely to assassinate him.
His life had become one dangerous incident after another. If he could learn about such threats beforehand...
He could prepare for them. He could protect himself. And perhaps...Protect the people around him as well.
That thought alone was undeniably tempting.
Shadow watched Kaelan’s expression carefully.
Then he smiled beneath his mask. "That’s not all. If you work with me... You’ll become much stronger."
He stepped closer. "It’s time you stepped outside your comfort zone. Stop letting others make every decision for you. Choose your own future."
Kaelan frowned. "...You’re far too suspicious. What makes you think I’d simply believe anything you say?"
Shadow chuckled. "Hehe... Because I’m not your enemy. Yes. I worship the God of Death. But that doesn’t mean I want everyone else to do the same."
He shook his head. "I’m not asking you to become a believer. I’m simply inviting you to become part of my organization or my cult group.. whatever your like to call it.."
Kaelan looked unconvinced. "...Even so...Why me? I’m still weak. I’m just a student. Even if i am duke’s son there is hardly anything I can do, I don’t have huge influence like my father. So why would someone like you want me? And why offer me the second-highest position?"
Shadow laughed softly. "Because you’re special."
He looked directly into Kaelan’s gray eyes. "The darkness you wield...isn’t ordinary. It wasn’t merely awakened by chance. It was bestowed upon you. By Death Himself. For He is also the ruler of darkness."
Kaelan’s pupils contracted. His mind was thrown into complete confusion. He wanted to dismiss everything as nonsense.
But he couldn’t ignore the strange certainty with which Shadow spoke.
Still he couldn’t simply trust a complete stranger.
His thoughts became increasingly chaotic.
’Should I pretend to accept...? Then tell Father everything afterward? No... What if he realizes I’m lying?Should I pretend to accept...? Then tell Father everything afterward? No... What if he realizes I’m lying?
’This man infiltrated the Nightfall Estate without a single guard noticing. Even Captain Drake, who’s only one rank below Father, sensed absolutely nothing.This man infiltrated the Nightfall Estate without a single guard noticing. Even Captain Drake, who’s only one rank below Father, sensed absolutely nothing.’
’If Shadow truly wanted to kill me...I’d already be dead.’ And he can do that in future as well.
’I don’t even know how he look like.’
Kaelan slowly exhaled. Then another question crossed his mind.
"...Tell me. Where is my uncle? Where is Cassian Nightfall?"
Shadow answered without the slightest hesitation.
"Oh...He’s in the eastern duchy. Deep inside one of the great forests. He was there yesterday. Although... Knowing him... He’s probably already left."
Kaelan immediately focused on the details.
His father already knew Cassian had been seen somewhere within the Raigamine Duchy.
But no one knew his exact location. Not even Duke Nightfall. At least Kaelan thought so. That meant Shadow’s intelligence network was far superior to the one his father knew about.
While Kaelan was thinking, Shadow continued to talk.
"...Why was he there? To retrieve a special scroll. One hidden inside an ancient abandoned shrine deep within the forest."
Kaelan’s heartbeat quickened.
That level of detail. Wasn’t something anyone could fabricate so casually.
He stared at Shadow.
"...What’s the name of the forest? Aokamori Forest."
Shadow answered instantly.
"There. Are you satisfied now?"
"...I..."
Kaelan couldn’t immediately respond.
Silence filled the room.
Finally he asked the question that mattered most.
"...Why did the demons try to kill me?"
Shadow smiled.
"I’ll gladly answer...After you join my organization."
Kaelan immediately replied,
"I’ll join after you tell me."
Shadow shook his head.
"No."
"...Damn it."
Kaelan clicked his tongue in frustration. Both of them fell silent once again.
After thinking for nearly a full minute...
Kaelan finally spoke.
"...I need time. I can’t make a decision tonight."
Shadow nodded surprisingly easily.
"That’s fair. I’ll give you a few days."
He turned toward the window.
"I’ll return afterward. I hope you’ll have a favorable answer."
"...Wait."
Kaelan suddenly called out.
Shadow paused. "One last question."
"If I’m really that special... Why offer me the second-highest position? I’m still weak. I’ve accomplished nothing. So why place me above everyone else?"
Shadow burst into laughter.
"Hehehe..."
"Oh...The reason is actually very simple."
Kaelan waited.
Shadow casually answered,
"Because... My organization currently has exactly one member...that is me."
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Kaelan simply stared. His mind completely stopped processing information.
All this time he had imagined some enormous secret organization hidden within the shadows of the world. Or some huge cultist group that madly worship their god.
Instead this mysterious cult consisted of one person.
Just Shadow.
Seeing Kaelan’s dumbfounded expression, Shadow laughed even harder.
"So...I hope you’ll become my very first subordinate. My first official member."
Kaelan hurriedly stood.
"W-Wait—"
He reached out instinctively. But before another word could leave his mouth.
Shadow’s body dissolved into darkness. His figure melted into the shadow cast beneath his own feet.
Like ink sinking into black water. He disappeared completely. Not even a trace of mana remained.
The room became silent once more.
Kaelan stood frozen for several long seconds.
Then he slowly lowered his hand.
"What..."
He blinked repeatedly.
"Was he seriously alone? So he isn’t the leader of some massive hidden organization. He’s just a complete beginner trying to start one?"
For the first time that night Kaelan genuinely didn’t know whether to laugh or be even more worried.
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