“A war, huh?”

I muttered to myself as I walked back toward the wooden cabin.

“And it was the Dark Order again…”

My eyebrows furrowed.

Those bastards.

Always showing up, always causing trouble.

But for what?

What the hell do they really want?

Damn it.

If only I had more time to read the novel…

Maybe I’d know more.

Maybe I’d understand what they were truly after.

Reaching the cabin, I stepped through the empty doorway—where a door should be but wasn’t.

The inside was just as bare. No furniture, no decorations.

I wasn’t planning on making any of that anyway.

This place was nothing more than a shelter—a spot to sleep and store food.

Nothing more.

As for the beds…

I turned my head to the right side of the cabin, where I had gathered a thick pile of leaves.

The leaves are more than enough.

“Haaah…”

I should take a nap, I’m a bit tired.

Tling…

The sharp sound of a string being pulled suddenly cut through the silence.

I froze.

My grip on my sword tightened, but I didn’t move. For a brief second, I wondered if I imagined it. The wind, maybe? A branch shifting?

No.

Slowly, I lifted my sword and angled it, using the reflective blade like a mirror to look behind me.

And there it was.

Thin, nearly invisible strings crisscrossed behind me like a spider’s web. If I had taken just one more step…

“Damn it.”

Press…

A sharp sting.

The strings pressed against my skin, cutting into me.

Warm blood trickled down my arms.

“Kagetaro…”

I didn’t need to guess.

There was only one person I knew who fought with strings.

Clap, clap, clap!

A slow, mocking applause echoed through the air.

“Hah~ Hello again, my dear Moonlight Swordsman.”

A figure stepped out from the shadows, wearing the same annoying mask as before. He made a grand, exaggerated bow, his tone dripping with amusement.

“Did you miss me?”

His fingers twitched, and suddenly—

Swish!

The strings tightened around me, slicing through the air. I twisted my body, forcing a roll to the side just before they could cut any deeper.

Snap!

Some of the strings snapped as I moved, but more of them came flying toward me.

I swung my sword.

Clang!

The blade cut through a few of them, but not all.

One wrapped around my ankle—

“Tsk.”

I slammed my foot down, twisting sharply.

Snap!

The string broke, but the moment I freed myself, Kagetaro was already moving.

Whoosh!

A blur of motion—he lunged forward, aiming a dagger straight at my throat.

Clang!

I raised my sword just in time, deflecting the attack.

Sparks flew as metal scraped against metal.

But Kagetaro wasn’t done.

With a flick of his wrist, more strings shot out, wrapping around my wrist, my shoulder—trying to restrict my movement.

I yanked back hard.

Snap!

Snap!

Some of the strings broke, but I could feel others tightening around me.

“You’re struggling more than last time,” Kagetaro mused, tilting his head.

“What’s wrong? Tired?”

I gritted my teeth.

“Shut up.”

Using my free hand, I grabbed one of the strings and yanked him toward me instead.

His eyes widened.

THWACK!

I drove my knee into his stomach.

“Guh—!”

His body lurched forward, but he quickly regained balance, flipping backward and landing a few feet away.

“Heh…”

He wiped his mask with the back of his hand, sighing.

“Still as brutal as ever, huh?”

I clenched my sword, looking at him.

“What do you want?”

I kept my eyes locked on his every movement.

I couldn’t let my guard down.

Not with him.

Kagetaro tilted his head slightly, his body relaxed—too relaxed.

“Well~, isn’t it obvious?” he said with a smirk, or at least I assumed so.

That damn mask hid everything but the amusement dripping from his voice.

I tightened my grip.

“…I’m not joining the Dark Order. Not now. Not ever.”

Kagetaro let out a long, exaggerated sigh, shaking his head.

“Oh… That truly is a pity,” he said in a dejected tone, as if I had just refused a friendly invitation.

“But…” His voice took on a sharper edge.

“What if what I offer you is…”

He reached for the ring on his finger.

Fwoosh!

A burst of bright light filled the cabin, forcing me to squint.

And then—

My breath caught.

Hovering above his open palm was a massive, pulsing heart. Deep blue in color, with thick veins running across its surface.

And it was still pumping.

Ba-dump, ba-dump.

Loud. Strong. Alive.

“…That…”

My chest tightened.

My body stiffened.

A Dragon’s Heart.

Kagetaro slowly brushed his fingers against it, his tone dripping with amusement.

“Don’t you need this~?”

Yes.

I needed it.

Because—

A Dragon’s Heart meant life for me.

“How do you kno—”

“—Of course, I do.”

He cut me off before I could finish, his voice carrying a lazy smirk.

“Why wouldn’t I? I’ve been investigating you for more than… twelve years now.”

Twelve years?

My heart skipped a beat.

“Wait… Twelve years…?”

Kagetaro let out a light chuckle, tilting his head like he had just let a secret slip.

Twelve years ago…

That was around the time my sister died.

A sharp pain settled in my chest, but before I could speak, he continued.

“And before you ask, no. The Dark Order wasn’t involved in your sister’s death. If anything…” He suddenly stopped, his fingers tapping against the Dragon’s Heart.

“We were truly sad that one of our officials died in such a harsh way.”

His voice dropped lower, almost like he was reminiscing. He even wiped away imaginary tears as if he was mourning.

I couldn’t tell if he was mocking me… or if he was serious.

But then—

His next words froze my blood.

“We even tried to recover her body. Maybe turn her into a vampire so she could live again. But unfortunately…”

He sighed.

“We didn’t find her body.”

My mind went blank.

What…?

No.

No, no, NO.

There was no way my sister would ever be involved with an organization like that.

My breathing turned uneven.

My heart pounded against my ribs.

“I must say…” Kagetaro’s voice softened.

It was strangely warm.

“Your sister was very protective of you.”

I took a step back.

“She watched over you while you slept,” he continued, his voice carrying something almost like fondness.

“She even used her own life force to seal your physique, just so you wouldn’t die early.”

He shook his head as if in admiration.

Ah…

I wanted to deny his words.

To scream at him that he was lying.

But I couldn’t.

Because deep down, I knew.

With my cursed physique, I should have died over ten years ago. My body wasn’t meant to last. The amount of mana it absorbed should have torn me apart from the inside out.

And her blood essence…

I lifted my shirt slightly, my fingers trembling.

There.

On my sternum.

A small, faded symbol of a decayed lotus.

My sister loved lotus flowers.

No wonder…

This was hers.

She must have used all her mana, her very life force, to forcefully seal my physique.

So that I could live.

I felt something sting my eyes.

Kagetaro’s gaze flickered to the mark on my skin, and his posture shifted slightly.

“Ah… that lotus symbol,” he muttered.

“That is so like her.” His voice was quiet, almost… nostalgic.

“She really did love lotuses.”

My stomach twisted.

How does he know that?

I swallowed hard.

My hands clenched into fists.

No.

No, it couldn’t be true.

She wasn’t one of them.

She wasn’t.

But…

If she wasn’t, then how did they know so much about her?

About me?

For the first time, I felt like my glowing eyes had lost their light.

Kagetaro suddenly spread his arms wide.

“Moonlig—no, Aestrea Moon,” he corrected himself with a grin.

“Join us!”

His voice was smooth, enticing.

“If you do, I’ll give you access to everything—all the resources you need to find out who caused the Demon Beast tide that killed your sister.”

My breath hitched.

I stared at him, frozen in place.

Wait…

Someone caused it?

The demon beast tide… wasn’t natural?

A slow, burning rage bubbled inside my chest.

I clenched my fists so hard my nails dug into my skin.

Who?

Who was the bastard that did it?!

Glow…!

For a brief moment, a lavender light flickered around my body, my mana surging.

Kagetaro’s eyes gleamed with amusement.

“Oh-ho~,” he chuckled, licking his lips.

“That’s a nice look you have there.”

I ignored him.

I forced my emotions down, gritting my teeth.

And then—

I met his gaze.

“No.”

“I refuse your proposal.”

Kagetaro stilled.

I would find out who killed my sister.

But I’d do it my way.

Even if it took years, even if it cost me everything—

I would never join such a rotten organization.

“Ah… that’s truly sad.”

Kagetaro clicked his tongue a few times, his tone dripping with mock pity.

Then, with a casual air, he dusted off his hat and adjusted it slightly before turning back to look at me.

“Well… I’ll see you later.” His voice was light, almost playful.

“Once you have access to mana, that is.”

And then—he jumped.

His body twisted midair as he soared toward the open window, moving like a shadow.

But before he vanished—

He turned to me one last time.

“Also…”

His voice was soft, but it cut through the air like a knife.

“Since I really appreciated your sister… I’ll give you a little help.”

He tilted his head, a smirk behind that mask.

“You should start with the Royalty.”

Then, with a wink—

Fwoosh!

He disappeared into the night, swallowed by the darkness.

I stood frozen, his words ringing in my head.

Start with the Royalty.

The Royalty…

My mind raced. My body felt hot.

My fists clenched so tightly that my nails dug into my skin.

The king.

Could it be that bastard?

A sharp pain shot through my chest as I struggled to breathe.

Was he… the one behind my sister’s death?

Was he the reason she died?!

Did Lilith control him or something?

I gritted my teeth, my shoulders trembling as anger and frustration twisted inside me like a storm.

I forced myself to take a slow, shaky breath.

“Calm down…”

I muttered under my breath, trying to push back the overwhelming fury boiling in my veins.

“First… you need to check carefully if it was him or not…”

But the rage wouldn’t leave.

Plop, plop.

Footsteps.

“So… you were here.”

A soft voice spoke behind me.

That voice only angered me even more.

I slowly exhaled, forcing my emotions down.

Then, I turned around.

“Yeah.”

It was Ella.

Her long white hair swayed slightly with the night breeze, and her bright aquamarine eyes shimmered under the moonlight as she looked at me.

She had an innocent expression, but right now, I didn’t care.

“Well… I’m sorry about Lucas,” she started, a little hesitant.

“He doesn’t know how to control his words, and—”

“—It’s alright. I understand.”

I cut her off before she could finish.

Ella blinked, looking slightly surprised by my tone, but she let it go.

Instead, her eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced around.

“…Who were you talking to?” she asked, her tone curious but firm.

“I heard another voice aside from yours from here, but I couldn’t quite make it out.”

Fuck.

I immediately started thinking about an excuse.

“…Myself.”

I immediately regretted it.

I must’ve sounded crazy as hell.

Ella raised an eyebrow.

“…Really?”

“Yeah.” I nodded quickly.

“I was just reminiscing about some memories from twelve years ago, and… my voice just kind of came out naturally, in a different tone as if it was the narrator.”

It was a weak excuse.

But it was all I had.

Ella hummed, tilting her head slightly.

“Twelve years ago…?”

Her expression changed slightly—thoughtful, distant.

“That’s… a pretty precise date.”

I forced a shrug.

“Why? Do you have memories from that time?”

I was just trying to make the conversation feel natural.

Trying to cover up the awkwardness.

But then—

“Yeah… I think my father met with some high-ranking figure of the kingdom around then.”

Her voice was casual.

Like she was just recalling an old memory.

“I think they were… planning to kill someone.”

She frowned slightly, trying to remember.

“But I don’t really recall much…”

Crack.

A sharp pain spread across my chest.

My fingers twitched, my whole body tensing.

She said it so easily.

So casually.

But to me—it felt like a blade to the throat.

Her father… was involved in a meeting to kill someone.

Twelve years ago.

The same time my sister died.

My mind went blank.

A cold, dark rage wrapped around my heart, squeezing it tight.

I could barely hear anything.

I could barely think.

The king.

That bastard.

He must have been involved.

The person who stole my sister away from me—who ripped her from my life—

It was him.

A sickening fury crawled up my throat, but I swallowed it down.

I needed to be sure.

I took a slow breath, forcing my voice to stay steady.

I need to investigate her death thoroughly…

But if it was indeed that fucking bastard…

I need to check something.

“By the way… weird question.”

Ella blinked, snapping out of her thoughts.

“Hm?” She tilted her head. Continue your saga on My Virtual Library Empire

“What is it?”

I looked her straight in the eyes.

“If someone killed your father… would you go after them for revenge?”

She frowned, confused by the sudden question.

But then—

Her eyes darkened slightly.

“It really is a weird question… but the answer is obvious.”

She nodded firmly.

“Even if he’s not the best father… he still cares about me. So anyone who killed him would immediately die by my hands.”

She didn’t hesitate.

She didn’t even flinch.

I stared at her.

She would kill for her father.

She would avenge him.

“I see…”

I murmured, nodding slowly.

Ella gave me a small, confused look.

“That was oddly specific.”

I forced a light chuckle.

“Well… just making conversation.”

But inside—

I had already made my decision.

I looked into her bright aquamarine eyes.

We…

…It seems that we truly don’t have any destiny together.

Ella.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep