C.S.O.

Kuro put his finger to his lips and said, “Ssssst!!” to indicate that what Fumiko just learned about Kuro is a secret.

Akame is one of the famous models today.
He is so popular that magazines featuring his photo on the cover can sell up to five times more.

Apart from being handsome, what makes Akame so popular is his slightly unusual and mysterious background.

He is of Japanese and English descent, comes from a wealthy family, and his mother is also a model.
He also studied abroad.

Due to his busy schedule, Akame cannot be contacted casually or accept jobs anytime.
That's why news about Akame in the entertainment world is relatively scarce despite his fame.

Of course, all those backgrounds are lies.
In reality, it is Kuro who takes on the jobs when there is an emergency.

This is something Kuro shouldn't be able to do, but considering the fivefold increase in sales, Kuro receives some special treatment.

“Even though you know my secret, don't tell anyone, including that idiot (Yuya).”

“…..I-I understand.”

Fumiko is nervous, and her face turns red with embarrassment.
Who wouldn't feel embarrassed when being close to someone they admire?

“Oh, one more thing, You don't need to feel awkward.
No matter what, I'm still me, understood?”

Although it's a bit difficult, Fumiko nods slowly.

Kuro turns to Chiaki.

“Chiaki, can we do it again this year?”

“Oh, are you forgetting our first time doing it?”

“..ehhhh?”

Fumiko panics as they suddenly discuss something they shouldn't be talking about.

“Don't forget, I've gained experience after one year has passed.
Do you think I want you to call me 'pathetic' all the time?”

Chiaki smiles.

“Alright, I understand.
But we can't do it this time.
You know we have plans after the party, right?”

Kuro falls silent for a moment as if trying to recall something.

“Oh, you're right.
The three of us are going on a quest in Avantheim.
Damn, I can't repay you.”

“Besides, it doesn't have to be me, right? …You can do it with Ruko or Fumiko.
Am I wrong?”

“Ehhh…
m-me?”

Fumiko panics, her face turning red, and she moves away from Kuro.

“Don't you want to?” Kuro asks.

“S-sorry, but I feel it's too early for us to do it.”

“?”

“Be-besides, I want to do it with someone I love.
I'm sorry!” Fumiko says with embarrassment.

“Why does playing Twister have to be with someone you love?”

“…………….eh?”

“But if you don't want to, I won't force you.
Besides, we're not doing it tonight.”

“…..”

Fumiko falls silent and bows her head in embarrassment after realizing that Chiaki and Kuro were discussing a game of Twister.

Fumiko suddenly sighs.

“What's wrong, Fumi-chan? Hoho…
don't tell me you thought we were talking about that…
hehehe…”

Chiaki laughed like an evil witch, making Fumiko even more embarrassed and pushing Chiaki.

Kuro chuckled softly, observing the camaraderie between Chiaki and Fumiko.

Finally, the three of them laughed together.

It didn't take long for them to arrive in front of Kuro's house.
They saw a large traditional Japanese-style house.
From the perspective of ordinary people like Yuya and Fumiko, Kuro's house resembled the home of a wealthy person from ancient times.

“I'll go home first to change my clothes.
You two go ahead.”

Chiaki waved her hand as she walked away, but when Chiaki entered the house across the street, Yuya and Fumiko understood why Chiaki was so familiar with Kuro and Ruko.

After seeing Chiaki enter the house's gate, it was now Kuro's turn to enter his house.

“Don't just stand there, come in quickly.”

“Yes…”

“……”

Kuro opened the door and entered, while Yuya and Fumiko followed him from behind.

From their expressions, Kuro knew they were confused.

“Ruko, I'm home.”

“Sorry to bother you.”

“Excuse us.”

Not long after, the sound of approaching footsteps could be heard.
Then Ruko, wearing a mini skirt and a pink sweater, greeted them.

She was beautiful like a goddess.

“Welcome home, Onii-chan.
Ah…
here, let me take your bag.”

“Well…
thank you.”

Ruko cheerfully received Kuro's school bag.
After that, Ruko glanced at Fumiko and Yuya.

The impression of a wife welcoming her husband home flashed through both of their minds.

“Yuya-san, Umi-chan, welcome.”

“Sorry to disturb you,” Yuya said.

Fumiko simply nodded while smiling.

Ruko then went inside.
Kuro followed.
Yuya and Fumiko had no choice but to follow them.

The atmosphere inside the house was so quiet that it gave the impression that no party was being held there.

Yuya glanced around the various corners of the house out of curiosity.
The furniture and everything in Kuro's house were very ordinary and unremarkable, but the few displayed katana swords on the wall gave a slightly eerie impression.

There weren't many photos displayed.
On the wall, only three photos were showing Kuro and Ruko's family.

In those photos, Ruko and Kuro each took a photo with their respective parents.
The third photo was of Ruko, Kuro, and Chiaki playing together when they were kids.

Kuro's childhood self looked the same as he does now, boring and annoying.
Ruko was also the same; her beauty was evident from a young age, and they understood why she was so beautiful.
The one who looked different was Chiaki.
In the photo, she looked like a mischievous little boy.

“…sometimes reality is too frightening…”

“Yuya, what's wrong?”

“Oh, it's nothing…
ha ha…”

Ruko and Kuro then slid open one of the wide room doors.
In the middle of the room, there was a cake decorated with candles shaped like the number 14 and the words 'Happy Birthday'.

The room was neatly arranged with juice and some other beverages.
But that was all that was in the room.
If it were called a simple party, it would be accurate.

“Take a seat wherever you like,” Kuro said as he sat on one side of the table.
“You might be a little surprised, but our family doesn't celebrate birthdays, so we just have a small gathering like this,” he added.

Yuya and Fumiko smiled faintly.

They entered the room and sat on the opposite side of Kuro.

“So, you celebrate your birthdays together every year?” Yuya asked.
“Honestly, it's a bit surprising to me.”

“But isn't it more enjoyable to celebrate like this? It's not bad at all.”

“Yes, I agree.
Rather than celebrating alone, I think this is better.”

“….”

No one dared to comment.

“But doesn't Ruko have many friends? Isn't it okay to invite them?” Yuya asked.

“……”

Ruko didn't answer and just bowed her head.
Meanwhile, Kuro let out a small sigh and looked away.

The atmosphere suddenly became uncomfortable.
Unfortunately, Yuya didn't notice it.

At that moment, the door suddenly opened.
Chiaki had arrived.
Her slightly feminine appearance had now completely transformed with shorts and a t-shirt that showed how tomboyish she was.

“Ruko-chan, I'm sorry, I–“

Chiaki sensed the unpleasant atmosphere.
She glanced at Kuro, but Kuro only smiled bitterly.

Then Chiaki looked at the only person responsible for the unpleasant atmosphere.

“Kuh.
WHY DID YOU SUDDENLY HIT MY SHOULDER?”

“Because you deserve it, you idiot!”

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN?”

“It's useless to explain; your marble-sized brain won't understand.” Chiaki sighed.
“Now shut up or I'll hit your head until it shatters!”

“Eeek!”

The serious and intimidating gaze frightened Yuya half to death.

After seeing Yuya experiencing severe trauma, Chiaki sat next to Ruko.

“Wel…
we should just start.
We don't want it to get too late, right?”

“Okay!”

Ruko nodded softly.

The atmosphere was still uncomfortable, but it was slightly better after Chiaki arrived.

Not wanting the situation to continue like this, Kuro took action as well.
He lit a match and then lit the candles on the cake.

“Chiaki is right.
We're here to celebrate your birthday.
You should be cheerful, Ruko.”

Kuro stroked Ruko's head.

Ruko looked comfortable and happy.
The usual Ruko slowly returned.

Kuro always did this when Ruko was sad or unhappy.
And after Kuro did it, Ruko usually felt better, just like now.

Not only Kuro, but Chiaki also did the same.
The two of them looked like parents comforting their children.

“Alright, even though it's not much, let's start.'”

They all sang the birthday song except for Ruko.
Ruko smiled happily, and an aura of joy emanated from her.

While singing, Kuro showed a happy smile that he rarely showed to others.

After the birthday song ended, Ruko closed her eyes to make a wish and blew out the candles on the cake.

Clap clap clap. 

Everyone applauded after Ruko blew out the candles.

“Ruko-chan, what do you wish for this year?” Fumiko asked.

“I hope Onii-chan will marry me this year.”

Yuya and Fumiko immediately froze.
Meanwhile, Kuro and Chiaki only smiled wryly as if they already knew what Ruko wished for.
But it wasn't strange considering Ruko was a brocon.

“Is that your only wish?” Kuro asked gently.

“Of course not.
I also wish for everyone to be happy and stay together.
And my final wish is a secret, so I won't tell anyone.”

“Alright, if it's a secret, then make sure no one finds out.
Maybe your request will come true.”

“No.
I'm sure it will come true, Onii-chan.”

Although he didn't know, Kuro simply nodded.

The next event was cake cutting.
Kuro was the first to receive a piece of cake, but he only got a small portion because he didn't like sweet food very much.

It was a simple yet lively and enjoyable party.
Everyone seemed happy, and no one wasn't pleased.

But there was only one person who was lost in thought and often looked out the window.

The highlight of the event was playing with fireworks in the spacious backyard.
Everyone played cheerfully and a bit excessively, except for Kuro, who sat and drank tea.

It wasn't that he didn't want to join, but he preferred to be an observer.

“…Can I sit here?”

Chiaki sat next to Kuro, holding a canned drink.

“I don't need to give you permission.
I've already said that this house is open to you, so consider it your own.”

“Yes, I do consider it my second home, which is why I don't hesitate to sneak into your room.”

It was one of Chiaki and Ruko's habits, but Chiaki had stopped doing it after middle school because she knew it wasn't appropriate.

“You used to do it quite often…
Chiaki, thank you for telling Fumiko and Yuya.
This year feels more enjoyable.”

Kuro glanced at Ruko, who was playing fireworks with Fumiko, while Yuya watched them.

“You're welcome.
Besides, if Ruko is happy, I'm happy too.
It's something I must do.”

Chiaki smiled, took a few sips of her canned drink, then stood up and prepared to leave.

“I'll join them for now.”

“…………”

Kuro remained silent and didn't respond much.

Chiaki left and eventually rejoined the others in playing with fireworks.

“…You know, Chiaki, I hate it when you lie and aren't honest with yourself.”

But Kuro knew that the biggest liar was himself.

He closed his eyes for a moment, and for some reason, Flamia's face flashed in his mind.

She was a pure and peculiar girl.
But sincerity radiated from her.
So pure, strong, and resilient.

The incident when they faced the Demon King together crossed Kuro's mind, but that wasn't what he remembered.
What he remembered was the first time he kissed Flamia from the depths of his heart.

At that moment, he felt happy and didn't think of anything else but Flamia.
What was happening to him?

Is he falling in love with Flamia?

(If that's true, then I'm the worst person…)

Kuro let out a heavy sigh, then opened his eyes and looked at the slowly clearing cloudy sky.

(…No.
From the beginning, I've always been the worst.)

Kuro saw a small star behind his glasses.
A small star that could dim if there was even a little brighter light or a small cloud.

(……….)

Kuro smiled to himself.
A sad smile that he didn't want to show to anyone else.

[Why are you smiling like that?]

A voice echoed in Kuro's head.
He was familiar with that voice.
He wasn't afraid or curious about it because the voice had been there since he was 6 years old.

[Aha ha…
I shouldn't have asked that because I am you.
Isn't that funny?]

Another personality? Virus? Alien? Other people's thoughts? Telepathy?

No.
That voice came from something worse than all of that.

(I thought you had disappeared a long time ago, Shiro.
Why don't you disappear forever and stop bothering me?)

[Why are you so cruel? After all, I am you, and you are me.
We are one.
I know you haven't forgotten that.]

(You're not me.
You're a demon.)

[And so are you.]

(……….)

Kuro couldn't argue.
Whether it was fate or misfortune, Kuro couldn't deny it.

Shiro's voice was no longer heard.

Kuro sighed deeply and lay down on the cold wooden floor.
He hadn't heard Shiro's voice in a long time, and now Shiro suddenly appeared.

Was this a sign?

He didn't know.
And no one knew.
Not even Kuro himself.

The simple birthday party for Ruko ended a little past 10 p.m.
After helping with the cleanup, Fumiko and Yuya went home.

Kuro and Ruko escorted them to the front door.

Not only the two of them, but Chiaki also went home.
However, since they were going to play CSO, they would meet again soon.

 

-Alfania City, Alfheim.

This city was located in the heart of Alfheim.
It could be considered the capital of Alfheim.
It's strategic location made it one of the most frequently visited cities by adventurers.
This made the city suitable for business purposes.

In addition to its strategic location, the city was built under a giant tree that resembled a giant mushroom.

Kuro, Chiaki, and Ruko met in this city.
Their purpose in coming to this city was to prepare for the quest they would undertake in Avantheim.

Avantheim was still relatively unexplored.
There were still many uncharted and undiscovered parts of the region.

The quest they were about to undertake was in one of the explored areas.

That quest is called Treasure Hunter.
It requires a liber to search for treasure on a specific island.

Avantheim is a world of seas.
It can be said that it is a world filled with water and islands.
Similar to the previous world, the liber in Avantheim sometimes needs to use an item.
The item in Avantheim is the Fishtail, which transforms liber into half-human, half-fish beings.

This is necessary because Avantheim not only has islands above the water but also beneath the water.
That's the uniqueness of Avantheim.

The store they entered is one of Flirst's shops, which is a blacksmith that Kuro frequently visits.

“Can't you make better weapons, Flirst?”

Chika complained while looking at the displayed weapons alongside Anna.
Meanwhile, Kuro was examining his ordered katana.

“If you came to complain, you better leave,” Flirst replied irritably.
“I don't need customers who constantly complain like you.”

“If you don't want your customers to complain, then make weapons that satisfy them.
That's the duty of a seller like you, right?” Chika retorted.

“Chika is right, Flirst,” Kuro added.

“I don't want to hear that from you, you bastard.
I'm glad that your popularity has increased as my customer, but I never expected you would also become more troublesome.
I don't think there will be any other blacksmith in CSO who would make weapons for abnormal liber like you.
You should consider yourself lucky.”

“Well, I would feel even luckier if you could make me an even stronger weapon,” Kuro said, carefully examining the katana in his hands.
It was a thin, heavy, and sharp sword.
At first glance, there was no difference from a katana in the real world.

The sword was the latest version of the katana that Kuro always ordered.
The shape and level remained the same, but the difference was the increased durability compared to the previous version.
Kuro had no choice but to ask Flirst to increase the durability because his [Acid Blade] skill level had increased after defeating the Demon King.
Not only did it become stronger, but the Acid Blade skill also quickly destroyed his swords.

“Don't joke around.
I don't think there is any blacksmith in CSO who can make a weapon like that except me.
Besides, didn't I tell you to find a weapon with the dark element soon? You can use regular weapons, but you know it's only temporary.”

Just like magical elements, weapons also have their own magical elements.
Almost all liber use weapons that match their element to strengthen their attacks.

Here lies Kuro's problem.

Dark element weapons are quite rare in CSO.
And even if they can be ordered, obtaining the materials is quite difficult.

“I once obtained one in Midgard, but it also broke immediately.
I think Acid Blade is too damaging.”

“It sounds a bit strange coming from you.
Well, thanks to that, you always come to my shop, so it's not a problem, ahaha…”

“Yeah, and thanks to that, I have to lose the money I always earn,” Kuro sighed softly.
“But you made 20 katanas like my order, right?”

“Of course, but I have to warn you.
This katana might be the last version because I don't know how to increase the durability of weapons any further.”

“That means if my skill level increases again, I'll be in big trouble.”

“Not necessarily.
If I find the right materials, I can make a stronger weapon with higher durability.
The problem is, it takes a long time.”

“It seems like I'm really making things difficult for you,” Kuro immediately felt guilty.

But Flirst smiled faintly.

“It's not a problem.
Besides, it's also for the quality of the weapons I make.
If the durability is higher, it means the quality of my weapons is also better, right?”

“I don't know how to respond to that,” Kuro chuckled bitterly.

Anna and Chika approached after feeling that Kuro had finished inspecting the weapons.

“Are you done, Onii-chan?”

“Everything is finished.
We can leave anytime.”

“In that case, Flirst.”

Both of them opened the panel to complete the purchase transaction.

Afterward, the 20 katanas were now stored in Kuro's storage.

The matter with Flirst was settled, and there was no other reason to stay at Flirst's shop.
They left, and their destination was the teleportation gate located in the city center.
They walked leisurely while discussing a few things and doing a final check to ensure the success of their quest.

While walking, suddenly a large shadow passed over them.
The large shadow came from the legendary bird monster, the Phoenix.
Kuro could guess who was approaching as he was familiar with the Phoenix.
Not only Kuro, but hundreds of liber around also instantly recognized it.

“What is Flamia doing here?” Ruko asked.

“Who knows, but we better ignore her and leave here quickly,” Kuro replied.

Kuro had a bad feeling.
He broke into a cold sweat and pulled both of them away.
Ever since he logged in, Kuro had received messages from Flamia to meet up.
Kuro knew that Flamia wanted to kiss him again.

But for some reason, Kuro felt that today was a bit different.
Flamia usually sent messages with a location and time, but today she sent a message saying, “There's something I want to discuss.”

Kuro didn't know what Flamia wanted to talk about, but what mattered most to him at the moment was the quest they were about to undertake, so he declined to go.

“She came to meet me.
I better leave quickly before any trouble arises,” Kuro thought to himself.

Kuro continued to pull Chika and Anna, who were both confused by his strange behavior. 

Just then, a fireball the size of three meters suddenly attacked the three of them.

“Tch…”

Kuro let go of their hands and leaped to dodge.
Boom! A loud explosion occurred, and dust filled the air, obscuring their view.

“What is this?”

Kuro closed his eyes.
After the dust settled, he could see Anna and Chika on the other side of a crater.
In safe areas, the liber wouldn't lose HP, but the same couldn't be said for structures.
Buildings would still be destroyed if they were hit by liber attacks.

The roar of the Phoenix bird echoed, piercing their ears.
The Phoenix flew low, indicating that Flamia would soon land.
Or not.

After the Phoenix passed, a figure descended from the sky.
Who else could it be but Flamia? And she jumped directly toward Kuro, preparing to embrace him.

“?!'' 

Kuro was startled and couldn't avoid it.
Flamia landed on Kuro's body and immediately hugged him tightly.

Everyone who witnessed the scene could only be dumbfounded, including Anna and Chika.

Kuro tried to struggle, but he didn't have enough strength due to the vast difference in their levels.

“Flamia, let go of me.
Don't you remember we agreed not to do this?!” Kuro could only fall silent as his mouth was tightly sealed by Flamia's soft lips.
Kuro realized he couldn't do much and eventually had to resign himself to the situation.

Meanwhile, those who witnessed the event could only freeze in shock as if struck by lightning.
It was truly something difficult to believe.
From the perspective of those around Kuro, Flamia was genuinely enjoying the moment of kissing Kuro.

“HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING, BITCH!”

“RELEASE KURO-CHAN IMMEDIATELY, BITCH!!”

Recovering from their surprise, Anna and Chika immediately approached Flamia with a strong aura of killing intent.
Everyone who saw this even shuddered.

But before they could lay a hand on Flamia, numerous magic circles appeared around them.

“Trouble!”

Chiaki immediately knew what skill was about to attack them.
She prepared to dodge, but Flamia's skill was faster.

Chains of fire emerged from dozens of magic circles and bound their bodies.
Although Chiaki managed to dodge, she was still caught.

The liber around them could only watch.
They didn't know whether to react with confusion or awe.
But they were aware of one thing: they would get into trouble if they interfered.

“RELEASE US, BITCH!”

Anna struggled and screamed, but Flamia seemed to ignore her and continued kissing Kuro.

“ARGGHH…
ONLY I CAN KISS ONII-CHAN LIKE THAT!”

Anna was truly furious.
Hatred and anger radiated from her.

Crack…
Crack…

Slowly, the chains began to crack and break.
This should have been impossible due to the significant level difference, but it seemed Anna derived her strength from a different source.

Finally, Flamia glanced at Anna, who was almost free.
She stopped kissing Kuro and released her embrace.
However, Flamia was still in a dangerous position on top of Kuro's body.

“Sorry, but I have no business with you, Anna-chan.”

“GUH…
DON'T SMILE AT ME.
RELEASE ME SO I CAN BEAT YOU TO A PULP, BITCH!”

“I want to do that too.”

Unlike Anna, Chiaki politely requested.
It was strange, but perhaps she realized it was pointless to struggle.

“Sorry,”

At the same time, dozens of magic circles appeared around Anna again.

“…but I have an important conversation with Kuro.
So I ask that you both stay quiet for a moment.”

Fire chains emerged toward Anna and Chika.
The two of them could only resign themselves, but–

Pok!

“Don't you dare do that to my little sister, you fool!”

Kuro struck Flamia, causing her Fire Chain to miss the target.

“And didn't you say that you wouldn't do it unless it was just the two of us?”

“Hehe, but it's your fault for not coming.
Besides, there's something important I want to discuss.”

“We can talk later.
Right now, I want to go on a quest with Anna.
Can you be a little understanding? I don't think not kissing for one day will kill you.”

“Too bad I can't- hm? Why do I sense an overwhelming killing intent?”

“…….ahh, I think I know.”

Kuro turned towards the two chained individuals.
As Flamia had mentioned, an extraordinary aura of killing intent emanated from both of them.

Kuro realized that his position with Flamia was somewhat dangerous from the perspective of others.
Moreover, from their previous conversation, Kuro's secret had been exposed.

(Ah…
I have a bad feeling.
Shiro, can you take my place for a moment.)

[….]

(You really are useless at times like this.)

“?!-“

Crack…
crack…
crack.
The fire chains cracked again and began to break.
It wasn't just the chains restraining Anna, but also the chains on Chiaki.

“Hmm…
this is the first time someone has been able to easily destroy my chains.”

Flamia was genuinely amazed.

“I don't think this is the time to be amazed.
Just so you know, both of them can be more dangerous than the Demon King.”

The sound of more chains breaking could be heard.

(I'm going to die.)

Not only in the virtual world but also in the real world.

(But before that…)

“You said there was something you wanted to discuss with me.”

“Yes.
And because it's extremely important, I had to come alone.”

“Quickly say it! I want to finish my business before I die.”

“Die? Ah, don't worry, I won't let you die.
[Fire Chain], highest level!”

Dozens of magic circles appeared once again, but this time they were darker in color.
Chains of fire emerged from the magic circles, but this time the flames were raging.
With their bodies restrained, Anna and Chika were easily captured.

“BITCH, I'LL KILL YOU 100 TIMES!”

“KURO-CHAN, I HOPE YOU'RE READY! KUKUKU…”

Chiaki was more frightening as she smiled like a monster from the anime Madoka Magica.

Fortunately, both of them were bound by chains, but was this truly the right thing to do?

It was Ruko's birthday, but now Kuro had given her the worst gift ever.
He couldn't blame Flamia.
In this situation, he was the one at fault.

“……..”

Behind their anger, Kuro realized that they were both actually sad.
It was understandable that they wanted to beat him up.

“Flamia, can you release them?”

“Of course, but are you sure?”

“Yes.
But step aside for a moment.”

Flamia complied with Kuro's request and stepped aside.
Meanwhile, Kuro approached Chika and Anna.

Kuro smiled.

“I'm sorry, I'll explain it later.
You can beat me up later too, but can you calm down first? If you calm down, you'll be free.”

“….Onii-chan..”

“…….”

They were truly angry and sad.
Anna shed tears, while Chika was deeply affected.
She didn't even want to look at Kuro.

(I'm the worst for making the two people I love cry.)

The Fire Chains disappeared from their bodies.
They immediately collapsed to the ground, weak and motionless.

Kuro approached them.

“She wanted to talk to me, so can we listen first? After that, I'll accept any punishment from both of you.”

They both remained silent and continued to bow their heads.
Kuro couldn't do much in this situation.

He turned to Flamia and approached her.

More and more Libers were watching them and discussing Kuro's actions.
Kuro had no choice but to try not to listen to them.

The most important thing at the moment was Flamia's needs.

“So, what did you want to talk about?”

“Yes.
What do you want to discuss with Onii-chan?”

“I want an explanation right away!”

Suddenly, Chika and Anna were by Kuro's side.
They appeared normal, but Kuro knew from their aura of killing intent that they were still angry.

They stood by Kuro just to make sure he wouldn't escape and also out of curiosity about what Flamia wanted to discuss.

(They're easy to read.)

Kuro sighed inwardly, but he immediately prepared himself mentally because he knew exactly what would happen if they both got angry.

Kuro refocused his attention on Flamia.

“Kuro, do you remember what you said when we first met?”

“Yes, of course.
What about I…” Kuro stopped as he felt a chilling glare.
“…it?”

“It's nothing, but after defeating the Demon King, I had a strange feeling about you, but I didn't know what it was.
After asking others, I finally figured out what I was feeling.
So…”

“””…………”””

“Kuro, marry me!”

The spectators froze in place.
Chika and Anna did too.
As for Kuro-

“…………………………eh!”

[I guess we can be called a Lady killer, right?]

(Yes.
I agree.
And I think I'll have even worse problems than I anticipated.)

 

Time: Now

That was the beginning of all the new problems in Kuro's life.

Kuro smiled slightly as he remembered the moment Flamia asked him to marry her.
In real life, it would be strange for a girl to ask a guy to marry her, but in CSO, it didn't seem too different.

Troubles.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Again and again.
Kuro was still young but already faced the complexities of having three wives.

But despite all the problems, as long as the people who were precious to him were happy, it wasn't a problem.

But today, there was someone who tried to ruin it all in the name of 'inappropriateness.'

[Kill him!]

(I want to do it too, but it won't make people like him learn their lesson.)

Kuro glanced in Shun's direction from a distance of 3 meters.
He slowly approached, preparing to unsheathe his sword at Shun's throat.

But Kuro stopped a few milliseconds before his sword touched Shun's neck.

“Huh…
It's not enjoyable at all to kill defenseless people like you, but-” Kuro thrust his sword into Shun's eye.
“I guess I have to do it, right?”

“Kh.”

Like most VR games, CSO had a pain-dampening system.
So even though Kuro stabbed his sword into a vital organ, Shun wouldn't feel any pain, just a slight sensation like being bitten by an ant.

The effect of Kuro's attack was merely a few percent decrease in Shun's HP bar.

In reality, to deliver a fatal blow to another Liber, one would need to attack the vital soul in the heart area.

But Kuro didn't do that.
And he would never do it.

“You said this duel was to determine if I'm worthy.
So, am I worthy now?”

Kuro smiled like a demon as he waited for Shun's answer.
He truly enjoyed piercing Shun's body.

“………….”

Unfortunately, Shun couldn't answer.
If he did, he would lose.

His plan was to embarrass Kuro, but now it was the opposite.
Kuro embarrassed Shun.

From the beginning, Shun knew that Kuro was an abnormal player.
His skills, level, weapons, and various aspects could be considered normal for Liber in general, but Kuro's ability to reach Avantheim could be called a miracle.

Although other Libers at the same level as Kuro could also achieve it by partying up, what Kuro did was abnormal for a beginner Liber like him.

This was one of the reasons why no one dared to challenge Kuro after he married Flamia.

Why could Kuro do it?

The answer was simple: Kuro had an ace up his sleeve that allowed him to always win in battles.

And to uncover this, Shun had done a lot of research.

Vital Curse.
One of the Divine Skills.
That was the skill that allowed Kuro to go this far.
In addition, Kuro's fighting abilities could be considered extraordinary.

Shun knew from Kuro's movements and the way he held his sword that Kuro must have studied kendo or some form of swordsmanship.

And after all the preparations were done, he challenged Kuro.

He was confident he would win.
But now he was helpless.

And now he had to answer Kuro's question.
This was a total defeat.

(No.
If I can stall until this skill is no longer active, then it's my victory.
The problem is what he will do in the remaining 8 minutes.)

That was Shun's only option.
Besides, Kuro seemed to be enjoying torturing his character.

(Fool.
If he doesn't kill me soon, I will destroy him.)

A smile appeared on Shun's lips.

“Ah…
Do you have an answer now?”

Kuro slowly withdrew the sword from Shun's eye.
He also intended to remove the sword from Shun's chest, but it was already destroyed by the Acid Blade.

“You're not worthy because Flamia is-“

“A Valkyrie Maiden? Wrong answer.
You don't even know the true meaning of a Valkyrie Maiden.
Yet, you dare to use that as your answer.”

“?!”

Shun was surprised when Kuro's left eye turned red like a demon's eye.
What shocked Shun, even more, was that the red eye had a pattern of two interconnected square boxes like chains.

“They are strong, and arguably the strongest among all Liber, but you have forgotten something important: Valkryie Maiden is also a human.”

“……..”

“They can feel sadness, anger, happiness, and most importantly, they can fall in love.
And the person chosen by Flamia is me, so when it comes to our differences, I don't think we should separated.
Isn't that what love is called? Fufu.”

Kuro is right.
But the way he says it is a little frightening to the audience.

Especially when his left eye turns red, which is quite unusual.
If that is one of his skills, it might not be too strange, but so far Kuro hasn't shown anything.

“You are just one of the rejects from Flamia, aren't you?”

“!?”

“From your reaction, my guess was right.
Kuku ku…
You know, your reason for challenging me and saying I am unworthy is the worst and dumbest reason I've ever heard.
…But I guess it's understandable because it's the thinking of trash like you.
Ku ku ku.”

Kuro smiles.
A terrifying smile.

The audience doesn't believe what they're seeing.
Kuro, who was calm and gentle, now seems to have turned into a demon.

But some audience members are not unfamiliar with what is happening to Kuro.

“Chika-chan.”

“I know.
But we can't do anything.
If this were the real world, we could directly stop Kuro-chan, but right now Kuro is in a duel.
We have no choice but to watch.”

“………”

Chika and Anna look gloomy and sad.
It seems that what is happening to Kuro right now is something bad.

“Kuro is cool.”

An unexpected word comes from Flamia.

Unlike the others, Flamia is truly impressed by Kuro.

(How foolish.)

(I can't believe she's one of the strongest liber.)

Chiaki and Anna sigh inwardly.

But it's understandable.
Flamia has just gotten to know Kuro, and there are still many things Flamia doesn't know.
The same applies to the members of the Ouroboros guild.

“Hey, is that the Kuro we know?” one guild member asks.

“Chika, Anna, you must know what's going on, right?” Tera asks.

Chika just lets out a small sigh.

“As you can see for yourselves, the current Kuro-chan is not the same as the usual Kuro-chan.”

“Maybe it's a little late to tell you, but actually, Onii-chan has two personalities.”

There is no significant reaction from Tera and the others.
It's understandable because split personalities only exist in anime or manga, but now it's happening right in front of their eyes.

“The problem is that it seems the other personality of Kuro-chan doesn't fully take over.
In other words…
now two personalities are controlling one body, or another personality emerges but doesn't control Kuro-chan.”

“This is the first time,” Anna adds.

“Can I ask one thing?” Aldor asks.
“Don't tell me the other personality of Kuro has opposite traits compared to the Kuro we know!!”

The answer is-

Chika and Anna only smile slightly as if the answer they are looking for must be found by themselves.

“How dare you call me trash!”

“Oops, my mistake, you're not trash.
You're even worse than dirt! Kuku ku!”

“Kuh…
if it weren't for this skill, I would silence you with my sword.”

“Ku ku ku…
don't spout nonsense.
You can't even touch me!”

“Guh!”

Kuro kicks Shun's face with the sole of his shoe.
There is no significant impact, but it's an unpleasant sight.

“I guess trash like you should be trampled like this.
Aha ha…
that's a good reaction.”

“……”

A look of pure hatred emanates from Shun.
Kuro is unafraid and instead smiles faintly.

“Do you hate me? Are you angry?”

Kuro suddenly becomes serious.
He places his hand on Shun's chin and gazes sharply at him.

“Do you know, my hatred and anger are millions of times greater than yours.” Kuro pats Shun's cheek and then moves away from him.
“I think if we continue like this, the audience will get bored, don't you agree? So let's start the execution.”

“Kh…”

There are still 5 minutes left before the active period of Frozen Soul ends.
In those five minutes, Kuro can do anything.

Kuro stops once again at a distance of 3 meters.

He smiles.

“…”

It is a warm smile, very different from the last smile Kuro showed.

Kuro raises his sword towards the sky.

“We are the devourers of light.”

The ground around Kuro cracks and crumbles.
Dark black aura scatters in all directions.

Chika, Anna, Flamia, and all the spectators are shocked because of what Kuro is about to do in preparation for a high-level skill.

This is surprising because until now Kuro has never displayed high-level skills.

Kuro continues,

“We are the beginning of everything, but also the end of everything.
Born from light and consuming light.”

The dark aura grows denser and fills the entire Colosseum arena.
The dark aura slowly rotates at a high speed around Kuro.

“Arise, and destroy all lives that stand in my way.”

Finally, the black aura converges and merges with the sword in Kuro's hand.
The sword in Kuro's hand turns pitch black with beautiful red lines.
But the ominous black aura makes the sword truly appear dangerous.

“Arise, Kurokami no Tsurugi!”

Kuro's eyes open.
Sharp and cold gazes emanate from both of his eyes.

Kuro then slowly walks towards Shun once again.

“Kh…”

Shun panics and breaks into a cold sweat.
He feels the dangerous pressure from Kuro.
He tries to move his body and use skills, but he remains immobile.

“!”

The tip of the sword is now right in front of Shun's face.
The aura of Kuro's sword is truly terrifying.

Shun doesn't know the extent of the impact the sword will have on him.
But that's not the problem.

“I've never seen a skill like that before.”

Aldor is impressed and curious.
He quickly takes out an item that functions like a computer for storing data but can also be used for analysis.

Aldor targeted Kuro's sword for analysis, but-

“Error? Unknown object? What does this mean?”

Aldor is immediately confused.
Not only Aldor, but many spectators react the same way after analyzing Kuro's skill.

“Flamia, do you know anything about it?”

Flamia shakes her head.

“I don't know that sword.
But one thing's for sure, it's not one of the God Slayers.
But if it's categorized as a skill-made sword, it shouldn't be like that.”

“Oh right, Kuro mentioned the name of the sword earlier.”

Albor quickly searches the database for weapons in the CSO, but once again, the result is unknown.

“This is ridiculous.
What is actually happening?”

For the first time, Aldor is puzzled by this inexplicable event.

The audience also becomes restless with the sword in Kuro's hand right now.

“Anna, what's the matter-?!”

Chika is surprised when she notices that Anna's body is trembling as if in fear.
Her eyes widen as if something has startled her.

Chika hugs Anna and strokes her head.

“…Onii-chan, wh-…
why are you holding that sword?”

“……….?”

Chika doesn't fully understand, but she knows that Anna (Ruko) knows something about the sword in Kuro's hand.

A sense of unease arises.
It feels as though something bad is about to happen.

Anna's fear is genuine.

“Anna-chan, don't be scared or worried.
Besides, we know who Kuro is.”

“You don't understand…
that sword is more dangerous than you think!”

At the same time, Kuro impales Shun's heart, piercing through his body.

In CSO, every Liberator or monster that is injured has a special effect resembling blood.

And that is happening now, but the effect is excessive.

Blood flows rapidly and falls to the ground, drenching it like a river.
Kuro's black sword is also smeared with thick red blood.
Blood also flows from Shun's mouth, indicating severe internal injuries.

“You won't die, but-“

“GAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!”

Shun screams with all his might.
His face is distorted in pain.

Murder.
That is what is happening in the duel arena right now.

“You will only feel pain.
The pain of your heart being crushed.”

Shun slumps down as if losing consciousness.
He briefly resembles someone already dead.

But CSO is a game.
Shun's HP bar is still around 80%, and although his vital soul was pierced, the effect is not very impactful.

Yes.
The duel is not over yet.
Although Shun appears unconscious, for a winner to be decided, one of them has to die.

Kuro pulls out his black sword.
There is no doubt in his eyes.
No mercy or compassion.
Cold, very cold.
He displays a gaze colder than ice to the spectators worldwide.

“Boring.
Is this the extent of your pain tolerance? Well…
I guess it's understandable since the pain you're feeling is the pain of your heart being crushed.”

What is happening?

All spectators ask the same question.

This is the first time a Liberator screams after being impaled by a sword.

“Onii-chan!”

Anna cries, sobbing.
No one knows why Anna is crying, but it's not a good sign.

The duration of the Frozen Soul skill has ended.
Shun's body lies on the ground with a heavy thud, like a puppet with its strings cut.

Kuro, who witnesses this, only shows a sardonic smile and tries to sit in the air.
No, while in a sitting position, a the black chair slowly appears and becomes Kuro's seat.

That is Kuro's other surprise.

“He used the skills [Imagine] and [Dark Bind] to create a chair.
How ingenious is he?”

Albor is impressed by Kuro's abilities, but it's not the time to be amazed.

The duel is not over yet.

“Kh…”

About 10 minutes later, Shun opens his eyes.
He feels pain he has never experienced in his lifetime and endures it.

The first thing he sees is Kuro sitting there with a faint smile directed at him.

Shun tries to rise, but his body feels heavy and difficult to move.
He feels like his body is not a game character but his real body in the real world.

“I didn't expect you to regain consciousness so quickly.
Fortunately, I don't have to wait long.”

Six black fireballs appear around Kuro.
The black fireballs suddenly transform into swords and impale Shun's legs, arms, and chest.

“Guahh……”

Once again, Shun felt pain, but compared to the previous pain, this was nothing.
However, it was enough to make Shun lose consciousness again.

Many female spectators closed their eyes at the sight of such brutality.

“You know, it's been a long time since I've been this angry.
If you ask why I'm doing this, it's because of you, for making me angry.”

“………”

“Now, do you understand why I call you trash? Maybe it's just a game for you, but not for me.
I won't forgive anyone who tries to ruin the happiness of someone precious to me, even if they were a god.
Take this as a valuable lesson, and when you seek enemies, it's better to think about how to find friends.”

Kuro sighed.
His black sword returned to being an ordinary katana.

Kuro stood up and approached the fallen Shun.
He then placed his sword against Shun's neck.

Everyone instantly knew what Kuro was about to do.

“Goodbye!”

Without hesitation, Kuro decapitated Shun.

Unlike before, Shun didn't seem to feel any pain.
The special effects also returned to normal.

Shun lost his head.
The HP bar quickly dropped to zero, and Shun's body disappeared into particles.

The audience fell silent.
No one knew how to respond to this duel.
It was understandable.
What Kuro showed was not a fight or a duel, but a massacre.

But for Kuro, this was not a problem.
It was proof and a warning to anyone who dared to disturb his tranquility.

Kuro glanced at one corner of the room.

(Now, let's see who the impudent peeping Tom really is.)

[Good thing we're not women!]

(Noisy)

Kuro used the Acid Blade skill.
His sword was now enveloped in black smoke.

He spun around and then used the Kamikiri-Ryu [Blade Spear].
Kuro's target was one corner of the arena.

No one understood why Kuro did it.
But when the sword suddenly stopped in mid-air, everyone was surprised.

“Oh my, do you know that throwing weapons is dangerous?”

A voice was heard, but there was no visible source.
All the spectators were confused about what was happening, but they looked in one direction, at Kuro's sword suspended in the air.

Crack.
Black cracks appeared in the air.
The cracks widened like a door, and slowly, a figure dressed entirely in black stepped foot into the arena.

“?! “

Kuro could only widen his eyes when he realized his sword was being held back by just two fingers.

Moreover, the figure had two black spiral horns and a white mask that partially revealed their face, making you wonder who this liber was?

But that wasn't the issue at hand.

####

level 666

That was the figure that emerged from the darkness.

He smiled while looking at Kuro.

“…….This is surprising, but that's a cool mask.”

[I want a mask like that.]

(………..)

[……]

Was this figure truly the final enemy, the Demon God in CSO?

Kuro didn't know, but when Flamia suddenly appeared in front of him, wielding Mistiltein, Kuro was now convinced of the liber's identity in front of them…

..Demon God.

It's going to be a long day, though Kuro.

 

Note

=> Kuro has two personalities.
Usually, these personalities strive to take control of him, but in the case of the battle against Shun, they merged for the first time.

=> Kurokami No Tsurugi is not a sword that exists in the CSO system but a unique sword owned only by Kuro.