Chapter 45 – The Board of Fate

Four months passed in the blink of an eye.

The whispers of the shadows had fallen silent. At last, Opera had gathered all the information needed to strike at the heart of Solmara.

In the dimly lit hall, Ada spread out the map Ren had marked upon the table. The red dots that once marked enemies now glowed green.

“Over these four years, we’ve taken Cegris completely.” Her voice brimmed with pride. “Clean assassinations, leaving no trace.”

“And don’t forget Solmara,” a woman with silver hair interjected. Her solemn bearing carried the quiet authority of someone who had once worn a priest’s robe.

“We’ve freed several bases of the Church… the academy… even military divisions,” she added calmly.

Ren watched her in silence.

“Thank you for your intel, Maria.”

The leader of Opera rose to his feet, eyes fixed firmly on the map.

“That lets us aim straight for the castle.” His finger tapped the capital of Solmara. “The problem is Lucifer. I don’t know if he’s hiding there… or, worst of all, within the Church itself.”

Maria clasped her hands as though in prayer.

“The fallen Demon King… who would’ve thought?”

Ren was silent for a moment, then swept his gaze across everyone present.

“Listen carefully. This will be… Opera’s final performance.”

The words hung in the air like a death sentence.

“After this, you’ll be free to choose your own path.” His voice lowered, heavy with melancholy. “As for me… I’ll be retiring.”

No one knew it, but each Dimensional Cut had consumed more of him than he could afford. With every slash, his flame burned weaker. Death was waiting, silent and patient, long before its due time.

“That’s all.” Ren folded the map with finality. “You’re dismissed. We depart in seven days.”

He paused.

“Not you, Ada. Stay.”

The others left one by one, until the hall was cloaked in shadow. Only the two of them remained.

“You won’t be taking part in this assault.” Ren’s voice was dry, absolute.

“What are you saying? You need every ounce of strength you can get!” Ada slammed the table in fury.

Ren met her gaze, calm and unflinching.

“I don’t want to lose my family.”

“Come on, Ren! Did you tell Yura not to fight, too?”

“Leave her out of this.” His tone sharpened. “It’s different.”

“Different how? You’re fine letting the rest of Opera’s girls risk their lives? You know you need me to lead them!”

“I don’t want to lose anyone, damn it!” Ren raised his voice for the first time. “Don’t you get it? There will be a Demon King… one even stronger than Lilith.”

Ada froze, stunned by his intensity.

Ren clenched his fists.

“It’ll be a fight to the death. And if I don’t win… you’re the future. You and Yura are my future.”

Ada lowered her eyes. In that state, she understood—she’d only be a burden on the battlefield.

“You’re so selfish…” she whispered bitterly. “You promised me we’d live as a family.”

Ren stared at her with a terrible calm.

“Every red mark on this map… it didn’t just feed their pride. It fed that demon.”

Silence pressed in around them until his final words cut through.

“If I don’t defeat him, this will never end. That’s my mission…”

His eyes hardened.

“And if I have to send you away to Yukihana, with Yura and Yukina… I’ll do it without hesitation.”

Ada’s fingers curled tight against the table, but she couldn’t bring herself to reply.

A sharp knock echoed against the door.

“That’s all I had to say,” Ren muttered, his voice weary.

“Come in,” Ada replied, forcing her tone to sound steady.

Mia stepped inside, carrying a sealed envelope.

“Master Ren… this just arrived from Lumius. It’s from Rin.”

Ren raised an eyebrow and took the letter. He broke the seal with practiced calm—but that calm shattered in an instant.

“Rei… you bastard!” he roared, slamming the table so hard the scrolls quivered.

In one motion, he drew his katana and split open a rift in the room.

“What’s wrong?” Ada asked, alarmed. She had never seen him this furious.

“It’s Mother… I have to return to Lumius at once.”

He turned toward her, his eyes still blazing.

“In seven days, we meet in Cegris—at the point we agreed. And I expect you to honor what we discussed, Ada.”

Without waiting for a reply, he stepped through the rift and vanished.

Ada remained standing, her throat tight with unspoken words. At last, she bent down to pick up the letter Ren had dropped. With trembling hands, she opened it and read aloud:

“Brother Ren:

We haven’t seen each other since your wedding, but there’s something very important you need to know. Rei has been named Regent of Lumius, because Father was mysteriously poisoned… and Mother was arrested by Solmara’s guards.

They took her, Ren. They took Mother… and now I fear for my life. I only hope this letter reaches you in time, before it’s too late.

With love, Rin.”

Silence once more swallowed the room. Ada pressed the letter to her chest, her face shadowed with sorrow.