The Night of Crossing Fates

Chapter 12 – The Night of Crossing Fates

Ren and Takashi were still arguing when a carriage stopped before them. Inside sat the VIP guest they had been assigned to escort.

The carriage door opened and a young woman stepped out gracefully.

“It’s nice to meet you. I’m Lyria Vaeloria, the eldest daughter of the minister of Kemora.”

Ren greeted her with a smile.

“It’s really nice to meet you. I’m Ren Takahashi, and this idiot beside me—both of us will be your bodyguards during the journey.”

Takashi glared at him.

“Idiot? Coming from the one who skips work at Paradise every chance he gets…”

Lyria blinked in confusion.

“I–I don’t understand, Sir Ren…”

Takashi quickly cut in.

“He’s joking. I’m Takashi, his partner for this mission.”

Ren walked toward the carriage.

“We can talk during the journey. We’re already running behind schedule.”

He opened the carriage door and let Lyria enter first. Takashi followed, but Ren pulled him back for a moment and whispered:

“Takashi… I was angry because you didn’t give me the details. Please forgive me. Don’t punish me like that…”

Takashi sighed and entered.

“Okay, okay, I forgive you. Honestly, what kind of god cries like this? He’s more like an idiot…”

All three settled in. The sun had already set, the stars shimmered faintly, and the moonlight made the smooth-moving royal carriage glow. Unlike normal carriages, it glided without the slightest shock.

Ren looked outside. Something caught his eye — a carriage moving in the shadows.

“Hm? Another carriage? Maybe extra security…”

When moonlight hit it, Ren’s eyes narrowed.

“No flag… no symbol… Are we under attack already?”

He whispered:

“Takashi, look behind. An unknown carriage is following us from the capital.”

Takashi glanced outside, then sighed with cold, annoyed eyes.

“That’s a civilian carriage going the same direction. Ren… how does Aiyumi deal with you? You panic at everything.”

Ren straightened proudly.

“I was only testing how serious you are. Obviously, I wasn’t wrong.”

Takashi ignored him.

Ren changed the topic, turning to Lyria.

“So, how are we reaching Kemora? Is there a portal nearby?”

“There’s one near the checkpoint,” she replied. “It will teleport us directly to Kemora. From there, the capital is a two-day travel.”

Ren nudged Takashi back into his seat.

“Perfect. Look, we’re almost at the checkpoint.”

Meanwhile, in Paradise

Aiyumi struggled feeding the pets — a task Ren and Takashi usually handled.

“When will Lord Ren and Takashi return?! This is impossible! They never told me these pets eat like dragons!”

In another room, Mizuki and Koharu were sorting through reports of events from all eight planets.

Mizuki groaned, tossing papers onto the table.

“So boring… now I understand why Lord Ren escapes this work.”

Koharu remained calm.

“It’s the same work, but important. We can’t ignore it.”

Mizuki walked toward the door dramatically.

“If you enjoy it so much, you can do my share too.”

Koharu looked up.

“If you try to leave, I’ll tell Aiyumi. Maybe she’ll assign you something harder. Like feeding Lord Ren’s pets… or mapping the entire Eithralis.”

Mizuki froze, then smiled nervously.

“You can tell her if you want. Only Lord Ren can give orders. So—”

Koharu smirked coldly.

“Lord Ren isn’t here. Aiyumi has full authority.”

Mizuki hurried back to her desk.

“Haha– I was joking! Please don’t say anything…”

In the Forest Training Grounds

Hayato trained alone when a violent gust of wind tore through the forest.

Kouryo descended in dragon form, crushing trees, before shifting into a humanoid with golden-red eyes.

Hayato sighed while picking up scattered objects.

“Replacing Lord Ren? Destroying everything in sight?”

Kouryo blinked innocently.

“What makes you think that?”

Hayato pointed at the flattened forest.

“Are you blind to your surroundings?”

Kouryo looked at the wreckage.

“Oh… that. I’ll fix it later.”

Hayato folded his arms.

“You really are like Lord Ren. Same attitude.”

Kouryo gestured him to follow.

“Lord Ren isn’t like this. Anyway, I have news from Justar. He went to Kemora on Takashi’s request.”

Hayato’s tone grew serious.

“What news?”

“I’ll explain when everyone’s gathered.”

The Revelation – Children of Void

In the meeting room, Aiyumi, Koharu, Mizuki, Hayato, and Kouryo listened as Kouryo explained Justar’s discovery.

Two days earlier, on Kemora

Justar tracked suspicious humans connected to Saelor’s death.

Something was wrong — their faces didn’t match any Eryndor human records.

“They’re human… but not from Eryndor? Did they reject the religion?”

Justar followed them into a cave full of traps — not lethal ones, but designed to delay.

Soon, he found a glowing portal chamber.

“A portal? Where does this lead…?”

Before he decided, the portal shifted color.

A hundred people emerged.

Justar hid.

“No records… not even death records. Who are these people?”

He infiltrated an underground hall where a man stood on a stage — the same one who killed Saelor.

“I am Veythros Nox. In the name of our Master, we, the Children of Void, will destroy all enemies. Our greatest obstacle—Ren Takahashi. Tonight, we crush him.”

Justar escaped and delivered the message to Kouryo.

Back to Ren and Takashi

After teleporting to Kemora, the rest of the trip was calm — on the second day twenty black-clad attackers ambushed them.

Takashi drew his sword.

“Twenty of them.”

Ren cracked his neck.

“Remember, we’re here to capture the mastermind. Don’t reveal too much.”

Takashi charged.

“You should take your own advice!”

Ren used logic manipulation to defeat several enemies, but all attackers escaped before capture.

“They tested my strength…” Ren murmured. “Someone was watching.”

They returned to the carriage, where Lyria believed the attack was aimed at her.

After reaching the capital Vaeloria, they entered the royal court.

The king — a silver-haired, undefeated warrior — listened to the report.

“You saved my daughter. I owe you a reward. What do you want?”

Ren whispered, surprised:

“Princess? But the guild said she was the minister’s daughter—”

Takashi elbowed him.

“Use common sense. Royal members hide their identities.”

Lyria bowed.

“Please forgive me for lying.”

“There’s no need. I understand. Your Majesty, we simply want to explore your kingdom, if you allow us.”

The king laughed warmly.

“A simple wish. Stay as long as you want — even in my castle.”

A young wolf-man soldier Fenric Hale, escorted Ren and Takashi to their room.

Once alone, Takashi crossed his arms.

“So, genius. Why stay here?”

Ren placed a hand on his shoulder.

“Trust me. Tonight, we find the mastermind behind the kidnappings — and the one manipulating spiritual forms.”

Warriors Gathering

In Paradise, Aiyumi, Koharu, Mizuki, Kouryo, and Hayato headed toward Kemora, ready to kill anything threatening Ren.

Justar waited there, having marked all enemy hideouts.

All six thought the same:

“Tonight, the Children of Void fall.”

Meanwhile, in the Void Cult’s Meeting Hall

Veythros raised his sword.

“Tonight we destroy Ren Takahashi and bring forth a new era — the era of our Master!”

Hundreds roared in unison.

A Night of Fate Approaches

Who will strike first?

Will Ren find the mastermind?

Will the Children of Void succeed in their mission?

Or will the warriors from Paradise wipe them out before anything begins?

To be continued…