Chapter 33: The Council of Decisions

In the heart of the Kingdom of Mond, the air was unnervingly still—

as if the entire city were holding its breath.

A strange quiet settled over the streets, unlike the gentle calm of an ordinary morning.

The breeze felt heavier than usual, and the clear blue sky carried a lone grey cloud drifting slowly across it…

as though it had lost its way this season.

The wide plaza basked in the warm sunlight,

yet the light did nothing to dispel that suspended feeling—

the subtle, unmistakable sense that something unfamiliar was drawing near.

Y sat on a wooden chair facing the plaza,

hands folded behind his head as he gazed up at the open sky,

as if searching for a missing line written somewhere between the clouds.

And at the edge of his awareness,

thoughts began to fall into place—

one by one, in an order only he could understand:

Y (thinking):

• Review my plans…

• Craft magical tools…

• Find Rin’s sister…

• An S-rank mission…

• The black market…

• Soldan the sorcerer…

• Protect Lara…

• Lecht’s situation…

• And there’s also the letter…

His eyes narrowed slightly, as if drawing lines beneath today’s priorities:

The most important for now: Lara… Lecht’s problem… Rin’s sister… and the letter.

Everything else can wait.

A warm voice cut through his thoughts—

a teasing tone he knew all too well:

King:

“You really do love thinking, don’t you?”

Y turned slowly, as though returning from a brief journey inside his mind.

Y:

“I didn’t know you were back, King… How did it go?”

King sat to his left, his sword resting before him, leaning on it casually.

King:

“Everything went smoothly.”

Y:

“I’m glad to hear that.”

King:

“So, what’s on your mind?”

Y:

“My next step. For now, I want to learn more about my domain…

but there are more urgent matters at the moment.”

King:

“I get you. A domain can turn battles around—

but even a domain needs a strategy behind it.”

Y:

“You mean knowing your opponent before fighting them?

Sure, that matters…

but I’d rather fight someone I know nothing about—at least once.

I evolve and learn during the fight itself.

I don’t care if they know everything about me…

I’ll simply enjoy it—

and win.”

King let out a laugh, somewhere between admiration and confusion.

King:

“Man, you’re something else. What do you say, Zinger?”

The silence collapsed—

Zinger appeared to the right, as if stepping out of a nearby shadow.

Zinger:

“Don’t tell me you’re teaching them this.”

Y:

“What do you take me for? I’m talking about myself.

My team understands how important planning is.”

Zinger:

“I heard your sister fought an elite squad from another kingdom alone…

Is that the kind of planning you meant?”

King (laughing):

“He’s got a point.”

Y:

“You could say the same about your daughter.

Joining a special unit without knowing them isn’t wise either.”

Zinger:

“…I won’t deny that.”

Silence settled again—until Y broke it:

Y:

“…Do you have any information about the Abyss?”

King:

“I know what the public knows.”

Zinger:

“Are you planning to enter it?”

Y:

“Yes.”

Zinger:

“You understand what entering the Abyss means, right?”

Y:

“I might not come back…

or best case, I’ll return after a very long time.”

King:

“What’s driving you?”

Y:

“Soldan—the sorcerer.

There’s a clue inside the Abyss that will lead me to him.”

Zinger:

“I’ve never gone in myself…

but I know someone who did.

He said the place was a massive disappointment.”

King:

“Disappointment?”

Zinger:

“He was looking for strong fighters.

And by the way… escaping the Abyss isn’t hard.

You just release a powerful magic strike on a single point—

and the exit appears.”

Y:

“The same principle as the domain…

So magical force is the key to breaking the Abyss.”

Zinger:

“Exactly.”

King extended his arm slightly, feeling the air.

King:

“It does feel warmer today.”

Light threads slipped through—

and in the next moment,

everything changed.

⸻

Elsewhere… far from Mond’s bright streets,

the room resembled the belly of an ancient beast that swallowed light whole.

The walls were drenched in darkness, and the air was heavy with the sting of burning incense.

At the center, a wide magic circle stretched across the floor—

its sharp, interlocking lines forming a web designed to ensnare souls.

Around it stood a group of sorcerers in dark robes,

their faces hidden beneath their hoods.

One of them raised his voice:

Sorcerer:

“Today, we create our strongest attack—

the attack we’ve dreamed of for years,

the attack that will crush our enemies.

By merging our magic… victory will be ours.”

The symbols began to glow,

lines of light seeping across the ground like veins igniting from within.

The magical aura rose slowly—

a silent storm pressing down on every chest.

And then—

Darkness split open as a pillar of light tore through the stone ceiling

and shot toward the sky like a burning spear.

It wasn’t just a signal…

It was the beginning of danger.

⸻

The sky was no longer what it had been moments before.

Clouds scattered, the color of the atmosphere twisted,

as if night were crawling into the middle of the day.

A strange aura rippled across the horizon,

forcing every gaze upward.

People in the streets exchanged anxious looks:

a mother clutching her child,

hunters lifting their weapons without realizing it,

others climbing rooftops to witness the phenomenon.

And in the center of the plaza,

Y, King, and Zinger sat on three wooden chairs—

watching the sky with a calm that no one else could match.

Up above the clouds…

A colossal, blazing mass was cutting through the sky at lethal speed—

a meteor the size of the royal palace.

Y let a faint, crooked smile tug at the corner of his mouth.

Y:

“Honestly… trouble comes even when I’m just sitting here.”

(He narrowed his eyes.)

“It’s smaller than the ones Dansleif used to cast himself.”

Zinger:

“A joint spell… at least ten mages behind it.”

King:

“Ten minutes until impact.”

Y chuckled softly.

Y:

“Ten mages to do what Dansleif did alone…

He didn’t earn the title King of Sorcery for nothing.

…Unfortunately for them, I don’t fall for the same trick twice.”

⸻

Across Mond, the news spread like wildfire.

In another plaza, Scarlet, Phoenix, Zeral, Jean, Sarah, Aris, and Kaguya had gathered.

Jean (firmly):

“The kingdom is under attack.”

⸻

Meanwhile, in Lara’s home, the morning chatter froze.

Klee:

“Do you all feel that?”

Diona:

“It feels like a meteor is heading right at us.”

Lauma:

“That’s Dansleif’s technique… but weaker.”

Lara (eyes widening):

“A meteor? This is my first time seeing one.”

Diona (calmly):

“It’s my third.”

Klee:

“You’re all way too calm for this.”

From behind them, a confident voice echoed:

L:

“There’s no reason to fear anything… not while Y is nearby.”

Ash nodded, arms crossed.

Ash:

“She’s right. Y has seen this kind of attack before.

This doesn’t even count as a real threat to him.”

⸻

On another street, a couple watched the sky in silence.

Soran:

“He wasn’t lying when he said Mond would never be boring.”

Robin (dryly):

“First day here and a meteor is already falling on us…

What a perfect welcome.”

⸻

Inside The Usual restaurant,

Margaret stood behind the counter in complete stillness—

as though the danger simply did not apply to her.

———————-

Y, King, and Zinger sat quietly, their eyes fixed on the burning meteor tearing across the sky.

Y:

“Which one of you wants to take care of this?”

Silence followed.

King:

“Looks like we’re all thinking the same thing.”

Zinger:

“Each of us wants to see what the others can do.”

Before they could continue, Lunaria appeared, approaching with quick steps.

Lunaria:

“Why are you all just sitting here?”

Y:

“Weren’t you at Lara’s house?”

Lunaria:

“I went out to train… but then I saw that meteor.”

Y (calmly):

“Perfect timing. Can you create a small sword?”

Lunaria raised her hand, forming a small blade of pure light.

Lunaria:

“Here.”

Y (examining it):

“Good.”

Lunaria:

“But why do you need a small sword?”

Y:

“To decide who will deal with the meteor.”

He held the glowing sword between his fingers.

Y:

“I’ll toss it into the air. Whoever the blade points to when it lands… handles the meteor.”

King:

“Fine by me.”

Zinger:

“No problem.”

The sword spun upward, catching the sunlight like a golden spark.

Nearby, the others watched curiously.

Kaguya (whispering):

“What are they doing?”

Lunaria:

“Choosing who’s going to face the meteor.”

Scarlet:

“Of course. Each of them wants to see the others’ abilities.”

Phoenix (dryly):

“The draw won’t help… Y always wins.”

Zeral:

“Always?”

Phoenix:

“Always.”

The sword fell—

Its blade pointed directly at Y.

Phoenix:

“Told you… he’d win.”

Y:

“The draw was a bad idea.”

King:

“We expect an impressive show, if you don’t mind.”

Y:

“I doubt anyone here actually wants to watch me fight a meteor.”

King:

“Raise your hand if you want to see Y handle it.”

Every hand went up.

Y:

“…I’m never doing a draw again.”

Scarlet (smiling):

“Finally… I get to see him fight.”

Y closed his eyes, whispering softly:

Y:

“Domain… Mirror of the Soul.”

At their feet, a portion of Y’s domain opened—

the ground turning into a vast, glass-like mirror.

Aris:

“So this is Y’s domain? I heard it was much larger.”

Scarlet:

“This is just a fragment. A miniature version he practices with.”

King:

“Exactly. A reduced model—he’s been refining it lately.”

Y looked up at the falling meteor.

Y:

“I don’t think the meteor is the real target… it’s bait. They’re testing how we respond.”

He turned toward Zinger.

Y:

“Is there an empty area somewhere?”

Zinger:

“East… yes.”

Y:

“Phoenix, lend me your spear.”

Phoenix:

“Take care of it. That thing wasn’t cheap.”

Y:

“I will.”

Y pressed a teleportation slip on the spear, handing it to King.

Y:

“East.”

King hurled it with tremendous force—vanishing like a streak of light.

Phoenix:

“Great… now I have to buy a new one.”

Y (quietly):

“You won’t.”

Y placed another teleportation slip under his feet—disappearing instantly.

A moment later, he returned, holding Phoenix’s spear perfectly intact.

Phoenix:

“…It’s the same.”

Y formed his own sword and set a teleportation seal onto the blade.

King (surprised):

“That’s new…”

Scarlet (excited):

“What is he planning now?”

Y launched the sword toward the meteor.

The moment the blade touched its burning surface—

the meteor vanished completely from Mond’s sky.

Far to the east…

It appeared for barely a heartbeat—

before exploding into a massive sphere of blinding light.

A thunderous shockwave ripped through the land,

and the distant horizon trembled.

a heavy silence swept across the plaza.

For a heartbeat—

the entire city seemed to stop breathing.

Then, a collective exhale burst from Mond.

Some people sank to the ground in shock…

others stared up at the now-empty sky, disbelief widening their eyes.

Merchant:

“I thought… that was the end.”

Child near the fountain:

“It disappeared! Did you see it?! It really disappeared!”

The guards stood frozen where they were…

and slowly, Mond began to find its rhythm again.

Jean:

“The threat is gone for now—but we must find out who sent it.”

Zeral:

“With that timing and the number of auras involved… these weren’t amateurs.”

Aris:

“You think I could destroy something like that?”

Kaguya:

“Maybe… in five years.”

Y raised his gaze to the sky.

Y:

“That should throw them off for a bit.”

Zinger:

“So your Domain lets you use other people’s techniques… interesting.”

Scarlet:

“Meaning he could use my abilities too?”

King:

“And not only that… transporting the meteor instead of destroying it was a smart choice.”

Jean:

“They expected a direct counterattack. Making the meteor vanish wasn’t part of their scenario.”

Phoenix:

“That technique is meant for transporting crates. Who would’ve imagined someone applying it to a meteor?”

Y:

“I think it’s time for the meeting.”

Jean:

“Then… to the royal castle.”

Before leaving, Scarlet stepped forward.

Scarlet:

“Before you go… this letter is for you.”

Y:

“A letter? From whom?”

Scarlet:

“An old friend of mine. He said: Give this to anyone… except my father.”

Y unfolded the letter.

(To the one reading this… I have created blueprints for a unique weapon.

Please deliver it as a gift to Scarlet…)

Y examined the designs carefully.

Y (to himself):

“This is perfect for her…”

He closed the letter.

Y:

“I’ll take care of it.”

Scarlet:

“Thank you… truly.”

And with that, Y, King, and Jean began walking toward the castle.

Mia:

“Mom Margaret… the meteor problem has been resolved.”

Margaret:

“Who took care of it?”

Mia:

“It was Y.”

Margaret:

“He’s reached such a high level in such a short time.”

She stepped closer toward them.

Elin:

“Mom… could you talk to Liz? She’s been distant ever since she came back.”

Margaret:

“I was planning to. Take care of the restaurant for a little while.”

Margaret called out:

Margaret:

“Liz… come with me. Let’s step outside for a bit.”

⸻

⭐ Elsewhere…

In a place where corrupt magic and dark rituals ruled, a stone hall trembled with the echo of a furious scream that shattered the silence.

A man, his features swallowed by shadow, spoke with a voice that cracked through the air like a burning whip:

Man:

“What do you mean… the attack failed?”

One of his subordinates stepped forward, head lowered, sweat dripping beneath his dark hood.

Follower:

“Twenty sorcerers worked together to create that spell…

It took months of preparation…

And now you’re telling me it vanished… just like that?”

The man slammed his fist onto the table.

The stone surface trembled under the force; candles shuddered, and hot wax dripped in uneven trails.

In that moment, part of his face came into the light—

one eye burning like an ember in the dark,

the other scarred and warped, as if fire had once devoured it.

He stepped closer, lowering his voice into something more dangerous than shouting:

Man:

“Find out what happened…

Now.”

Thirty minutes after the meteor disappeared, Mond Square filled with the clash of metal and the sharp whistle of wind.

At the center of the square, Lunaria stood facing Kaguya.

Lunaria raised her hands, and the air around her began to shiver.

One by one, fully-formed magical swords materialized—dozens of them—perfect in shape, though made entirely of condensed magic.

Their gleam rippled across the stone ground as if real steel had just been drawn from its scabbard.

With a single open-handed gesture—

The swords shot forward, swirling around Kaguya like a storm of steel tightening around one target.

A tense silence followed.

Kaguya closed her eyes.

Her fingers tightened around her blade—listening to the air.

Then—

She opened her eyes.

Her sword flashed in a single, clean, merciless line.

Crack!

Every sword shattered simultaneously.

Fragments of magical light scattered like glowing glass dissolving in midair.

Kaguya didn’t give Lunaria a single heartbeat to react.

She surged forward like a tearing gust of wind, her white hair whipping behind her like a streak of light.

Lunaria flinched, then hastily constructed a defensive wall—

a barrier of interlocked swords forming a magical metal shield.

But—

Kaguya’s real blade sliced through it instantly.

The sound tore through the air, a razor line of condensed force.

Suddenly Lunaria found herself face-to-face with Kaguya—

the edge of the sword inches from her cheek.

Her body moved on instinct—

a quick tilt, the difference between life and death.

One strike like that would have cut her in half.

The shockwave slammed into the surrounding walls, forcing the spectators back a step.

Aeris approached with calm, steady steps.

Aeris:

“Time’s up.”

Kaguya lowered her sword, smiling faintly.

Kaguya:

“You’ve improved a lot, Lunaria… not many can dodge my strike.”

Aeris:

“Yes. You’ve grown stronger.”

Lunaria drew a long breath, then offered a short smile.

Lunaria:

“I owe it to Y… he changed how I think.”

Aeris:

“Y’s training is very effective… but the problem lies in how he trains.”

Lunaria:

“I know exactly what you mean.”

Kaguya:

“Is Y’s training really that harsh?”

Aeris:

“When it comes to training someone, Y never holds back.”

Lunaria lowered her eyes slightly.

Lunaria:

“His methods are completely different from my former teacher—Kyojiro.”

Kaguya’s eyes widened.

Kaguya:

“Kyojiro… the ‘White Phantom’?”

Lunaria:

“Yes. That’s him.”

Kaguya:

“No wonder your swordsmanship is exceptional.”

Aeris:

“And who is the White Phantom?”

Kaguya:

“His name is Kyojiro. He’s from the Samurai Kingdom like me.

One of the kingdom’s legends… one of the strongest swordmasters ever recorded.

I’ve never met him myself, but that’s what my teacher said.”

Lunaria’s gaze fell slightly.

Lunaria:

“Yes… but that doesn’t include magic.

One day he told me:

‘I taught you how to fight, but magic is not my field.’

Then he said:

‘There’s no point training with me anymore… because you know I will always stop the strike before it hits you—even if the intent is to kill. You must grow on your own.’”

She paused, then continued:

Lunaria:

“I didn’t understand back then… but after training with Y, I finally realized what he meant.”

Kaguya:

“And what did you realize?”

Lunaria:

“Training with Y is different…

Every attack feels real.

Some blows would’ve killed me if I hadn’t moved.

Sometimes he stops the strike before it lands…

but I never know which attacks are real and which are tests.”

Kaguya:

“That kind of training sharpens instincts.”

Lunaria:

“It does.”

Aeris:

“So what will you do now?”

Lunaria:

“I’ll stay here for a while… then return to my kingdom.”

Kaguya:

“Will you continue as a Hunter there?”

Lunaria:

“No… I won’t.”

Kaguya and Aeris exchanged surprised looks.

Aeris & Kaguya:

“What do you mean?”

Lunaria inhaled deeply.

Lunaria:

“I’m going back… to formally leave the kingdom.

And after that—

I will join all of you.”

Aeris’s smile bloomed with delight.

Aeris:

“That’s wonderful news… we’ll be waiting.”

Kaguya:

“Don’t take too long.”

Deep within the royal palace, behind heavy wooden doors carved with Mond’s emblem, a solemn stillness filled the vast council chamber.

Only the flicker of wall-mounted torches broke the silence, casting long shadows across the rectangular table where six figures sat:

King Regon, Princess Rosari, King, Leona, Jean, and Y.

The tension hanging in the air said more than any spoken word.

After a few moments, Rosari finally spoke.

⸻

Rosari:

“Thank you all for coming… Before anything else, we’d like to thank Y for protecting the kingdom from the meteor.”

Y:

“There’s no need to thank me.”

Rosari nodded, her expression firm.

Rosari:

“We have matters today that cannot be delayed.”

She unfolded a sealed letter.

Rosari:

“A few days ago, we received a message from my uncle, Valdrin…

He demands that either the King of Mond or his daughter surrender the throne within two weeks.

And… the queen sends her greetings to Regon.”

She folded the letter again.

Y (raising an eyebrow slightly):

“So… your secret is no longer a secret.”

The king let out a quiet breath.

Regon:

“We tried to keep my identity hidden for as long as possible…

But that prince’s interference shifted everything.”

Y:

“And do you regret it?”

Regon:

“Not at all. I will not stand by and let my people be insulted.”

Y:

“…A fitting answer for a king.”

King leaned forward.

King:

“So… what’s our next move?”

Rosari:

“We considered speaking with him, but we don’t know where the negotiations might lead.”

Regon’s gaze hardened.

Regon:

“My brother is not an evil man…”

A fleeting mixture of sorrow and resolve crossed his eyes—quickly concealed.

Regon:

“There must be a reason behind this.

I intend to meet him myself—King will accompany me.”

Y:

“And where is he?”

Regon:

“A week’s travel from here.”

Y:

“King… would you mind if I went in your place?”

King:

“I don’t mind… but why?”

Regon (humbly):

“We don’t wish to trouble you.”

Y (a quiet smile):

“Don’t worry.

I simply want to know whether he’ll be an obstacle or not.

This is a sensitive time.

And besides… do you remember the contract between us?”

Regon:

“That you may act however you deem necessary… even against our plans.”

Y:

“Exactly.

That applies to everyone I have a contract with.

There are many things I need to verify… and time is running short.”

Regon turned to the others.

Regon:

“What do you think of Y’s proposal?”

Short glances were exchanged—followed by sincere smiles.

Rosari:

“Mond has become a place of comfort and joy thanks to everyone’s efforts.

The people are more open now.

On behalf of all of us… thank you.”

King:

“Even the soldiers train harder because of you.”

Regon:

“As I promised before… you have complete freedom to do whatever you wish.”

Y remained silent.

Leona answered in his place, lightly:

Leona:

“Don’t worry, Your Majesty.

He’s satisfied.

To him, everything he does is simply… normal.”

⸻

Rosari:

“In the south, three armies are advancing.”

Y:

“From which kingdoms?”

Jean:

“From Valmiz and Novaris.”

Y:

“Tell me the kingdom ranking.”

Rosari listed them:

1. The Royal Capital

2. Rokara

3. The Dwarf Kingdom

4. Arendal

5. Miralis

6. The Samurai Kingdom

7. Novaris

8. Estinor

9. Valmiz

10. Mond

Rosari:

“The ranking resets every five years… and Mond will likely be removed soon.

Not all kingdoms are included—things may change.”

Y:

“Good. Time is in our favor.”

⸻

Leona raised her hand.

Leona:

“I request permission to handle the south.”

Y:

“You have a plan?”

Leona:

“Yes. I only need Lunaria and Liz.”

Jean cut in:

Jean:

“The real threat… is in the east.”

King:

“Their strength is not impressive,

but their strategy is exceptional.

They know exactly when to strike and when to retreat…

Oddly enough—they never hurt anyone.”

Y:

“They don’t hurt anyone?”

King:

“Only stealing… as if they have a new leader.”

Y:

“Then we need to deceive them somehow.”

Leona fell silent.

Y:

“Seems we’re thinking the same thing.”

⸻

Rosari:

“Our recent achievements:

1. Secret contracts with the dwarves, samurai, and fairies.

2. Gaining Kraydon’s trust.

3. Expanding rescue operations for the elves.”

Jean:

“And we now have Hunters of rank A and S.”

Y looked up.

Y:

“Why did Lara’s bounty increase?”

Rosari:

“We don’t know…

But your own bounty decreased due to lack of information.”

Y:

“Nova said the same…

No one seems to know anything about me.”

Leona added:

Leona:

“I heard in prison about a secret auction for the wealthy.”

Y’s face darkened subtly.

Y:

“An auction…!”

Y:

“Rosari, send a message to Kraydon.

I want every detail—

And I want to see that auction myself as soon as possible.”

Rosari:

“Understood.

And… Thuram asked to meet you.”

Y:

“I was planning to visit him.”

Jean:

“Then we’re all set…”

Y:

“I’ll be going now.”

And in a blink—

He vanished.

⸻

Regon exhaled.

Regon:

“So that’s the technique he used to move the meteor…”

Aeris entered carrying a sealed letter.

Aeris:

“A message from the Kingdom of Estinor.

Wasn’t Y here a second ago?”

Leona:

“He used the teleportation technique… he already left.”

Aeris:

“A truly useful ability.”

She handed Regon the letter.

He read aloud, voice heavy:

Regon:

“…The fall of Estinor’s royal rule.

The new king apologizes for the disturbance…

and wishes to visit Mond personally.”

Jean’s eyes widened.

Jean:

“When did the coup happen?! We heard nothing!”

Rosari:

“Kraydon said the cause was…

a man wearing a fox mask.”

King burst into laughter.

King:

“He’s sitting among us calmly…

and he’s the one who toppled an entire kingdom.”

Leona:

“That’s right… Y is the one who overthrew it.”

Aeris:

“When did he do that?”

Leona:

“Yesterday…

He went there and came back quickly.”

Regon:

“Then we must hurry…”

And everyone departed to carry out their tasks.