Prologue & Chapter 1

## Prologue

I couldn’t sleep again tonight.

I want to sleep soundly, but it just won’t come.

Why can’t I fall into deep sleep?

There’s nothing to agonize over, really.

I already know the answer.

I’ll sleep once I kill that woman. A very deep, deep slumber.

*

Kill?

That woman?

What was that?

Things that might be memories, or perhaps someone’s whispers, floated around in my head.

I was walking in a daze, my mind seized by these indistinct words, when it happened.

The ground beneath my feet gave way. I swallowed empty air and flailed about, when this thought suddenly occurred to me.

What am I doing here right now?

More than that, who am ‘I’?

“Kid, no—Professor Min.”

A voice flew in like a slap on the back. My eyes snapped open. Strength returned to my limp legs.

Right, Professor Min.

Min Kralde.

That’s my name.

“Turn back even now. Don’t lose everything and wander around like a specter.”

It was another voice.

I looked to the right.

Perked-up ears caught my eye along with grayish-white fur. A glossy black nose twitched.

Who is this?

“This kid seems to have forgotten again. Quil, it’d be easier to just leave her behind.”

A large rabbit walking on two legs spoke.

“Old lady, don’t be like that between people in similar situations. Between you and me, we’re equally useless since we’ve both lost our memories.”

I looked to the left.

A black robe came into view. I couldn’t see the face. A young voice. No, was it a voice with considerable years?

It was hard to tell.

Who are these two, exactly?

Min looked around.

Golden sand. Sand stretched all the way to where sky and earth met.

What was a place like this called again?

Ah! Desert, right, it’s called a desert.

Things started coming back one by one. But they were fragmentary—information far too insufficient to understand the whole picture.

“Excuse me.”

Min forced her mouth open. The inside of her throat cracked apart. A thick taste of blood rose up.

“Why am I here? And who are you people?”

At that question, the robed man stopped walking.

“Professor Min.”

The man pulled back his black hood. Should it be called white hair, or silver, or perhaps light gray?

Hair of a color hard to define with a single word. The hair fluttered in the desert wind.

Min looked into the eyes of the man called ‘Quil.’

…I know this man.

“Don’t force yourself to hold onto your ‘memories.’ They’ll keep getting swept away until you adapt.”

It was when Min heard Quil’s voice.

Another scene came to mind.

Trees. Between densely rising trees, people filled the space.

No, they weren’t ‘people.’

What should I call them?

“…Goblins.”

The word popped out regardless of conscious thought.

The ‘goblins’ pressed down on humans.

When they should have been screaming and fleeing, the humans smiled brightly and danced.

It was a bizarre sight.

Whose memory is this, exactly?

Among the dancing humans was a young child. A boy, dancing and laughing more enthusiastically than anyone.

Min stared at the boy.

The dancing boy stopped and stared back at Min.

Min stammered out words.

“Quilbion?”

The vivid forest suddenly vanished, and the desert full of golden sand appeared once more.

Quilbion stood right before her.

How had she forgotten this man?

Quilbion.

The dark mage Quilbion.

“Was that just now your childhood appearance, Sir Quil?”

“Don’t ask, just walk. You’ll find out everything anyway. But don’t try to remember on purpose. It’s a shitty, boring story.”

Quilbion closed his mouth and walked forward with his hood pulled down tight. The rabbit that had approached clicked her tongue.

The rabbit.

Colonel Brine of Special Forces.

The archivist who lost her memories.

“Go back before you go mad.”

Brine twitched her nose again and followed behind Quilbion.

I remembered everything.

It was a journey to the sacred land to recover the memories of ‘Brine, who lost her memories.’

Right, I tagged along on that journey.

Min lifted the glasses she was wearing up onto her head, then covered her entire face with both hands with a clap.

“Professor Min. If it’s hard, go back. Knowledge and such isn’t that important.”

“No! I’m coming now.”

As she shouted toward Quilbion and started running, it happened again.

Memories came flooding in.

Not the memories of ‘Min Kralde,’ but the memories of the dark mage ‘Quilbion.’

Time flew back to the very distant past.

## Chapter 1

“Quil.”

His eyes opened at the cheerful voice.

“Get up.”

Drich had finished making his bed and was putting on his shoes.

Quil tapped his cheeks to wake his foggy mind. He thought he saw some strange bug in his dream. Queek? Queek? Oink oink?

It made weird sounds too…

“What about the other kids?”

Quilbion asked, shaking off the idle thoughts.

“They’re sleeping, obviously.”

Drich pointed at the window. It was still dark.

About ten minutes remained until wake-up time.

Quil grinned and organized his blanket, then put on his shoes.

Drich raised his index finger to his lips and quietly opened the door. The hallway submerged in violet darkness was quiet, unlike the bustling daytime.

“We have to leave at exactly the right time.”

“I know that too.”

They could leave the dormitory starting five minutes before wake-up time.

“First place gets ten points.”

“Does that mean we’ll tie for first if we both go?”

“That’s right.”

The time came.

He slipped out of the house with Drich. The first and second floors had no lights at all, and only a few rooms on the third and fourth floors were lit.

“We’re the only ones awake in Friendship House.”

Drich said emphatically.

“What about the Love House kids?”

“That’s a place full of idiots who don’t care about points. They’ll come in last.”

“The Gratitude House and Diligence House kids manage their points well though.”

Quilbion said, recalling a few faces.

“But they’re too nice to pull something like this. Only we can do this.”

Drich extended his fist. Quilbion said, “That’s true,” and bumped fists.

“If you’d gone alone without waking me, you’d be first place.”

“A cool guy like me doesn’t do that kind of thing. The Pioneer said so. That friendship is noble.”

“Do you even know what noble means?”

When Quilbion asked back, Drich shrugged.

“Does the exact meaning matter? The feeling is what’s important. Noble—it’s good, right?”

“Not bad.”

They climbed the hill giggling.

“Quil, look at this. It’s a bug I haven’t seen before.”

It was an insect with brown horns. Its hard shell trembled, then it flew up into the sky.

The insect spinning round and round toward the sky hit the ‘sky wall’ with a thunk and fell to the ground.

“I heard bugs don’t have brains, and I guess it’s true. To ram its head into the sky like that.”

Drich said pitifully.

“Hey, the Sun is about to open its eyes.”

This wasn’t the time to mess around. He ran with Drich. After passing two low hills, the Mind Refinement Hall came into view.

He quickly surveyed the surroundings. He didn’t see any other kids.

“First place.”

Haha, laughter came with ragged breathing. Accumulating points was a joyful thing. If he kept gathering and gathering, maybe someday he could become like the Pioneer.

Quilbion recalled the Pioneer he’d encountered half a year ago. A mysterious and beautiful adult who seemed to know everything.

They said if you listened well and accumulated points, you’d get the chance to become a Pioneer after passing through being an Ascetic.

“It’s the Sun!”

Drich shouted excitedly.

Quil also squinted his eyes and looked toward where light was bursting forth.

Five giant pairs of legs stretched. The ‘Sun’ that rose as if to touch the sky wall scattered bright light in all directions.

Ten legs supporting a brightly shining body. As the legs moved slowly and the Sun relocated, light came to the entire village.

It was a sight he saw every day, but every time he saw it, awe filled him. How deep must one’s learning be to become as large and beautiful as the Sun?

He suddenly remembered what a certain child from Love House had said.

– The Sun, doesn’t it look gross because it looks like a spider?

He’d thought it was a wicked thing to say. The kids around had given him looks too. Kids with fiery personalities didn’t hold back and kicked the rude child who compared the Sun to a spider.

He’d thought it served her right.

Of course it did. How could anyone compare the Sun to a lowly bug? He’d wanted to check what was inside that kid’s head.

Thud, thud, thud. At the sound the Sun made as it moved, people were coming out one by one.

“Can I transform to become huge like the Sun too?”

Drich said with a face full of dreams.

“Wouldn’t that be hard? The Sun is special.”

“It is special. That’s exactly why I should set it as a goal. A cool guy like me…”

It was just before Drich’s theory about being a cool guy could unfold. Quilbion reached out and covered Drich’s mouth.

Drich seemed to catch on too and quickly straightened his disheveled clothes.

“Nothing’s crooked, right?”

“Nope. Me?”

“You’re perfect too.”

They went to the front gate of the Mind Refinement Hall and stood side by side. They bowed their heads and opened their ears.

Footsteps drew closer.

Before long, a long shadow slid into view like a glide.

“To come this early—I cannot help but be moved by the devotion of you two students.”

It was a sweet voice. A voice he wanted to keep hearing from morning to evening, no, even while sleeping.

“Quilbion, and Drich. As always, you’re first place today as well.”

He wanted to answer “Yes” and raise his head, but permission hadn’t been granted, so he had to stay still.

The shadow drew closer. A gentle hand grasped his shoulder. Quil had to make a constant effort to hold down his twitching lips.

“I am truly proud of you all. Now, raise your heads.”

He lifted his head as if competing with Drich.

Pure white hair. Eyes that resembled that hair color. Skin without even a blemish, unlike Drich who was full of freckles.

It was a face he felt he could look at all day without getting tired, feeling only gratitude.

Noble.

That word Drich had said should rightfully be used for this person.

“It’s been half a year since we’ve talked like this.”

The Pioneer smiled with their eyes.

To think they remembered—Quilbion opened his mouth excitedly.

“I didn’t think you’d remember that time.”

“Of course I remember. It was a conversation with such outstanding students. Quilbion, and Drich. I was actually looking forward to it too. Meeting you two today.”

At the words that they’d been looking forward to it, he cheered inside and glanced at Drich. Drich was looking at the Pioneer with an expression like he was about to cry.

“I need to prepare for the ritual, so please wait a moment.”

“Yes!”

The Pioneer opened the door of the Mind Refinement Hall and went inside. As soon as the door closed, Quilbion let out a breath that was half joy, half tension.

“I didn’t know that person would come!”

“Me neither.”

“I thought my heart was going to burst.”

“Mine half-burst already.”

Drich said, putting his hand on his chest.

“To think they remember us.”

“Exactly.”

“We did well to accumulate points and get first place. And we did well to wake up early today too.”

“You know this is all thanks to me, right?”

Drich said, raising his nose. Normally he would have dismissed it with a snort, but not today.

It wasn’t just anyone—they’d seen the Pioneer right before their eyes. They’d even had a conversation like half a year ago. Even if he gave away all the delicious food that would come out for lunch, it wouldn’t be too much.

“Yeah, there’s no one but you.”

It was when they bumped their fists together.

The door of the Mind Refinement Hall opened again. They couldn’t show frivolous behavior, so they quickly corrected their posture and composed their expressions.

“It’s ready. Both of you, please come inside.”

It was a glorious day. To be able to conduct the ritual together with the Pioneer.

What would the kids say if he went back and told them? They’d probably tease him not to lie, then soon open their eyes wide and cling to him asking for more.

Before entering the Mind Refinement Hall, he pressed his palms together. He entered the hall with a reverent heart.

Light from the Sun was seeping through the ceiling. He stared blankly at the sparkling glass ceiling, then came to his senses and moved his feet.

“I’ll come from that side.”

Drich grabbed a broom and ran to the right wall. Quil calmly swept from the left.

Swish, swish—the floor was clean without a speck of dust, but just in case something impure might be stuck there, he swept meticulously.

Cleaning was important work. Moreover, today the Pioneer was watching.

He finished sweeping and stood next to the bluish pillar called Pillar Number One.

A time of silence.

He glanced sideways at the Pioneer who was praying toward the sky.

Beautiful. The sparkling sunlight poured down as if embracing the Pioneer. What was the Pioneer praying for right now?

It became noisy outside.

It seemed the students who would undergo the ritual had arrived.

Who could it be? He wanted to go out and sneak a peek at their faces, but he decided to resist. Unnecessary actions might reduce his points.

“Preparations are complete.”

The Love House Ascetic entered the hall and said.

Quil looked at the Love House Ascetic. A student who became an Ascetic already despite only a two-year age difference. Could he become an Ascetic two years from now too?

“Come inside.”

The Pioneer said.

The ritual would begin. Quil exchanged looks with Drich, then spread white cloth and laid it on the floor.

The Pioneer smiled and said thank you.

The door opened, and two children entered. Were they Diligence House kids? Their features were hazy and he didn’t remember well, but he thought he’d seen them a few times in passing.

One boy, one girl.

Quilbion looked at the children who seemed one or two years younger than himself and felt jealousy.

They’re younger than me, but already…

“Hey.”

Drich tapped his elbow.

Quilbion nodded and went back to the side of Pillar Number One.

The ritual would start soon. A time when he couldn’t open his mouth or move greatly.

The two children walked toward the Pioneer. The Pioneer smiled benevolently and hugged the two children.

He was envious. What would it feel like to be held in those arms? Quil couldn’t even imagine.

“Now, it’s time for you to transform.”

The Pioneer said.

The ‘Ritual of Transformation’ would begin.

Quil watched the Pioneer and the two children with his palms pressed together.

The Pioneer extended both arms toward the two children who had stepped onto the white cloth. The children gently closed their eyes and pressed their palms together.

“We’ll meet soon in beautiful forms.”

“Yes, Pioneer.”

The Pioneer took two steps back.

And then.

The light coming through the ceiling intensified.

Quilbion forgot his envy and jealousy for a moment and gazed at the light with a joyful heart, then closed his eyes.

Pop—a sound followed.

Something warm splattered on his face.

“They must have had deep learning.”

When he opened his eyes, Drich was brushing off red shells stuck here and there on his body.

Quil also roughly dusted off what had stuck to his face.

The inside of the hall had turned crimson. The white cloth laid on the floor had also turned red.

Cleaning up the shells that had splattered everywhere would take quite a while. Kids with shallow learning melted down, but as Drich said, those two children must have had deep learning.

Drip—something fishy flowed into his mouth. There must have been a shell stuck to his upper lip.

The shells left behind by those who completed their transformation. Since they were meaningless things now, what entered his mouth could just be chewed and swallowed, but…

– Do you guys really think nothing when you see the Sun? That it looks like that disgusting spider?

Why did the words of that kid who got beaten up come to mind?

The moment those words surfaced, the shell that had flowed into his mouth felt revolting.

“Quil?”

He looked at Drich. To his friend who was making a blank expression asking what was wrong, he shook his head. No, it’s nothing.

Drich chuckled and peeled off a shell stuck to his face. The shell held between his fingers moved toward his mouth.

Right, it’s no big deal.

Quil looked at the crimson-turned hall and gathered his thoughts.

But the fishy shell that had seeped into his mouth—in the end, he couldn’t swallow it and had to secretly spit it out.