Chapter: Oaths Beneath the Whispering Sky
Haruto didn't speak.
He simply watched.
His coat billowed behind him—a sleek blend of deep navy and shadow-black, lined with faint silver that shimmered with every movement. It wasn't stitched for fashion, but forged in the crucible of experience. Minimalist in design, but heavy with meaning.
Beneath it, a sleeveless white tactical shirt hugged his frame, high-collared and efficient. Ancient runes—barely visible unless caught by light—wove across the fabric, whispering of forgotten protections. His pants, subtly armored at the knees and thighs, were made for movement, not show. Every thread had purpose.
A scarf fluttered at his neck—ash-white streaked with faded teal. It wasn't just cloth. It was memory. A relic of a world long buried. And when the wind passed through it, it sang like a lullaby from another life.
His boots—matte black with steel-gray fastenings—gave off no shine, only resolve.
Functional. Firm. Quiet.
Across his back, a katana rested. Its obsidian-black sheath spiraled with a single, elegant thread of gold. It looked ceremonial, almost fragile—but anyone who truly knew Haruto understood better. That blade was anything but delicate.
He stood still, eyes of molten gold scanning the horizon. His long black hair danced in the wind. No words. No motion. Just him—and the world he had helped reshape.
> From ruins to hope.
From silence to life.
He didn't smile.
Behind him, footsteps approached.
Haruto slid a glance over his shoulder.
"…Who are they?" he murmured, confused.
A divine voice answered—calm and clear—as golden light etched itself into the air.
Azara:
> "I summoned them to aid you… during your evolution.
They are my answer to the world's growing hostility."
Haruto blinked. "Wait, you summoned them? I thought you couldn't do things like that."
Golden script shimmered in the air as her voice shifted, growing more resonant—more alive.
Seraphina:
> "Correct. I could not… as I was.
But with your evolution, the restrictions lifted.
The Unique Skill: [Azara] has evolved—
—into [Seraphina].
And with it, so have my capabilities."
Haruto crossed his arms, impressed. "That's... actually really cool."
Seraphina:
> "Acknowledged.
Your approval is noted."
Haruto turned his attention to the two figures before him—a fox with ethereal grace, and a man cloaked in black, eyes burning with icy blue fire.
"You've helped me greatly," Haruto said. "You can go now."
The man's face wavered slightly with concern. Then he dropped to one knee.
"…You want us to go?" he asked quietly. The fox followed, bowing low.
"We would rather serve you, Lord Haruto."
Haruto tilted his head. "Serve me? Are you sure you want that?"
The man nodded without hesitation. "Yes, Lord Haruto."
Haruto gave a small nod. "Very well… Welcome to my village."
The man looked up, a flicker of joy in his expression. "Then—may I ask for a name, my lord?"
Haruto looked at both of them.
"You…" he said, pointing to the fox, "…will be Fuyume."
Then he turned to the man.
"And you… will be Vhalzareth."
As their names were spoken, a radiant aura circled around them. The light cocooned their bodies—transforming them.
Vhalzareth emerged, his form reborn:
Eyes now deep crimson with vertical pupils.
Hair, long and flowing, black streaked with ash-silver.
He wore a shadow-weave tailcoat, high-collared and sharp.
Beneath it, a ruffled black silk shirt with layered frills.
Slim formal trousers tucked into knee-high boots completed the look.
He embodied gothic nobility fused with military precision.
Fuyume shimmered like mist.
Her silken silver hair faded into lavender at the tips, cascading like flowing fog.
Fox ears twitched atop her head, dark-tipped and alert.
Her skin was pale, her build slender.
She wore a flowing kimono, asymmetrical and elegant—snow-white silk blended with twilight lavender, embroidered in silver thread shaped like foxes, their forms subtly shifting as if alive.
Vhalzareth dropped to one knee again.
> "Vhalzareth," he said, voice rich with emotion.
"Ah… what joy it is to finally kneel before one worthy.
My power, my loyalty, my very existence—they are yours to command, Lord Haruto."
Haruto smiled slightly. "Good."
Fuyume knelt beside him, her voice a soft vow:
> "You are my moon in the eternal night.
I'll remain at your side, even if the world itself crumbles into silence."
Haruto's gaze lingered on them, warm yet commanding.
"I expect great things from you both."
> "Yes, Lord," they answered in unison.
Haruto smiled once more.
And the wind carried their oaths into the sky.
Days Later…
Golden sunlight poured through the tall windows, casting warm streaks of amber light across the polished wood of the office floor. Dust motes danced lazily in the air as Haruto sat behind a heavy desk, a pile of parchment in his hands, eyes narrowed.
Vhalzareth stood to his left, his posture sharp as ever, while Liora stood to the right—her gaze soft, but attentive.
With a long sigh, Haruto set the papers down and dramatically pressed his signature onto one of them.
Liora blinked, concern edging her voice.
"Is something wrong, my Lord?"
Haruto leaned back in his chair, the faintest smirk tugging at his lips, but his tone was dry.
"You could say that… We're broke."
Liora tilted her head.
"Broke?"
"As in: no money. Zilch. Nada," Haruto clarified, holding up an empty coin pouch like it was some ancient relic.
He glanced toward the window, expression thoughtful.
"I wonder where the nearest town is…"
Vhalzareth stepped forward slightly, hand on his chest.
"Permit me to inform you, my Lord. The closest civilized region is the Kingdom of Solmera. A realm of High Humans, renowned for their hero-summoning rituals and their… exquisite arrogance. Curious bunch, too."
Haruto chuckled.
"Solmera, huh? Sounds like a good place to stir things up."
Liora stepped forward, concern returning to her voice.
"What are you planning to do, Lord Haruto?"
"Sell what we've got," he replied bluntly.
"We have healing potions and mana crystals. But I don't want to just trade. I want leverage. We need to offer something rare—something they can't ignore."
Liora nodded.
"Yes. If we bring them something valuable and hard to find, they'll have no choice but to do business with us."
"Exactly." Haruto stood up, stretching.
"And I'll be the one heading to Solmera."
Vhalzareth's eyes flared.
"Then I shall accompany you, Lord Haruto."
"What? No way!" Liora blurted, stepping between them.
"I'll go with Lord Haruto instead!"
Haruto raised a hand, smiling gently.
"Neither of you are coming. I need you two here. You're the ones I trust most to protect everything we've built."
Liora's cheeks turned pink, her voice softer.
"I'll stay… and take care of the village."
Vhalzareth bowed, hand over his chest.
"That trust means more than words can express. I will not fail you, my Lord."
Haruto, mentally:
"Besides… if either of them came with me, they'd blow up the town if someone even looked at me wrong."
---
Later – At the Village Outskirts
Villagers lined the path, offering farewells as Haruto and Fuyume stood at the village's edge. The forest loomed ahead, sunlight filtering through the canopy.
"Let's go," Haruto said simply.
"Yes, Lord," Fuyume replied with a graceful nod.
They began walking into the woods, silence between them at first—comfortable, calm.
Then Haruto glanced around, eyes slightly wide.
"This is... actually my first time outside the forest since arriving here."
Fuyume suddenly stopped.
Haruto turned back.
"Something wrong?"
She smiled softly, eyes shimmering.
"There's a faster route, Lord Haruto. I can shift into my true form and carry you there—if you'd like."
He smirked.
"Yeah. That'd help a lot."
Fuyume giggled.
"Hehe… I thought you'd say that. Just hang on tight. It's not every day you get to ride a fox goddess."
In a burst of light and mist, Fuyume shifted—her form expanding and shifting into a magnificent fox, silver fur rippling with lavender hues and tails like ribbons of moonlight.
Haruto leapt onto her back, gripping her fur.
"Whoa… it's soft."
Fuyume flinched, ears twitching.
"Eep—! Y-You really think so?"
(She tried to hide her blush behind a paw.)
"Geez, Lord Haruto… saying things like that so casually… it's not fair."
He tilted his head.
"Hmm? Did you say something?"
"N-No! Let's just go!"
---
Hours Later – Solmera's Gates
Haruto and Fuyume now stood before the massive gates of Solmera.
Twin flags of blue flanked the entryway, embroidered with the kingdom's crest—an eagle soaring above a rising sun. Steel-clad knights stood guard, their expressions neutral but wary as they laid eyes on the pair.
Haruto's coat swayed slightly as he approached, eyes calm but sharp.
aruto leaned slightly toward Fuyume and whispered,
"Just act normal."
Fuyume gave a small nod, her fox ears twitching slightly in excitement.
They walked past the armored knights guarding the towering gates of Solmera. The kingdom's energy hit them immediately—laughter, footsteps, and street performers filled the air with life. It felt like the entire city was caught in a festival that never ended.
Colorful stalls lined the cobblestone streets. Fuyume's eyes sparkled as she looked around.
Fuyume (excitedly):
"Whoa~! Look at this place, Lord Haruto! It's like the whole kingdom's throwing a party just for us!"
(she darted toward a food stall, sniffing deeply)
"Mmm… that smells amazing! Can we try some? Just a little? Pretty pleaaase?"
(she spun with a grin)
"I could definitely get used to this kind of royal treatment!"
Haruto chuckled, hands in his pockets.
"You're like a kid in a candy store. Once we're done with our business, I'll treat you to something good."
Fuyume lit up.
"Yeahhh!"
They wandered from stall to stall—spice shops, sizzling food stands, and gleaming weapon displays—with Fuyume clearly having the time of her life. Eventually, they stepped into a quieter shop filled with glowing crystals, trinkets, and magical artifacts neatly arranged on wooden shelves.
At the counter stood a rugged man with a scar running across his forehead. His eyes locked onto them as they approached.
"Welcome," the man said gruffly. "Name's Joren."
Haruto offered a hand across the counter with a calm smile.
"Nice to meet you, Joren. I'm Haruto, and this is Fuyume—a friend."
Joren nodded at her.
"Nice to meet you, Fuyume."
Fuyume nodded slightly, keeping close to Haruto.
Haruto added with a smirk,
"She's the shy type."
Joren let out a small chuckle.
"I can see that. So… you buying or selling?"
Haruto leaned forward slightly.
"Selling."
Joren raised an eyebrow.
"Selling what?"
Haruto replied smoothly,
"Aetherstone."
—Aetherstone… An ethereal crystal that infuses items with both magical and physical resistance.
Joren's expression shifted. His eyes widened just a bit, lips parting. Before he could say anything, a soft mist shimmered beside Haruto—his Item Box activating silently.
From the mist, Haruto pulled out a glimmering, rainbow-like crystal.
Joren stared.
"You… you have the Item Box skill?"
Haruto nodded.
"Yeah."
(In his mind) One of my unique skills, gained through evolution… It's not just storage—it's a pocket realm with infinite capacity.
With a gentle clink, Haruto placed twenty flawless Aetherstones on the table.
Joren's jaw dropped.
"W-Whoa… Twenty? And they're all full crystals?! Not even chipped?!"
He scrambled out from behind the counter.
"Gimme a minute—I'll put the money together. Don't go anywhere."
Minutes later, he returned with two heavy bags.
Joren placed them on the counter, grinning wide.
"Here's your payment. Seven hundred Solares."
Haruto took the bags, nodded respectfully.
"Thanks."
Joren waved a hand, almost laughing.
"No—thank you! Come back soon, alright?"
As the door closed behind them, Haruto opened one of the bags and peeked inside. Golden coins glittered under the afternoon sun.
Haruto (to himself):
"One Solares is… 150,000 yen back in my world. I've got 700 now… That's 105 million yen."
Haruto closed the coin pouch with a soft clink and muttered,
"That's a lot… just for Aetherstone. But money doesn't scare me. I've got more than that stashed away."
He turned to Fuyume, who was humming quietly beside him.
"Let's find an inn."
Fuyume smiled, bowing her head slightly.
"Yes, Lord."
As they made their way down the lively street, they passed a towering figure in full, polished armor—Alistair. His presence alone made people move aside.
Haruto, eyes narrowed, spoke under his breath,
"…That guy's strong. I'm glad I suppressed my power—and Fuyume's, too."
Moments later, Haruto stopped in front of a stone-brick building, a modest wooden sign swinging gently above the door.
"Is this the place?" he asked aloud.
They stepped inside, approaching the front counter. A girl stood there, wearing a tilted hat with strands of black hair poking out from underneath.
Haruto:
"We'd like a room. How much?"
The girl didn't even look up.
"One Solares a room."
Haruto pulled out two golden coins and slid them across the counter.
"Two rooms."
—But there was only one left.
Now in the room, Haruto stood by the window, arms folded, watching the moonlight bathe the quiet streets below. Behind him, Fuyume lay fast asleep on one of the two beds, her breath steady and soft.
It was her first time maintaining a human form for so long. The transformation took a toll on her. She just needed time—for her body to adjust, for it to feel natural.
Haruto exhaled slowly, letting himself sink into a chair near the window.
"The funny thing is…" he muttered, gazing up at the moon.
"After evolving… my body doesn't get tired. I don't even get hungry."
A moment of silence.
His eyes dimmed with a quiet uncertainty.
"...Seraphina," he said softly. "Am I… still human?"
There was no voice. No echo.
Only text, glowing faintly in the air like scripture from a forgotten divine book—Seraphina's answer, cold and absolute:
> "No."
"When you died… your soul was reborn."
"You are no longer human."
"You are the Spider Emperor."
"A true arachnid—divine, complete, and sovereign."
Haruto didn't speak. He just sat there, still, for a long time—eyes lowered, expression unreadable.
Eventually, he stood.
Outside the window, boots echoed on the cobblestone.
Selene and the rest of the heroes were walking down the street below—shining armor, enchanted weapons, laughter that didn't reach their eyes.
Haruto's head snapped toward the window, eyes sharp.
"…Huh? Selene…?"
His voice was low, barely audible.
"…The whole class…?"