“A magical creature… living on divine power?”

It might sound absurd at first, but it wasn’t entirely impossible.

The reason magical creatures avoid divine power is because it pushes out their inherent magic. 

Like water and oil that can’t mix, magic and divine power constantly clash. But what if you poured oil into an empty container?

“If they had their power stripped away and only their body remained, wouldn’t there be no problem absorbing divine power? Their essence would be completely empty, like mine.”

“That’s…”

“It’s just a hypothesis, though.”

If that hypothesis were true, all the seemingly contradictory conditions would align.

An existence that could communicate with magical creatures yet possessed divine power. A being with human form but not human. 

A magical creature Asrein alone didn’t know about, yet had definitely existed and was still alive. The “fifth pillar” thought to be dead connected all the mismatched clues into one.

Yet one question remained.

“If that’s true, how could a magical creature have gathered that much divine power?”

“I… don’t know that much either.”

You can force others into submission through power, but gaining pure faith is difficult. If you could become a god through authority alone, all the past emperors of the Karsa Empire would have become gods long ago. 

Perhaps the founding emperor, praised by all people, could have been deified… but wasn’t Jupiter already dead?

Then how could “they” have possessed divine power rivaling a god?

“Could they have drawn in followers with their prophetic abilities?”

“It’s too early to jump to conclusions. The ability to prophesy might be a lie too.”

“That’s… true.”

I couldn’t get fixated on one hypothesis and miss other possibilities. As I obediently nodded in agreement with Asrein’s opinion, Nyx, who’d been silently listening beside us, belatedly interjected.

[Wait. What are you talking about? The fifth pillar?]

“Icarus heard about it before. Asrein’s plan to establish the final pillar.”

[So you’re saying there’s one more existence like us?]

“…Probably.”

It was understandably confusing. In a way, their relationship was close to family—similar to suddenly confessing you had another sibling. I sneaked a glance, curious about their reaction. 

But Nyx wasn’t flustered at all, instead smirking as they muttered:

[Well, this is getting interesting.]

“It’s not certain yet.”

[Still, the possibility exists.]

Their crimson eyes gleamed vividly with interest.

[I hope… they’ll entertain me.]

They seemed delighted to have found a new interest. While I wouldn’t worry about anyone else, Nyx showing interest made me nervous. They looked ready to attack instead of greet the moment this person appeared.

[So do you know where this priest—whether human or magical creature—is now?]

“No. Actually, I didn’t even see their face properly.”

[That’s unfortunate.]

“But if I glimpse the memory again, it might be possible.”

I grasped the swamp’s heart, thinking it might somehow help. I didn’t yet know how to access the Aconitum’s memory, but repeated attempts would surely reveal the way. Happy to have found a breakthrough, I quickly added:

“The memory I saw cut off in the middle, but there must be more after that. So…”

“No, don’t do that.”

An unexpectedly calm voice cut me off sharply.

“If you resonate too strongly with the Aconitum, you might be in danger.”

Asrein grasped my wrist and slowly shook his head. I looked back at Nyx, hoping they might agree with me. But their reaction wasn’t much different.

[I hate to say it, but this time I have to side with Asrein.]

“Why won’t you let me try when there’s a way?”

[Isn’t it obvious?]

Nyx shrugged helplessly with a smile. Just as they opened their mouth to say something, Asrein beside them naturally beat them to it.

“Because your safety is more precious than finding some unknown priest.”

I see… My obsession with “finding the priest” had filled my head so completely I hadn’t looked around me. They didn’t want me to search at the risk of danger. As I pressed my slightly parted lips shut, Asrein gently stroked my head.

Then Nyx swatted Asrein’s arm away with a snort.

[Wait. I was about to say that.]

“What right do you have to say such things to Tae-oh?”

[Ha! You know how pathetic it looks, nitpicking everything at your age?]

“I don’t care what you think.”

I burst out laughing at how they bickered after being so serious. The moment a sound escaped, both pairs of eyes flew to me. I quickly wiped away my smile, and this time Nyx grinned.

[We don’t even know where that person is now, and it’s uncertain if they’re really like us.]

“Right…”

[Searching diligently is good, but you should rest today.]

“Me?”

[Yeah.]

Nyx nodded lightly.

[If you chase too hastily, you won’t see what should be visible.]

“……”

[Sometimes you need to relax.]

They were right. Since it was a delicate matter, I should think more carefully and be certain. If that priest really was the “fifth pillar,” it wouldn’t end with simply finding and meeting them.

I lowered my eyes obediently and fidgeted with my neatly folded hands.

“I guess I was too tense. …I’m sorry.”

[No, you don’t need to apologize. Technically, that one’s the problem.]

Their displeased gaze pointed at Asrein.

“What? Why Asrein?”

[That guy only knows work, and you naturally learned by watching him up close.]

“Ahaha…”

Asrein does… overwork himself. Yeah. More than me if anything, certainly not less. Having no proper retort, I just let out an awkward laugh. Asrein clicked his tongue lightly and shook his head. He seemed too tired to bother responding.

Meanwhile, Nyx approached and draped an arm over my shoulder.

[So stop thinking today and— play with me.]

“…What?”

[Don’t want to?]

“N-no. It’s not that…”

Play? Doing what? 

When Nyx suggested playing, my thoughts went in very strange directions. I had the feeling we’d end up doing something decidedly unwholesome. Perhaps noticing my troubled expression, Nyx kept twitching the corners of their mouth like suppressing laughter.

Unable to watch any longer, Asrein threw out a comment.

“Aren’t you leaving?”

[I came all this way—how could I just see his face and go? That would be wasteful.]

“What’s wasteful about it?”

[Mind your own business. Shouldn’t you be going? That, what was it called.]

Nyx rolled their eyes cheekily, then exclaimed “Ah!” and said:

[You have duties as that distinguished and important ’professor.’]

You’re busy so get going. I didn’t know how they could stretch out what could be said in nine words. And in the way that would grate on Asrein’s nerves most.

Normally I would have kept quiet, but this time I backed up Nyx’s words.

“That’s right. Asrein. You left in the middle of a meeting because of me.”

[Oh my, really~? Then you’d better hurry.]

“I’ll be with Nyx, so don’t worry about me and go.”

[Yeah. Hurry up and get lost.]

Each time Nyx added commentary, Asrein’s eyes sharpened further. I didn’t want to deliberately irritate him, but it was a necessary choice. If I didn’t do this, work would pile up endlessly for Asrein because of me.

Asrein glared at Nyx with suspicious eyes, then finally sighed and said:

“…That’s exactly why I’m more worried.”

“What?”

“Never mind. I’ll be back soon.”

Only then did Asrein turn with heavy steps. Even as he stepped onto the magic circle, he kept repeating the same thing.

“If he does anything strange, make sure to call me.”

I’m not a child—why worry so much? Besides, with the statues monitoring everywhere in the mansion, there was no need to worry.

“Have a safe trip!”

After safely sending Asrein to Angelus, the mansion was wrapped in subtle silence. I sneakily glanced sideways at the burdensome gaze I felt on my cheek. When our eyes met, Nyx’s lips curved up. Somehow that look seemed to say “go ahead and entertain me.”

After hesitating several times, I finally blurted out:

“But…”

[Hmm?]

“I’m not very fun. Nyx.”

When I spoke in a rather serious tone, Nyx tilted their head slightly.

[What’s that supposed to mean all of a sudden?]

“Well. You said let’s play earlier.”

[Ah~ I was just saying that.]

I see… I was the only one being serious again. As I let out a quiet sigh, Nyx asked curiously:

[Don’t tell me you were thinking about what to play with me?]

“…Yes.”

When I answered in a crawling voice, I heard a deflating sound from somewhere. Pfft. That was definitely mocking laughter. As I bit my lip in indescribable embarrassment, Nyx laughed heartily enough to shake the spacious mansion.

[Were you going to play hide-and-seek with me?]

“Not quite that…”

[Puhaha, don’t worry. Just watching you is entertaining enough.]

“Well, that’s good then.”

[Ah~ I haven’t laughed this hard in ages.]

I didn’t know whether to be happy or cry about this. After giggling for a while, Nyx wiped away tears and said:

[Tae-oh.]

I looked at them warily, not knowing what teasing would come next. But Nyx wore a somehow lonely expression, like they’d never laughed at all. Just as I worried about the sudden change, what followed was completely unexpected.

[Since meeting you, I sometimes have strange thoughts.]

“Like… what?”

[That I wish you were a magical creature.]

I couldn’t answer anything. Words wouldn’t come easily. I preferred when they laughed loudly enough to shake the mansion. Seeing my obviously flustered expression, Nyx took a short breath and turned away.

[Anyway, forget hide-and-seek—let me show you around.]

“Sh-should we? The lake here is really beautiful.”

I didn’t miss the chance to change topics and quickly turned my steps.

When we came outside the mansion with Nyx, the sun was already setting. The lake that was always blue had turned red with the glow of sunset. Fortunately, they seemed to like the scenery—a pleasant smile hung on Nyx’s lips.

[I heard Narcissus is here.]

“Right. I was a bit scared when I first met them, but they were gentler than I thought.”

Of course, that was because they sensed Oceanos’s energy from me, but still, they were quite docile compared to the vicious rumors. They readily helped me when we first met and stayed still even when I touched them.

“They don’t seem to hate humans unconditionally?”

I was saying it seemed like a misunderstanding due to their bone-eating diet when Nyx rolled their eyes.

[Well. I’m not so sure about that.]

“About what?”

[Narcissus.]

Nyx gazed at the lake and dropped a meaningful comment.

[You haven’t seen them hunt?]

That’s when it happened. Something quickly flashed through the water. I hurried to the lakeside and peered carefully at the surface. A long shadow slid past again. There was only one magical creature with such a large silhouette.

“Narcissus…?”

The lake’s master had begun moving for some reason. They weren’t even approaching me after sensing my presence, but watching something intently. The cautious movement was exactly like a lion hiding in the bushes to hunt deer.

Where are they going? Just as I wondered, Nyx whispered in a languid voice:

[We’ll see a rare sight after a long time~]

My spine went cold. I suddenly looked up and noticed a person on the opposite shore. A man in shabby clothes was crouched so close his nose nearly touched the water. I finally realized. The reason Narcissus was on high alert was definitely because of that human.

There was nothing more to think about. That human would soon be devoured.

“No…!”

As I urgently tried to enter the lake, Nyx grabbed my wrist.

[That’s also nature’s order—why not just leave it?]

“How can I just leave that?”

[Who would blame the tiger for the deer devoured in front of its den?]

“That’s…”

[Narcissus is never friendly to humans. They were docile because it was you.]

Were their lips slightly raised? Yet their red eyes held no trace of laughter.

[They simply don’t attack opponents they can’t beat.]

“…!!”

[Smart, right?]

The eyes watching the hunt approaching right before them were utterly cold. No, could I even call this cold? A human invading territory and a magical creature taking that human as prey. Just like they said, that human dying was nature’s order.

[So, what will you do? Hemera.]

I shouldn’t interfere.

[Will you watch Narcissus’s meal? Or will you save that foolish human?]

I know I shouldn’t, but…

[…Hemera?]

I gently pushed away the hand holding me and said:

“I’m sorry. Nyx.”

In an instant, Nyx’s face hardened. Seeing the always-smiling expression crumble made my heart crumble too. I didn’t want to divide sides between magical creatures and humans from the start, but that opinion wouldn’t get through to Nyx.

So even though I didn’t want to disappoint them, these were words I’d have to say someday.

“I guess I’m hopelessly human.”

Without looking back, I dove into the lake.

To prevent what some call nature’s order and others call catastrophe.