An Extra’s POV

"S-so… that's what happened, huh?"

Rebal was still recoiling from the words of his son.

What he described wasn't as gory or bloody as what Ralyks had displayed during the Dark Gathering, but something about it felt more twisted.

… Far darker.

"The worst part is, I could have sworn that there was a lot of damage during the entire fight, but there's nothing! Nothing at all…" Asher replied, still not completely himself.

The honest truth was that he was scared.

Was he in a dream? Was he in reality? What if, just like the Mercenary Gang, he thought he saw something which wasn't real?

Asher didn't know what to believe anymore.

"You just need rest." Rebal smiled at his son, though he too had some rabid fear within himself.

Perhaps they both needed the rest.

"Sir Ralyks… he slaughtered all the enemies without mercy. I've never seen a man kill with such… lack of remorse."

And so many at once too.

Both Ralyks and his subordinate, Ater, seemed to be cut from the same cloth—one that even Rebal could not fully comprehend.

"The battle is won, and now it is time for the aftermath." Rebal chuckled, a hint of fear in his eyes.

"What do you mean, father?"

"I mean… Sir Ralyks was employed by us to take care of this mess. Now that it is over… isn't it time to think about his payment?"

It felt like an absurd thing to say, but they had to face it—the truth that confronted them.

What could they pay such a man?!

"It seems you also need some rest, father." Asher said with a tired smile.

Rebal nodded, returning the exact same expression.

Even though it was nowhere near enough, both father and son decided to consider the horrors they witnessed as a penance for their crimes.

if

followed

*********

That night, everything changed.

turned upside down in the span of

that had transpired within the walls of the massive city, the situation in the Allied Merchant

Dark Gathering—was exposed

stormed into the building, searching every nook and cranny

still required extensive investigations to piece together most

not elude General Lucy and

had been festering within the haven that the Alliance was supposed to

was hardly the most disgusting thing was

They saw it all.

bad, the worse,

came

And then what?

Market was officially disbanded, and

were bound to be vestiges here and

later, they too

darkness would ultimately

remain honest and diligent in their dealings with

they had

death could descend upon the land

all felt

the

they

be a legend amongst the denizens of the Merchant

—The Reaper.

********

to

in his real form. His pajamas felt a bit

he liked

people. I already knew I would

one of the reasons he decided

already knew what he was

despite all his planning, there were a lot

was the presence of Adrien Chase—how deep the conspiracy went, and

But more than that…

didn't expect this world to be so