Mururunsoft
Online/Offline Compatible Roguelike MO Action + Online Versus Action.
Shin's Memory
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The All-Seeing Boy – Chapter 1
Clairvoyance. I would close my eyes so as not to be misled by the physical world, and expand my sense of self beyond the prison of my body... Then, the surrounding space would become transparent. With my mind's eye, I could clearly see what lay beyond walls and even far-off landscapes. On good days, I could perceive even the subtlest facial expressions of people or the rustling leaves of distant trees swaying in the wind.
Analysis. By touching an object or merely looking at it, I could understand its internal structure and composition. For example, just glancing at a book would reveal not only its contents, but also the type of paper, the components of the ink, and even the specific method used to bind it.
* * *
I was born because I was wanted. By the time I entered this world, both my mother and father were already advanced in age, and to them, my birth was nothing short of a miracle. Their joy was immense, and so was their love for me. When they began to notice signs of my abilities in early childhood, they were overjoyed.
I was born with supernatural abilities: two, in fact—clairvoyance and analysis. My Clairvoyance allowed me to see in 360 degrees, through walls, and even to faraway places. My Analysis, when I focused, could reveal an object's properties and hidden traits.
In this world, individuals with such supernatural powers are sometimes born. It seems to have a genetic component, but it can also occur through distant recessive inheritance, making its appearance nearly random and difficult to predict. Even when such individuals are born, it is rarely easy for them to be accepted in ordinary households. In many cases, it leads to tragic conflict or derails the lives of both the child and their parents.
But my parents accepted my powers without hesitation. More than that—they trained me to develop and refine them. The precision of my abilities today is entirely thanks to my mother's training. My father, who worked as a journalist, was rarely home due to his busy schedule. But my mother stayed by my side at all times, making sure the world didn't discover my powers, and that I didn't fall victim to its corrupting influence. She trained me with tireless care. My father also believed in the potential of my abilities and held them in high regard.
By the time I was five years old, my Analysis had advanced to the point where I could read shallow thoughts from people's minds. It was then that I realized my father was not truly a journalist. Or rather, he was—but it was merely a cover. In truth, I saw visions of him fighting monsters alongside comrades from some secret organization.
One day, I asked him about it.
"That's right," he said. "The group your father belongs to is called Exesista. We protect this world from evil monsters. Your powers are rare and valuable. Someday, will you join us?"
He was surprised that my supernatural eye had seen through him, but he didn't take offense. In fact, he smiled proudly as he spoke. I felt a bit proud, too, and nodded with a smile.
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The All-Seeing Boy – Chapter 2
I had become an elementary school student. Around that time, my existence began to be recognized within my father's organization, and I started receiving combat training in a secluded clearing in the woods every evening. My frail body never gained much muscle, but with my two abilities and a knife in hand, I never felt like I would lose to any ordinary adult. The techniques for fighting the monsters that lurk in the shadows were being engraved into my very body.
Every morning, my mother drove me to school. As I passed through the gates, a well-manicured lawn spread out before me. The school building was made of white stone, and sunlight streamed through its large windows. The classrooms were equipped with the latest technology, and even the desks and chairs had a sense of luxury. It was a private integrated school that went all the way up to graduate level, with passionate teachers and a rich curriculum.
My classmates were all from wealthy families. Their conversations revolved around the latest games, overseas vacations, and weekend family outings. Being among them felt like living in a different world. I was naturally reserved, so I didn't grow close to any of them. Still, watching them talk so happily sometimes made me feel a tinge of envy. I had no such cheerful memories with either my father or my mother.
My mother made sure I didn't interact too much with the outside world. After school, she would take me straight home and have me focus on training and studies. In her eyes, drawing out the full potential of my abilities was the highest priority. My father, too, was always busy and rarely home, often working late into the night. And so, my life consisted solely of commuting between school and home. The dazzling daily life at school, and the strict training at home—between those two extremes, I gradually began to question my own existence. Was this bizarre life really what was best for me?
Worn out from the increasingly harsh training, I found myself dozing off during class. Just as my heavy eyelids began to close, my ability suddenly perceived something I had never sensed before. I sharpened my clairvoyance and focused my mind's eye. What was that…?
I saw a girl. Her hair was platinum blonde, flaring outward like light itself. Her face was so exquisitely beautiful, she looked like she didn't belong to this world. The location seemed to be a university research lab. She was alone, intently reading what looked like a research paper.
There was a divine aura about her appearance—immeasurable and radiant—and I was captivated. She seemed to radiate the grace of a being descended from a higher realm. Unable to resist, I activated my analytical ability and peered into her mind.
What I saw—
The sky was clear, bathed in soft golden light. Fluffy white clouds drifted above, and a majestic golden castle loomed in the distance. Lush gardens and pristine fountains stretched around it. Birds sang, flowers bloomed, and the scene seemed to possess a timeless, eternal beauty.
And then, the vision vanished. My powers had reached their limit. Apparently, I had fallen asleep. When I opened my eyes, my teacher's furious face was right in front of me.
Even as I listened to his scolding, my mind was elsewhere. That girl had not been a fleeting illusion. She truly existed. I was certain she came from that beautiful world. The vision I had seen through her consciousness remained burned into my memory, vivid and unforgettable.
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The All-Seeing Boy – Chapter 3
My first mission. It was during one summer, when my abilities were finally deemed sufficient to defeat a demon. My clairvoyance had detected the presence of a demon in the outskirts of a historic castle town in the mountains.
Coincidentally, I was there on a school trip. The sky was shifting from crimson to deep blue, and a full moon had risen. Our day's schedule had just finished, and we were about to have dinner at the inn.
The demon's presence was faint—just at the edge of my range—but combined with analysis, I was sure of it. I contacted my father through a small organization-issued tablet.
"Perfect," he replied. "Take care of it yourself. That area is a popular school trip destination, so we already have people stationed nearby."
I did feel a bit of regret about missing the group dinner, but the organization's mission came first. I'd never fought in actual combat before, but I'd seen countless records and videos of the devastation demons caused, and a sense of righteous anger had taken root in me. And more than that, I hoped that if I encountered something from the other world again, I might catch another glimpse of that heavenly realm.
I slipped out through the inn's window and waited in an alley. Soon, a car pulled up—a black sedan, inconspicuous, just like the one my father had described. The passenger door opened automatically, and I climbed in. The driver was a familiar face.
"Yo, been a while. You just need to guide me to the target, kid. I may have trained you, but leave the fighting to me. Your power wasn't made for the front lines anyway."
He was my combat instructor. Tall and lean but muscular, with slicked-back black hair, a beard, and intimidating sunglasses. His ability was physical enhancement. When activated, bullets couldn't even pierce him, and he could obliterate enemies with overwhelming strength.
Exesista is a civilian organization, but a massive one with branches worldwide. However, most of its members are ordinary people, and ability users are rare. There are only 36 of us in this country. My instructor is one of the top combatants among them—a vital asset.
Using clairvoyance repeatedly exhausts me, so I guided him to the demon's location by switching the power on and off. The place wasn't far—it was a narrow one-lane mountain road, mentioned even in the school trip guidebook as a route often used during the local summer festival. The sky had darkened, but the full moon lit the way.
"Hurry! One of the cars is totaled. There's an adult man and woman... no, they're already gone. But there's also a boy and a girl—both unconscious and injured, but still breathing. And... is that a werewolf?"
As we got closer, my vision sharpened. I kept analyzing and relayed the situation. A hulking werewolf, like something out of fantasy, loomed over a small boy and a girl who looked slightly older than me, both lying in pools of blood on the road.
In the wrecked car were likely their parents—two deceased adults.
"There are others too—thin, long-legged creatures."
"Werewolf and ghouls. Nasty bastards. Looks like they're not killing them outright. Probably planning to toy with them first—but I'm not letting that happen."
"We're almost there, right? I'm going in first. You follow!"
He pulled over, activated his ability, and sprinted off like the wind. I figured he was trying to keep me from having to fight directly—but honestly, I found it a bit patronizing.
Though I lagged far behind, I ran toward the scene. While running, I activated my clairvoyance again. Behind the werewolf, I could now see a circular gate wreathed in jet-black flames, leading to a city that looked like a hedonistic pleasure district. Could that be the demons' world?
Something had changed while I had my powers off. The boy and girl's wounds were healed, and they were saying something in confusion. The werewolf approached and effortlessly scooped them into his arms. Was he planning to take them through the gate?
Then—
A pillar of fire erupted. Suddenly, the werewolf burst into flames! The blaze spread to the thin demons beside him, incinerating them all into ash. Yet strangely, it left the children unharmed...
"Ah!"
I stumbled over something, breaking my concentration. Looking down, I realized it was the twisted corpse of one of the thin demons, its torso and legs bent in opposite directions.
It must have been the instructor who had taken them down. Looking ahead, I saw more corpses just like the first. I passed seven of those demon bodies, and then one that looked different in color. As I continued forward, the scene I had seen through my clairvoyance finally aligned with reality.
"This might be one hell of a find, kid."
The instructor, now without his sunglasses—probably lost during the fight—was standing over something, looking down.
There, lying amid what appeared to be the ashes left behind by the werewolves, was the unconscious girl.
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The All-Seeing Boy – Chapter 4
My family had grown. The girl from that incident—my parents had taken her in. She was a few months older than me, which made her my older sister now. I remembered there had also been a boy at the scene, but… whenever I asked her about him, she would only tighten her lips and look away, a flicker of resolve in her eyes.
On the surface, my sister seemed cheerful and sincere. But at night, she would disappear—every single night. Worried, I finally gave in and decided to use my clairvoyance to spy on her.
What I saw was her, wearing a cat-shaped mask, launching fire toward a stream. That fire—it was just like the one I had seen that night. So it really had been her who incinerated those werewolves.
But if that's the case, then the instructor must've told my father. If Dad knows, then he should be welcoming her into the organization with open arms. So why hasn't he done anything?
One day, I asked him.
"I didn't take her in for that reason," he said.
"She's my younger brother's daughter. The victims of that attack… were my brother and his wife. I had no choice but to take in the girl who'd been left behind."
"And she… if she ever encounters demons again, I know she'll try to use that to reach the demon world. Her younger brother was never found after the attack. It's likely—almost certain—that he was taken to the demon world. But no human has ever returned from there. She must learn to let him go."
"Our duty is to protect people in this world from demons. We can't allow someone with a desire to cross into another world to join the organization. So I'm asking you: keep an eye on her. Make sure she doesn't do anything reckless to find the demons."
We can't let someone into the organization if they want to go to another world…
His words made that memory stir again—the vision of that beautiful, radiant world. I…
But no, that world surely had nothing to do with demons.
I nodded to my father and resolved to quietly keep my sister away from anything demonic.
* * *
My sister and I had become high school students. Around that time, bizarre news reports began appearing intermittently, casting fear across the nation. It started with the gruesome murder of construction workers at a job site—and then, mysterious mass killings began occurring all over the country.
Rumors about the culprit spread like wildfire. They said it was a monstrous figure in a mask, with inhuman strength—able to tear people apart with bare hands. And supposedly, a small demon always followed alongside him.
It was obvious that demons were involved. That rumor, which had gained nationwide attention, must have reached my sister's ears too. I could tell she was restless. I couldn't hide the truth about demons from her much longer. That blaze of power I saw in my vision—it made me uneasy. Her power might become uncontrollable.
And then, the fearsome killer who had shocked the nation finally came close to home.
One day, there was an incident at a campsite in the neighboring town—believed to be an attack by the same killer. Numerous tents were destroyed, and many were injured—but oddly, all the injuries were relatively minor. The nature of the damage differed from previous cases, and at first, it was treated as an accident caused by falling trees in a sudden gust of wind. However, testimony from victims at the scene revealed a link to the killer.
Even if I still had to keep the organization a secret, I had decided it was time to talk to her—To tell her about my abilities, and that I knew about hers too.
If something were to happen, we needed to be able to work together. It was too dangerous now. There was no telling when she might lose control.
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The All-Seeing Boy – Chapter 5
It was a weekend evening. I accompanied my sister on a shopping trip to a suburban mall. Originally, she was supposed to go alone to pick up supplies for our high school festival, but rumors of the serial killer crossed my mind, and I offered to go with her just in case. If anything happened, I planned to contact my father immediately.
The glass doors of the mall slid open with a cheerful jingle, and a blast of overly cooled air swept over my skin.
Even though I lived in the same town, I'd hardly ever been here. Maybe because I never had any reason to visit in my daily life, it felt oddly like traveling to another town.
The mall had a three-story atrium at its center. As we entered, I quietly activated my ability and surveyed the entire structure with my mind's eye.
There were several clothing stores nearby. Some were chain outlets, others seemed local. I couldn't really tell if the clothes piled haphazardly in bargain bins were in season or not.
Around the central atrium, there were souvenir shops selling local specialty goods—jams, sweets, assortments of dried fruits stacked high like little mountains. Deeper inside, there seemed to be a large fresh food section as well.
On the second floor was the food court. My sister had mentioned eating here often. It also had a game store and electronics shop, and the area was lively and crowded. I recalled classmates talking about this place a lot.
The third floor had a completely different vibe—hardly any people. There were outdoor gear stores, luggage shops, bedding sections, even a chiropractor and an English conversation school, all creating a scattered, chaotic mix. It made me wonder what this floor was supposed to be.
Being a weekend, the entire building was bustling. Students in casual clothes, families with shopping bags, young couples pushing strollers. Sunlight from the atrium skylights bathed the scene in a warm orange glow, wrapping it in a peaceful atmosphere.
Using my ability, I immediately located the store my sister needed. I deactivated the ability and guided her there without hesitation.
Her shopping was done quickly. But since we had come all the way here, it felt like a waste to just go home.
"It's a bit early, but shall we just have dinner at the food court on the second floor? I'll let Mom know."
I said it naturally, almost as if it were already decided. My sister gave me a slightly exasperated look, but
* * *
"So, what are you getting?"
After finding an empty two-seater near the back of the food court, my sister casually asked.
Right. This might be a good opportunity to talk about my abilities.
"Um, I think I'll go with tempura udon,"
I gave her a small nod and turned toward the udon shop counter. I subtly distanced myself so she wouldn't come to the same place.
There was a short line at the counter. As I joined the end, I immediately switched my focus and activated my clairvoyance. I tracked her actions with my mind's eye.
She headed straight to the crepe shop and, without hesitation, chose chocolate banana. I quickly pulled out my phone and sent her a single message.
Choco-banana
Through my ability, I saw her stop mid-motion, pulling out her phone and tilting her head in confusion.
After confirming her reaction, I deactivated the ability and returned to the table with a tray holding tempura udon and inari sushi.
* * *
"So you were watching me the whole time? And then you just texted me like that? Who even does that?"
When I briefly explained how my clairvoyance worked, my sister gave me a baffled look. Though she seemed surprised, she didn't seem shaken—which probably meant she had a power of her own.
"Okay, fine. I get it. You've got some weird power. And you're telling me because—"
"I believe you have one too."
I stated it without hesitation. We needed to share this information now.
"…Yeah. I can make fire."
Much more easily than I expected, she admitted it.
"Yeah. It happened when I was a kid. I remember it clearly. We were attacked by something strange on a dark road, and I didn't know what to do… The next thing I knew, flames were shooting from my hand. Like it wasn't even me doing it."
Her tone was oddly calm. I nodded and listened intently.
"Since then, it comes out sometimes. Not as dramatic as before, but if I focus, I can make a small flame."
In truth—she had much better control than that. I'd seen her training every night by the stream. She was hiding it, probably for the same reason Dad had mentioned—carrying the burden of rescuing the "younger brother" taken to the demon world, all on her own.
Frustration welled up inside me. But I had no idea how to bring someone back from the demon world. There was nothing I could say.
"So your power lets you see across towns while sitting here, huh? Impressive. All I can do is make a tiny fire."
"It's not quite that far. I can see up to… maybe that mountain over there."
I pointed toward a small mountain behind town visible through the window, and naturally, as the conversation flowed, I closed my eyes and focused my mind's eye on the area around that mountain.
—Kill, kill, kill...
...!?
Suddenly, my vision distorted, and my head reeled. A nauseating wave of dark intoxication swept over me. My forehead pressed into something soft, and my grip on reality began to slip...
"Hey! What the hell?!"
My sister's voice echoed faintly in the distance.
—I mustn't look any further.
Panicked, I deactivated my ability. What I had just seen—A hulking man in a hockey mask, shrouded in a sinister aura. And fluttering around him was a tiny demon with a disproportionately large head and bat wings—likely a variant of the Shadow Minx species.
There was no doubt. The details matched those reported to Exesista. That killer... it was him.
They had leapt off the cliffside behind the mountain and were using rooftops to move—heading straight for this shopping mall.
First, I had to contact my father. I reached into my slacks and pressed the emergency code on my organization-issued device. This system allowed me to transmit enemy data—number, type, coordinates—without speaking. Voice calls were possible, but I wanted to avoid that in front of my sister.
"Sis. We need to evacuate. A very dangerous individual is approaching."
"I've already called for help. They should arrive soon. Hurry!"
* * *
We abandoned our food and I grabbed my sister's arm, breaking into a run. Our destination: the rooftop parking lot. Getting her to safety came first.
We couldn't use my ability on the stairs—it was too dangerous. I forced myself to stay focused and sprinted upward.
As we reached the third floor, a commotion erupted from the atrium.
What was that...? What happened!?
It was close, so I didn't use my ability—just pulled her toward the balcony. And then I saw it: a security guard lying face-down on the floor.
"What happened here?!"
I asked a man nearby who looked like a janitor.
"Th-that guy… he threw the guard all the way up here! From the first floor! I mean, that's just insane!"
Gripping the railing, I looked down. A hulking masked man was rampaging on the first floor.
He's already here...? Too fast!
Civilians were already downed and injured. The little demon flew around gleefully, egging him on. The air reeked of blood—the entire first floor was a hellscape of violence.
"This is it! Now's the time to use your power! We're going back down!"
My sister grabbed my hand and started back toward the stairs—but—
The stairwell was jammed with panicked civilians. No way we were getting through.
"Your power only lets you make a bit of fire, right? The rescue team will be here soon! We need to head to the rooftop!"
I pointed upward. The rooftop parking lot would be safer.
"You keep saying ‘rescue'—what are you talking about? Are you hiding something from me, besides your ability?"
"I'm sorry for hiding it, too. But I can actually use my power way more than I let on! That murderer doesn't stand a chance against me. Come on, we're going back down."
She pulled a cat mask from her tote and put it on without hesitation. Then ran to the railing.
"Wait, what are you trying to do?!"
"I'm jumping. It's fine. I'll make it somehow."
"You'll never make it! You'll get seriously hurt! …Just wait a second!"
—I couldn't stop her. So I had to act first. With stairs and elevators unusable, I needed another way down.
I activated clairvoyance for a second. The killer's chaotic aura nearly unbalanced me—but I quickly found something I could use.
* * *
"Should I drop them here?"
"Yes. I checked with my ability—there's nothing below this spot. And it's hard to see from where that man is. This is the best location."
My sister dropped three mattresses she'd “borrowed” from the bedding section down into the atrium.
Thud. Thud. The sounds were muffled in the commotion—no one noticed.
Meanwhile, I hooked a carabiner from the mountaineering store onto the railing and secured a climbing rope. I used a reliable bowline knot—double-checked it.
Things were getting worse on the first floor. No time for harnesses.
"Sis, put these on! You'll burn your hands from the friction!"
I handed her gloves and put mine on too.
"I'll go first!"
Without waiting for a response, I leapt onto the railing. Gripping the rope and bending my knees to absorb the impact—I slid down in one go.
Target: the mattresses below.
—Now all I had to do was stick the landing!
* * *
"By the way, what's with all those bandages? Can you even see through them?"
"This is my combat style. Don't worry about it."
I had wrapped a thin cloth—almost like bandages—around my head, covering my eyes completely. I could still see faintly through it with my normal vision. It was meant to hide the fact that I had to close my eyes when activating my ability, so the enemy wouldn't notice.
Having landed without issue, my sister and I quietly approached the man from behind. Distance—about eight meters. The man, too focused on attacking civilians in a frenzy, hadn't noticed us yet. Overhead, the little demon from the Shadow Minx line flitted about gleefully, taunting him.
Outside, the sound of sirens echoed from all directions.
My sister came to a halt, extended her arm—and then—
A sharp burst of flame erupted from her palm. But the man, perhaps guided by animal instinct, leapt sideways just in time, dodging the attack and turning to face us.
"Servant of the devil! Come at me! I'll stop you right here!"
She fired again without missing a beat. The man evaded once more, grabbed a mannequin dressed in a summer dress from a nearby clothing store, and hurled it at her.
She calmly stepped back and avoided it. Not bad for someone who hadn't received formal training.
"Well, well... so I've got myself an ability user. I've been waiting for this."
The man spoke, but there was no reason to respond. Right—I'll create an opening to make things easier for her.
"Huh? Wait, what...?"
I pretended to be distracted and turned my back to the man. Then I activated my ability.
"Hey, kid! This ain't the time to be spacing out!"
The man charged with blinding speed—but I could see it. Enduring the disorienting darkness radiating from him, I crouched and dodged his strike.
Sis, now's your chance!
—When I turned back, for some reason, my mother was standing there.
"Are you hurt? I thought he was about to hit you..."
No way...
My mother had an ability called Swapping—a power that instantly switched her own position with that of a target. She must've responded to the emergency signal I sent and rushed here to protect me.
But this wasn't even a moment where I was in danger of getting hit!
I reassessed the situation.
The man had moved toward the mall entrance, where police officers were now arriving in numbers.
Meanwhile, my sister was near the atrium, launching flame shots at the demon.
"Eeeek! See ya later, Lord Demon King!"
The demon barely dodged the flames and soared upward, reaching the third floor before pulling out a pale blue card. Then, in a puff, she vanished.
—She got away!?
So that's it… That card must be how they appear and vanish so suddenly across different locations.
Bang!
A sharp gunshot rang out.
"Don't move!"
The police had fired a warning shot. Apparently, the man couldn't warp without the demon's help. Outnumbered and surrounded by armed officers, he should've been easy to capture—
Wait. He pulled a black, glinting card from his pocket... What is that?
I instantly activated my ability and began analyzing it.
* * *
Kill. Kill. Kill—
Suddenly, a monstrous voice, like darkness given form, echoed in my mind. It emanated from the man—or perhaps from some more fundamental entity lurking behind him.
A thought flickered across my mind. Whoever this voice belonged to, it was clearly not of this world. Could it possibly know something about that beautiful world I once saw? Maybe… just maybe, if I could speak with this man or the little demon properly—
My thoughts veered off in a completely wrong direction. A deluded fantasy, totally out of place.
My legs wobbled. My vision tilted, and gravity pulled me to my knees.
—No good. A fatal opening.
The man moved. A lightning-fast burst of acceleration. His fist raised—this, I couldn't dodge.
Just as I braced for death—my vision flipped.
From behind, I heard the crashing of shelves toppling over. When I looked back, my mother had been blown across the hall and was now sprawled on the floor, half-buried in scattered merchandise.
—She used her Swapping ability to take the hit in my place!?
It should've been a shocking sight. But strangely, the emotion faded almost instantly. In its place, that voice echoed in my head again.
Kill. Kill. Kill—
Reality drained of color, becoming a monochrome bird's-eye view. It felt like I was watching the carnage unfold as a detached observer.
"You bastard! How dare you hit my aunt—Die!"
The girl screamed—and hellfire engulfed the man. The flames struck his left arm, surging upward to consume his shoulder. His flesh blackened and cracked, and a muffled groan rose from deep within his throat.
—The voice of darkness recognized the presence of something unforgivable. It howled in fury.
Amid that torrential roar, something inside me twisted and groaned.
Stop. This isn't right. Don't do this. Isn't he—the one we're supposed to protect?
The one who holds the key to that world. The one who might open the door… to that beautiful place.
With numb fingers, I pulled a knife from the inner pocket of my slacks and hurled it toward the girl. The blade was coated in a strong tranquilizer.
"Huh...? What...?"
It struck cleanly, embedding itself in her side.
"You...?"
She looked at me, her eyes wide with disbelief. Then, with a groan, she dropped to one knee.
The man rushed to her side, picked her up effortlessly with one arm, and slung her over his shoulder. Then, with a single impossible leap, he soared to the second floor—
CRASH!
A pane of glass shattered.
The man's presence vanished, and with it, the voice that had gripped my mind receded—like a dark tide pulling away from the shore.
What… what am I doing?
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The All-Seeing Boy – Chapter 6 (Final)
"Wait! Don't be reckless..."
The faint smell of disinfectant lingered in the waiting area of the general hospital. White walls, dull blue plastic chairs lined in order. In that sterile space, I tried to stand up.
The next moment, my father's hand gripped my shoulder.
Strong, unwavering. A hand forged by years on the battlefield, not just restraining me, but locking me down completely.
"My sister was kidnapped, and Mother ended up like this. It is my fault. That is why I must take responsibility."
I looked into my father's eyes and declared it clearly. He frowned, then let out a long sigh, releasing his grip as if in resignation.
"Listen. Your mother will survive. Exesista has healers among them. They're already on their way here."
"Just promise me this. Do not do anything reckless."
"Yes."
I nodded solemnly, but it was only a reply. I had no intention of accepting his words.
* * *
I closed my eyes. My inner vision spread wide.
What I saw was a pasture at dusk. On a small hill, sparse with trees and open to view, a five-meter-high cross of steel beams stood, like scrap cobbled together. At its top, where the beams intersected, a girl had been bound.
Her arms were wrapped in countless chains, bound so tightly she could not move. With arms restrained like that, her flame ability could not be used. The girl—my sister—was exposed defenselessly.
At the base of the cross stood a hulking man, carrying a giant axe fashioned from similar scrap. The killer. And fluttering in the air, a little demon. Floating in midair as well, I could see a gate rimmed with black fire, leading to another world.
I released my Clairvoyance. At this distance, I could see with my own eyes now. I was already just below the hill where they were.
I operated my device, transmitting the coordinates to Exesista. As soon as that was done, I took a step forward.
There was something I had to do—
* * *
"Shall we cooperate?"
"I've already leaked information to Exesista. They should be rushing here any moment now.
I've come to admire your power, Lord Demon King. I want to fight alongside you. What do you say?"
I addressed the killer. The gaze of my sister, bound to the cross, stabbed painfully into me, but I endured.
"Hey, the one displayed up there on the cross—that's your sister, isn't it?"
The killer asked suspiciously.
"Yes. She's supposed to be my sister, but really it's just a role I was suddenly given within the last year. To me she's no different from a stranger. I don't feel the slightest shred of sibling affection."
The words I had prepared beforehand slipped smoothly from my mouth.
"Is that so. Well, if you're willing to fight with me, I don't mind. But if you betray me, I'll kill you."
"I am grateful."
"What, you already tipped off your buddies? Then these pictures don't mean much anymore. Oh well."
The little demon tossed aside its phone and slid closer through the air.
"So, you're an Arcana user too, right? What can you do?"
"Arcana...? Think of it as a high-performance radar that can detect ambushes in advance. And I have learned just enough martial arts to defend myself. ...Pleased to work with you."
* * *
In no time, the sun had set, and a madly glowing full moon hung above us.
"They're here. Five from below. Separately, one with invisibility is trying to circle from behind."
"A sniper has taken aim. Use your ability. I'll handle the invisible one."
In this darkness, the killer surely would not have noticed the sniper targeting him. With Clairvoyance I had sensed it, so I gave advice. Of course, Father had come as well...
The next moment, gunfire shattered the silence.
"Tch! That won't work on me!"
The bullet barely pierced the killer's chest before dropping to the ground. He slapped his chest in confirmation. There was some surface pain, but no real damage. Incredible. It must be Physical Boost, like Sensei, but on a whole different scale.
"Well, thanks. You saved me, I guess. ...All right! Let's go!"
The killer roared, hefting the massive axe with brute force. The crude weapon of beams and plates gleamed dully in response to his strength.
Below the hill, the members of Exesista had already begun their coordinated assault. Even in the darkness, I could glimpse their shadows spreading out with perfect precision.
"Time to let you feel what it's like to be hunted!"
The killer kicked off the hill, charging down with explosive speed.
"Come on, everyone! Follow Lord Demon King!"
Behind him poured the demons from the gate, reveling in the feast they had long awaited.
The roars of beasts, the clash of metal, and the release of abilities filled the battlefield.
* * *
"You're not going to help? That man is fighting right now,"
"Huh? If I went to help, you'd just save this girl, wouldn't you? That was your plan all along. And wasn't there an invisible ability user coming?"
"Oh, that was a lie. I wanted to speak with you."
I placed my right hand over my left wrist, glancing up to meet my sister's eyes on the cross. She glared back, then quickly looked away.
"You want to talk to me? About what?"
"A place like highlands, with islands floating in the sky. Do you know such a world? I can see one through that gate, but it seems to be your world, not the one I mean."
I pointed at the hole suspended in the air, rimmed in jet-black fire.
"Hmm? You mean the Angel Realm? You're human. How do you know about that?"
Yes...!
"I had the chance to learn a little, once. I always wanted to go there."
I activated my ability. Clairvoyance required me to close my eyes, but with my head wrapped in bandages, no one would notice. Even if the little demon lied, I would know immediately.
From my sister on the cross, I felt pressure. But that pressure shifted, slowly, toward her arms.
"You're human, right? Humans... if they're little children, you can open a gate for them and they'll pass through."
The little demon looked up at the gate floating in the air.
"But once their consciousness matures, it won't work. You can't go."
So once the self is established, world travel becomes impossible...? I felt a pang of disappointment.
"Isn't there another way? Some other method of travel?"
"Why are you so desperate to reach the Angel Realm? Well, there is one way."
My Clairvoyance caught sight of purple smoke erupting below the hill. That was an ability of one of my seniors in Exesista. But even while his flesh was damaged, the killer charged through the poisonous cloud, splitting my senior apart with his axe.
Even as the killer was injured, I sensed no trace of worry or agitation from the little demon. Of course. So that was it.
"Humans can't go to other worlds unless they die."
"Normally humans can't go even then. But Arcana users like you sometimes manifest in other worlds as ghostlike remnants after death."
As expected. That was why the little demon made no effort to help the killer. There was no reason to.
"That goes for Lord Demon King as well. I think he'll die here, but that's fine! Afterward, he'll appear in our world!"
From my sister I felt a surge of emotion. Shock, sorrow... and yet the pressure gathering in her arms grew even stronger.
And then it came.
Kill, kill, kill... Voices exploded out of the darkness from the direction of the killer, a chorus assaulting me. The cost of keeping Clairvoyance active. That black card... The killer had finally used it.
I immediately released my ability. But I would not escape its influence. Even so—at this point, it no longer mattered.
* * *
From the cross, a massive inferno erupted, hot enough to burn the heavens. It crashed down upon the killer, and in a single strike, he collapsed.
It was my sister. She had forced her ability to activate despite being bound in chains. The restraints shattered, and her body fell from five meters up, slamming into the ground.
Ah—should I, as her brother, have tried to catch her just then? But it would be fine. With the killer down, Father was free to rush toward her.
My sister's arm was gone, but Exesista had healers. It could be fixed.
"Hey, things are messy over there, but aren't you going to help too?"
Father carried my one-armed sister on his back, even while running through the battlefield. Invisible blades burst from his body, cutting demons apart. How could he fight like that, in such a state?
"Ah, I suppose I should go help him. After all, that would be the natural thing to do for family."
"But Father... he is a cruel man. I never even wanted to fight."
"I never cared about Exesista. I just wanted to live a normal life, like my classmates. Sometimes I even think that."
The killer, who had been lying unconscious, suddenly rose. Father, battling with my sister on his back, did not notice. The killer lifted his axe and, without a sound, rushed in at lightning speed.
"Ah, Father..."
The axe swung mercilessly, dismembering him in an instant.
My sister tumbled heavily to the ground, surrounded by the fragments that had been our father.
She looked around once, then let out a roar. From her battered body came an impossible surge of power. She leapt at the killer, and the world erupted in thunder and flame—
* * *
The killer was gone. Looking around, I saw him impaled on a tree branch ten meters away, hanging in the air. His body seemed almost charred to ash. Had the blast hurled him that far...?
My sister's body was scattered in pieces across the ground. With both arms unusable, her final gamble had been to ignite her ability within her body—a self-destruction.
For a moment I activated Analysis. My sister—there was no hope. But the killer... amazing. He still lived.
"Lord Demon King still seems to be alive, so I'll go finish him off."
I called out lightly to the little demon, then approached the tree where the killer hung. From my slacks I drew a hidden throwing knife.
"You probably can't hear me anymore, but I'll put an end to you."
I drove the knife deep into the killer's heart. A gush of blood sprayed out, soaking me.
Just in case, I used Analysis. From the killer I felt nothing. The black card's influence was long gone.
I released my ability, pulled the knife free, and looked around with my own eyes. The corpses of Exesista members, and the fragments that had been Father and my sister.
Exesista had been annihilated. And yet... more than five demons still remained. They walked toward the gate, as if chatting after a job well done.
"Ah, so now you have become the enemies of my family, and of my comrades as well."
"Vengeance must be taken, mustn't it? After all... they were my family."
Even in this moment, I felt the corners of my mouth twisting upward. With a single knife raised, I charged at the demons, laughing madly.
The All-Seeing Boy
The End
The End
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Memory Fragments Top
Taka's Memory – The Delirium Killer (Complete)
Maya's Memory – Devil Summoner
Shin's Memory – The All-Seeing Boy (Complete)
Ai's Memory – The Girl of Flame (Complete)
Taka's Memory – The Delirium Killer – Summary
Shin's Memory – The All-Seeing Boy – Summary
Ai's Memory – The Girl of Flame – Summary
Taka's Memory – The Delirium Killer (Complete)
Maya's Memory – Devil Summoner
Shin's Memory – The All-Seeing Boy (Complete)
Ai's Memory – The Girl of Flame (Complete)
Taka's Memory – The Delirium Killer – Summary
Shin's Memory – The All-Seeing Boy – Summary
Ai's Memory – The Girl of Flame – Summary