1.
Luna’s first memory.
Her biological mother, who abandoned her, had whispered to Luna with a cold voice.
“Please live on and be happy, Luna.”
Not dying.
And being happy.
That person, though irresponsibly leaving her behind, had asked for something incredibly difficult as if it were an everyday matter.
Still, because she had been her biological mother nonetheless, Luna strived her hardest to fulfill that wish.
With no place to rest,
no food to eat,
not even water,
in that place where there was nothing.
Creeak!
…Crunch, crunch.
She tore into the corpse of a magical beast, drinking its blood and chewing its flesh.
-Gulp…!! I don’t want to die…!!
Luna put tremendous effort into fulfilling her mother’s first wish.
After spending months,
or rather years, she finally realized.
While not dying might be somewhat manageable, being happy…
“…is impossible, I guess.”
It wasn’t because there was no place to stay,
not because there was no food,
not because there was no drinking water.
Luna simply…
“…I can’t understand it no matter how much I think about it.”
She didn’t know what happiness was, the meaning and sensation encapsulated by the word itself.
That’s why…
“…”
Without realizing, she had given up on life and was tearing into the corpse of a special magical beast.
She subconsciously realized.
Ah, this demon is different from other demons.
Therefore, if I eat this beast’s corpse, this tiresome life will also come to an end.
Her expectation was correct.
The magical energy from the special magical beast far surpassed her tolerance, and Luna slowly, but surely, began to die as the sun sets.
“Please live on and be happy, Luna.”
…No.
It’s too hard now.
When the pain, intensified by adrenaline, started to become vague,
for the first time, Luna, freed from numerous pains such as cold, heat, thirst, and hunger, unknowingly smiled faintly and muttered.
“…Alright.”
Together, the orphans who wandered in the <Gray-White Wasteland> said it was better to keep breathing even if it meant rolling in the mud, but, well?
“…You guys at least had some hope.”
Whether they cried when their parents abandoned them, or whether their parents whispered promises to come back, or whether they knew a way out of this place.
“…I have none of those.”
No parents coming back,
no promises of coming back,
and no way out of this place.
Since the start of her memories, she had been abandoned in this dark gray-white mist without even a shred of hope and lived until now.
So,
“…It’s enough. I just want to rest.”
Because that’s my salvation.
…Swish.
Luna ultimately closed her eyes.
Other children facing death would usually cry with various sorrows, but Luna, strangely, did not feel sad.
Because she had no hope.
No love,
no hope,
no light.
Because she had never held them even once, she could accept it thus.
Gasp…! “…!”
When the peculiar magical energy twisted her insides, and her final breath was about to be extinguished, Luna unknowingly muttered.
“…Mom.”
She didn’t know why.
Just like other orphans dying, she inadvertently blurted out a word.
“…Ah.”
Tears flowed.
Still, she didn’t know why, but she continued to feel sadder and sadder.
No.
At least, I wanted to leave with a bright smile in my final moment.
But that was it.
Shiver.
As the light faded from the emerald eyes and her blurry vision dimmed,
a sound was heard.
Spat.
Something that was not human, something emotionless like an object, stepping on the ground.
Spat, spat.
The steps gradually approached, and Luna, with her fading consciousness, asked.
“…Mom?”
Spat.
The footsteps finally stopped.
Apparently, it was not originally heading towards Luna, it merely turned its head to answer.
“…No. I am not your parent.”
A pale voice.
Of course.
This wretched world did not grant her even a hint of happiness.
Swish.
Just as Luna was about to let go of the last shred of hope she unknowingly held onto,
Spat, spat, spat.
The something that was gazing at Luna turned around, picked her up, and whispered.
“But, if you wish, I can become your parent.”
Even blood-related family had abandoned her, why would you?
“…”
There was no answer.
In fact, there was no question in the first place.
…Gripping.
The scarred small hand tightly clutched the collar,
It was the first meeting with Mother.
Mother, who took Luna to the ‘Vagrant Squad – Zero,’ took meticulous care of her.
By some unknown method, Mother detoxified the special magical energy that had seeped into Luna’s body.
She provided food and clean water for the first time in her life and offered clothes made of cloth, not magical beast skins, and a warm resting place.
Of course, those too were made for children to be sold off at auctions and appeared horrid to ordinary people, but to Luna, it felt like paradise.
“Mom!”
“…Luna.”
It was inevitable that she would blindly follow this Mother,
Even if Mother…
Squeak.
“…!!”
“Stay still.”
“…Yes, Mom!”
Turned her face into a scarred mess,
Forced her to smile with her neck hung,
Whispered that she too would die someday and that there was no hope here.
“Yes! I’ll listen to Mom!”
Luna still loved Mother.
Because she didn’t realize that all the sins Mother committed against her were abuse.
Because the Mother in front of her had been the one to save her from such a horrifying life.
“Damn monster woman. Just keep doing your mercenary job.”
“That’s what I say. If it weren’t for her, we could’ve collected orphans for free for the auction.”
“Shh…! She’s one of the Top Ten strongest…! Or you’ll lose your head…!!”
Even though most of the visitors here seemed to dislike Mother, Luna stayed by her side even more so because of that.
“Bothersome people. Whatever, mom, ignore them. I’m here, Luna!”
Because Mother was truly her mother.
Even if she sins, she absolutely didn’t want to leave her side.
“…Why?”
“Hmm? What?”
“Why do you keep sticking around me?”
“Hmm? Isn’t it obvious?”
Luna tilted her head and answered.
“You’re my mom.”
“You’re family.”
So, mom.
“Stay by me till I’m sold or die, got it?”
“I love you, Mom.”
The girl smiled.
Not forced as she had done until now, but a smile drawn from the heart.
2.
She’s dead.
Mom’s dead.
Even though she was by my side just moments ago, she’s gone in the blink of an eye.
I anticipated it.
Because death in this <Gray-White Wasteland> comes without warning.
Farewell is a close friend.
I may have forgotten the names of friends who died just the other day, but I haven’t forgotten the name of ‘farewell.’
Rather,
couldn’t forget.
Because it always returns when I think I have forgotten, tormenting me again as usual.
“Please….”
Right now,
“AAAAH!!!”
Luna, holding the severed upper body of Mother, lifted her head and screamed.
[Attention.]
[Unit 4 – <Luna> fell into a rage under the influence of the 0th Mask – <Mother(S-)>.]
[<Gray-White Mask> resonates.]
As tears flowed from the blackened Gray-White Mask, the other nearby unit members also wept.
The present Luna is the past Luna.
Overwhelmed by Mother’s influence, she forgot the time when she was saved by Black Wolf.
“Be obedient, Luna.”
“Why? Won’t it hurt if I do?”
“It’s better to hurt than to die.”
“Okay, Mom!”
She swallowed countless pains and carried the massive resentment in her chest because of that.
That’s why,
thinking that Mother is gone now,
Luna who no longer had a reason to swallow her pain or carry resentment, turned her head with a snap toward the source of the current situation.
“Die.”
Eerily flashing emerald eyes through the Gray-White Mask.
The sorrow and anger coexisting in her gaze made the other masks also move their bodies.
Thud.
Hanryang, accustomed to loosening up his body.
Slosh!
Luna, pulling her hands out of her pocket and scattering numerous flesh puppets.
…Tock.
Dalan tapping his sword hilt with his thumb.
Because of the limitation imposed by <Black Wolf>, they couldn’t fully channel their powers, but thanks to the lingering thoughts of Mother, their ranks had risen somewhat close to their true abilities.
Three S-Rank monsters.
Including Luna, it would make four, but it seemed unlikely she would take the direct lead.
Hanryang analyzed the situation as the three other unit members approached him unsteadily.
‘Mother’s mental world has collapsed, and the effects of Black Curtain have ended. It’s impossible to maintain maximum power as within Mother’s mental world.’
So, what remains?
‘Artifact, Island of Light, Golden Battlefield.’
He could use the Island of Light again since he had used it while absorbing power, preventing exhaustion.
Due to Rosetta’s Necklace, the probability of a physical death was minimal, and thanks to Volcanus’ Ring, most magic could be countered.
“Should I use the Necklace of the Demon Slayer to borrow power and subdue them with Black Curtain again?”
But how?
The condition for using the <Necklace of the Demon Slayer> is to make contact with the target.
The previous contact was determined because of Mother’s mental world, but when it came to people, direct contact was necessary.
But if I make contact now with these three?
‘I’ll get so hurt I might die or die outright.’
The current Luna firmly believes that I “killed ‘Mother'”, and the other three share that emotion.
If I use the Island of Light, the other units might be in danger, and if I use Golden Battlefield, there are no allies around me.
“…Damn it.”
“Hate… hate it…”
“…Rosa.”
As the menacing aura of the S-Rank monsters grew closer, the anger that had risen seeing Mother’s atrocities quickly faded.
…What if I just run away?
Let me escape far away and pray for the units’ survival while living on.
…Or gathering the other units and coming back might not be bad either.
It was a fleeting moment.
I spent only the time it took to blink deciding in a suddenly perplexing situation.
“…”
“…”
“…”
When I opened my eyes again,
the other three members were already surrounding Hanryang, aiming for his neck.
Hanryang’s punch,
Luna’s flesh puppets,
and Dalan’s cumbersome sword.
Were all being swung with full intent to rip off Hanryang’s head and were about to make contact.
“Brother, please take my place and fulfill my dream──”
Shut up.
Because I don’t plan on dying anymore.
‘Iaso’s Ring restores its master as long as there is a single wisp of life left.’
Which means, with the exception of that wisp of life, all my remaining vitality should go to the Black Curtain──
Just as Hanryang was about to attempt the ultimate strategy he had never even imagined,
Boom!!
Suddenly, the three nearby people were knocked back as if hit by something, and a smooth voice came from the side.
“I apologize for being late, Leader.”
Radiant silver hair,
Golden eyes,
Gentle smile.
Laktea Babylonia.
The woman with a platinum-refined, chilly sword blade, stood protecting Hanryang.
“First, here.”
After handing something bracelet-like to Hanryang, Laktea quickly added,
“I’ll settle this in a moment.”
In the next instant.
Chomp!
Laktea, who approached Luna in a flash, grabbed her by the neck and whispered.
“I warned you. If I make Leader disappointed again…”,
I will kill all of you and then myself.
