Two days had passed since the memorial, yet Nirvalen still breathed with a fragile heaviness. The city had begun to glow again, but the glow carried a muted, aching tone—like embers refusing to die out. Streets were swept clean, banners were hung, and music hummed in distant corners, but beneath it all lay a quiet, collective awareness of the lives lost.
And today, all of Nirvalen gathered to honor those who survived.
The reward ceremony drew crowds larger than any festival. From the simplest villagers to the most famed hunters, everyone arrived dressed in their finest. Car were parked in front of the entrance gate, reporters shouted questions as flashes sparked like lightning, and the grand banquet hall gleamed beneath the rising sun.
Hunters arrived with partners, families, and friends. Children clung tightly to their parents' coats, watching with wide eyes as towering figures walked past—heroes whose deeds were whispered about in every home. Inside the banquet hall, chefs rushed between tables, arranging trays of steaming dishes, fine pastries, rare wines, and sweets shaped like phoenix feathers. The air smelled of roasted spices and warm sugar.
But far away, in a quiet village untouched by the noise, Ren's home was preparing in a very different way.
Yume stood in her room's doorway wearing an elegant, dark evening gown. Black fabric fell gracefully down her form, the long sleeves flowing like ink over her skin. The dress made her look ethereal—distant yet breathtaking. Ren, who had just walked in to call her, froze mid-step.
His eyes widened.
His breath stopped.
And for the first time, the king of shadows blushed.
It wasn't a faint blush—it was a full, undeniable red blooming across his cheeks. Ren quickly turned away, hiding his face behind his hand.
Yume noticed immediately. "What's wrong with you?" she asked softly, almost teasing.
"It's nothing," Ren said, voice cracking slightly as he tried to calm his expression. "You just… look beautiful. It caught me off guard."
Yume stepped closer, her voice dropping to a gentle whisper. "Then come with me. Dance with me at the ceremony. People will be jealous of us."
Her breath brushed against his ear.
Ren swallowed. "You know I can't go. My appearance would attract too much attention. Questions I can't answer yet… questions I don't want to deal with."
Yume sighed dramatically. "Then you'll miss all the fun."
"It's not about fun," Ren replied, steadying his voice. "I just have work to do."
"What work?" she pressed.
"Just some errands."
He paused, then added, "Althric will go with you."
Yume blinked. "Why him? Do you think I'll get lost?"
Ren shifted his gaze toward her. "Are you jealous someone might ask him out instead?"
She rolled her eyes. "Not even a little."
"I need eyes inside the banquet," Ren stated. "So he goes with you."
Before she could reply, Kuro's voice boomed from outside the room.
"Yume! Ren! Stop your pointless romance and get moving! We are late!"
"I'm coming!" Ren called back.
Moments later, Ren stepped outside with Yume and Kuro. Althric waited near the gate, standing beside the majestic Shadow Phoenix—a towering creature whose wings shimmered like living darkness. Kuro stared at it with clear disbelief.
"…We are riding that?"
"Yes," Ren replied calmly. "You said we were late."
Kuro grumbled. "Boy… one day, you'll be the death of me."
"Let's go," Kuro said. "Time is short."
The moment Yume and Althric mounted the phoenix, its wings unfurled, casting a massive shadow across the village. With a thunderous beat, it rose into the air, cutting through clouds with burning speed.
Ren watched them vanish toward the city.
And the warmth on his face faded.
A deep, cold darkness shadowed his expression.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and called the higher-ups.
"I'm coming to meet you," Ren said, voice low, sharp, and devoid of any softness. "Don't leave your seats… or I will drag you back myself in front of people ."
He ended the call.
Then he turned to the small family beside him—the mother limping slightly, the boy clinging to her hand with wide eyes.
"Come," Ren said. "There are people who owe you an apology."
He summoned another phoenix—smaller, gentler in appearance so the child wouldn't fear it. Shadows gathered beneath its feet before solidifying into feathers.
"Woah…" the boy whispered. "It's so cool!"
His mother tightened her grip but Ren offered a reassuring nod.
"We're going to meet the leaders of Nirvalen," he said. "They owe an apology."
Moments later, they soared toward the organization headquarters.
Inside the higher-ups' office, tension coated the air like frost. They had already received Ren's call, and the atmosphere was thick with dread. When Ren finally stepped inside, the room nearly suffocated.
"W-welcome, Mr. Ren," one of them stammered. "We are honored—"
"Save your breath," Ren said. "I have one question."
His tone carried the weight of someone who had killed dozens of demons and monster all alone.
"During the evacuation… did every citizen of Nirvalen reach the shelters?"
One of the higher up swallowed. "Yes. According to the reports, everyone—"
"Then explain this."
Ren stepped aside, revealing the woman and her son.
Silence crashed through the room.
Ren's shadow curled across the floor like a living creature.
"She was left behind. Her ankle was broken. She was lying on the ground with her child. They cried for help. They begged. And the hunters who passed by treated them as if celebrating a festival was more important."
The higher-ups froze.
Ren's voice grew colder.
"Her son called for help. Hunters ignored him. They pushed him aside."
The woman lowered her head. "I… I asked many times. I begged them. They pushed me away like I was dirt."
Shame spread across the room like a slow infection.
Ren's eyes darkened. "Is this the protection you promised the people?"
Shadows burst from beneath his feet, filling the room with a suffocating pressure. The higher-ups trembled, sweat dripping down their brows.
"We… we are sorry, ma'am," one whispered. "We failed you. Truly."
"Who were the hunters assigned to that sector?" Ren demanded.
"We will find them—"
"I will," Ren interrupted sharply. "Tell me their names and I will deal with them myself."
A trembling voice asked, "Aren't you… going to the reward ceremony?"
Ren turned his back. "I'm not interested in celebrating with people who abandon the helpless."
He gestured toward the escorts. "Take them to the ceremony. Apologize… properly."
The higher-ups bowed deeply—so deeply their foreheads nearly touched the floor. The woman stared, stunned, as the most powerful officials in Nirvalen lowered themselves in front of her.
"I–It's not needed now… I just want to say that those days we went through were nothing short of hell."
"Ma'am, we seek your forgiveness. Because of our negligence, you suffered what no one should ever endure."
"Allow us to escort you to the ceremony—and ensure justice is properly delivered to you."
Only when they finished bowing did the escorts lead her and her son away.
Meanwhile, at the banquet hall, Yume, Althric, and Kuro landed on the phoenix platform. Reporters immediately swarmed them.
"Miss Yume, where have you been?"
"What was that creature you arrived on?"
"Is it true you vanished during the battle?"
Althric stepped forward.
Please stand aside, "Miss Yume is not well," he said, voice hard.
A reporter opened his mouth to argue.
But before he could say, Althric's eyes flashed.
A spark of raw, lethal energy rippled outward—silencing the crowd instantly. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
"Mr. Althric, it's been a while since we last met!" Akari called out as she hurried toward him.
"Yes, it has, Miss Akari," Althric replied calmly. "Are you keeping up with your training?"
"Yes, sir. I'm giving it everything I have—pushing past my limits every day."
"Good. Let's head inside. Miss Yume, you may also enter."
"Alright then, but don't get carried away, Althric," Yume said.
"Yes, ma'am," he replied with a respectful nod.
The banquet quickly shifted back into motion. S-rank hunters greeted Althric, exchanging stories and laughter that barely hid the exhaustion beneath their smiles.
A few hours passed after the party began.
Soon, the governors and higher-ups made their entrance, and the entire hall bowed in respect.
Soon, the governors and higher-ups finally entered. The entire hall bowed in respect.
After a while, once they had greeted everyone, the reward ceremony began.
B-rank hunters were called first, then A-ranks, then S-ranks. Medals gleamed beneath the chandelier light—symbols of sacrifice, bravery, and the scars they carried.
But before the final awards could be given, one announcer raised his voice.
"Five Shadow Bounds will step forward."
A ripple of curiosity spread across the hall.
"Suzume Kurohana — C-rank."
"Raizen Kuragami — C-rank."
"Lyra Umbrelle — E-rank."
"Shinrou Kisaragi — D-rank."
"Yukari Tsukishiro — E-rank."
From within the crowd, the five approached the stage, each bowing with discipline and pride.
"Yes, sir," Suzume said. "It is an honor to meet you all."
A higher-up lifted his hand, eyes dark and unreadable.
"Look at them," he said. "Do you know… who these people really are?"
The hall fell into absolute silence.
The suspense tightened like a noose around the room's throat.
And the chapter ended—cutting the air like a blade.