Chaos(1)

Before I met her, the notion of limited time would have undoubtedly filled me with anxiety.

The passive growth I experienced meant that my rate of strengthening was beyond my control.

There was a possibility that one day, perhaps in a month or even a year, the pace of my growth would accelerate so rapidly that my remaining time in this world would dwindle to almost nothing.

However, I refused to succumb to a frenzied spiral of doubt. Instead, I sought a solution and approached Lucy with a request to compute a way to slow down the process.

[Processing Request, Time required:

5 months, 23 days, 14 hours...]

Although the situation seemed somewhat grim for my future here, I maintained my composure. Panic was a luxury I couldn't afford.

Meeting Ais and being consumed by these complicated emotions had its dark aspects. The fear of harm befalling her still lingered within me, creating a sense of possessiveness.

But amidst the darkness, there was also light.

"...Ren?"

Finn's voice broke through my contemplation, pulling me back to the present.

As we stood before Loki, she wasted no time in informing us of what had transpired. The world at large had become eager to discover the identity of the mysterious individual responsible for the Epic Show. This realization struck me deeply.

It wasn't just the people on the surface who heard my vow. If my hunch was correct, even the One-Eyed Black Dragon, or any other Xenos, might have caught wind of it.

Damn it! I missed an incredible opportunity to convey my message to that damn lizard. I had so much I wanted to say...

Should I make another vow, expressing my eternal love for Ais?

Such thoughts swirled in my mind, but I quickly dismissed them. Now was not the time for jesting. Orario's winds were already turbulent, but with the influx of people from every corner of the world, the situation could escalate into multiple unpredictable waves.

"Well, if anyone wishes to challenge me, they can arrange a time and place," I calmly spoke, my expression composed despite the internal turbulence. "But I'll only face the strongest opponents..."

With these words, I conveyed my stance, fully aware of the weight they carried.

"That's not the only issue, Ren," Loki interjected, her dissatisfaction evident. "To address the current situation, people are demanding to see you in person. We have to play by their rules, or the Guild may face 'consequences'."

I couldn't help but notice Loki's displeasure, perhaps stemming from the fact that I was still holding Ais' hand or simply due to the absurdity of the situation. But to be honest, I didn't care.

Disappointed, we were compelled to make our way to the Guild.

Along the journey, countless gazes fixated on me, treating me like some sort of celebrity. It was no surprise, considering I was the new face among the executives, and Loki had made sure to give everyone a glimpse of my appearance.

However, what caught me off guard was the presence of the Hestia Familia. Specifically, I noticed the genuine shock on Bell Cranel's face.

It took me a moment to recall the reason.

Ah, yes, I was still holding Ais' hand. Despite the illusion working on almost everyone else, [Liaris Freese] made it impossible for that simp to overlook anything regarding Ais.

I couldn't help but send a clear smirk his way, relishing in the sight of his trembling face. Coming here had its perks, after all.

But before I could revel in Bell Cranel's reaction any further, I found myself surrounded by a swarm of women, most of them being Amazonesses.

Could this be the moment I finally unleashed a massacre in front of everyone?

To everyone's surprise, I remained silent, letting Ais, Finn, Riveria, and even Lefiya make it abundantly clear that any further advances toward me would lead to dire consequences.

While I understood their protective reactions, I couldn't help but stifle a laugh. Ais had her reasons, and perhaps Finn did too, but the Magic Duo's involvement? Now that was unexpected.

Did Lefiya harbor some kind of masochistic fetish? Well, I hoped it wasn't anything like that.

In this strange turn of events, we proceeded toward the Guild. However, just as we were about to open its doors, something unfolded that was beyond my predictions.

"...Monsters... they're pouring... out of the Dungeon!"

A disheveled adventurer stormed through the streets, his voice echoing in desperate cries.

In mere moments, the relentless horde of monsters flooded the city, their roars echoing alongside the panicked screams of the inhabitants. The timing couldn't have been more opportune, for the streets were teeming with onlookers eager to catch a glimpse of my presence...

My mind went into chaos. It was inconceivable that such a catastrophic event could occur without me sensing or seeing anything until the last moments, as I was extremely cautious, never letting my guard down.

The adventurers also wouldn't have allowed it to happen so easily with no information, which meant... someone either released these monsters or devised a special pathway for their escape, like Knossos...

Little did I know at that moment, neither of those assumptions was true.

--- Wiene's POV ---

I... have become a monster.

I cannot comprehend the reasons or the means behind this, but ever since I awakened, a sinister force has been beckoning me, whispering in my ear about "evolution" and "gaining strength."

Its words confuse and disturb me, promising salvation if only I would "believe".

All I ever desired was to live a simple life... was that too much to ask for?

As I observed countless other monsters yielding to the voice's call and surrendering themselves to its influence, fear gripped my heart. I cowered in hiding, desperately hoping that this nightmarish ordeal would soon come to an end...

---

Author's Note:

I've never said my novel would follow the plot. Well, I've also never said this was an AU. You'll be the ones to judge what's this, I guess.

Join my discord if you want, link in the synopsis of the novel!