The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

Yurim was startled by my seizure and hastily shook my body.

"S-Seol! What's going on?!"

Due to not knowing my condition, she seemed distressed.

After all, from the outside, I probably looked like someone who hadn't eaten properly for a while. So, she might have judged that my physical condition was at its worst.

However, right now, the mental toll I was experiencing was worse than the physical one.

- Toki. I’m pretty sure that was my name in the outside world.

- The reason behind everything… was you.

- Kid, don't give up until the end, alright? And if you can… make sure to do good deeds in your life.

"Oof... Oof..."

'I... just what...'

I was sure I had seen Toki before.

It felt as if these things had really happened.

Swoosh...

Toki glanced at me and then glared at Agras.

"What have you done to the boy?"

"Haha... If you say it like that, it makes it sound like I've done something bad."

"The things bad guys do are bad deeds, right?"

"I merely bestowed a great future upon him."

Wriggle...

"A great future...?"

"He had a special constitution from the start. But... let's just say I, Agras, breathed into him."

"I don't understand what you're talking about."

"You'll understand after some time passes..."

CLAP—!

Agras clapped his hands and shouted.

"This is Agras's insight!"

[Agras used Black Hunting Dog.]

[Summon a black hunting dog with Darkness.]

[The strength of the black hunting dog scales with the summoner's stats.]

…

Woof—!

Wooooof—!

Three dogs as big as the table Seol was once strapped suddenly popped out and targeted Toki. With such a close-range attack, it would be difficult for Toki to respond.

"Oof..."

Toki didn't use his ability. He dealt with the black dogs just with his martial arts and improvisation.

Whish—!

Tang—!

He lowered his body, hit the table from below, and made it float in the air.

Swoosh...

Paanngg—!

With both hands, he grabbed the legs of the table and pushed it with one foot. It was a move that required delicate control to prevent the table from breaking.

Crash—!

Woof! Woof—!

After blocking one hunting dog's attack by covering its vision with the table, Toki faced another one.

Woof—!

The hunting dog charged, baring its teeth.

Swoosh...

Toki dropped down and directed the broken table leg upward. His movements were so fast that they all looked like a single motion.

It felt as if he could read the flow of the battle.

Kiiiinnnng—!

A hunting dog's abdomen was pierced.

Crash—!

Darkness leaked from it as it fell.

Then, another hunting dog appeared before Toki.

Whoosh—!

He lightly dodged the swinging front paw and stabbed the remaining table leg behind the hunting dog's neck.

Crash...

Psss...

As if its vital spot had been struck, the hunting dog turned into Darkness and scattered.

"Where are you looking?"

"Hmm...?"

It seemed that Agras had been hiding in the hunting dog's body. He soon appeared right beside Toki.

Whir...

Agras's hand turned pitch black, then struck Toki’s abdomen.

"Ugh..."

[Agras used Night's Curse.]

[Night's Curse turns the target's body black.]

[Night's Curse is 50% more efficient at night.]

[The target afflicted with Night’s Curse is affected by the caster's abilities.]

…

Swoosh...

As his abdomen turned pitch black, Toki asked Agras.

"I've never seen this power before.'

"In exactly three minutes, you will become my puppet."

"Hahaha... This is bad."

Whir...

Toki grinned.

"Three minutes is a bit tight to end this fight."

"What...?"

Paaf—!

Toki rushed at the retreating Agras.

Paaf—!

A black hand protruded and blocked Toki's charge.

'Amazing...'

Seol was now surprised by Agras, not Toki.

He had learned a lot while staying here, and that's why he knew that each of the magics Agras used was of a very high level.

Especially those black hands, considering he had summoned them almost instantly, they could deal quite a lot of damage.

Crash—!

Craaaaash—!

The mountain villa started to shatter.

"This place will soon collapse. We must get out."

I had no strength left in my body.

Thanks to Yurim holding me, I was able to leave through the broken wall.

Due to Agras not properly ventilating the mountain villa, it had been a while since I had tasted fresh air.

'Leaving that aside...'

Clap—!

Claapp—!

He could see consecutive rounds of applause. Although the mountain villa had almost half-collapsed, both of them still hadn't gotten out.

'He's strong...'

Agras was truly a demon.

It didn't matter how much he thought about it; he wouldn't be able to counter the sinister magic that came from his deep and extensive knowledge.

However, Agras was revealing all of his cards while facing Toki.

"Ugh... You..."

BOOM—!

Eventually, the mountain villa couldn't hold out any more and burst.

Pss...

Dust and debris scattered and briefly obscured the battle.

"So that's Agras's true form..."

Yurim also couldn't take her eyes off the clash. There was too much to look at.

Among them, Agras's appearance stood out the most.

He was a monster whose body had swelled like a tumor and was surrounded by dark energy—a demon wearing the skin of a human.

'Agras...'

That was the true form of the one who had devoured the Magician, Snowman, and conducted dangerous experiments.

However, even Agras seemed to find the current situation unbelievable.

"How could this be..."

"The conversation ends here. You are subject to immediate judgment."

"What kind of power is this...?"

The demon's cry was closer to a scream.

Toki looked like an angel sent from the heavens, his body glowing with a dark radiance.

It was a contradiction, but that was the only way to describe the situation.

'Amazing...'

Had I ever felt such a clean and cozy energy before?

Dark energy gathered around Toki's fist.

"This isn't power."

"It isn't power...?"

"It's the conviction of the Veil that has embraced darkness."

Toki pulled his fist forward.

Then, as if a cannon had been fired, a noise and shock spread.

BOOM—!

"A... Agh!"

Caught in the dark light, Agras started losing his form. But that was only for a brief moment.

Agras soon became a human that looked like a living mummy.

Step...

Step...

Squeeze!

"Ugh..."

Toki grabbed Agras’s neck.

It was the sight of someone overwhelmingly strong.

A question burst from his mouth.

"Where is that child?"

"He... Hehe..."

It seemed like Agras was about to lose his breath at any moment.

"Answer me. Where is that child now?"

"Kik... Kihihi... You're late... Too late..."

"..."

"I also coveted that child's body. But it has already fallen in his hands... It's been a while since it became like that."

With his snake-like eyes, Agras uttered his last words.

"The most painful meeting awaits you..."

"That's enough..."

Thud...

As Agras took his last breath, the dark energy that had spread through Toki's body disappeared.

Swoosh...

Toki took off his coat.

Step...

Step...

He then walked toward me.

"You must be cold."

Toki put his coat on me.

"Let's go..."

To where? Where could I go? I don't have wings like you all.

That's why I've been thrown into hell several times. I was always met with darkness.

After sending Yurim away, I remained in the darkest place.

That was the price I had to pay to protect my friend.

"To the veil."

"Ve... il..."

I first saw them when I was nine years old, and now, eight years later, I could finally approach them.

"Let's go together, boy. Yurim, support him."

"Yes!"

Yurim's voice became bright.

Was she happy to be with me?

'It's warm...'

The coat Toki took off for me and Yurim's warmth. It was as if the world was telling me that I hadn't been abandoned.

Looking at this, maybe all of the paths were connected. Maybe everyone was standing on the same path.

Path...

Path...?

It feels like I've forgotten about something important.

[Intermediate Insight activates.]

[You couldn't find anything.]

[Intermediate Insight fails.]

* * *

The Veil's hideout was hidden deep in a mountain valley.

This hideout was just one of many. And their main branch was only known by a few.

Thud...

As I dusted off my eyes and entered the mountain valley cave, familiar faces acted as if they knew me.

"Huh? Who is this? Oh my God... It's the kid from back then. You've grown up a lot!"

"Hmm? Who?"

"You idiot! We've seen him before! Yurim's friend—the one we saw when you clashed with Jamad... The child that was left behind at that time."

"Ah, the child we..."

It seemed that Ziliac had suddenly remembered the past and that unfortunate farewell.

Paaf—!

"Ziliac, what are you doing?"

There was a reason why Toki asked that.

Ziliac had hugged me too tightly.

"So you survived! Good job! To think you would even grow up so well!"

"Hey! Let him go, you crazy bastard! Anyone would think he's your younger brother! Ugh... You get attached too easily..."

Kiri shook his head and then asked Toki.

"What are you planning to do?"

"Take him to the Old One."

He pulled me away from Ziliac and led me forward.

"It's up to the Old One whether this child will stay in the Veil or live another life."

Who was the Old One they were talking about?

I moved along with Toki, leading me, and Yurim, clinging to me from behind.

Swoosh...

Dangerous energy was seeping through a door.

"Old One, we're here."

【Welcome. Let the child in by himself.】

A voice came from inside the door. It sounded like a mixture of a child and a demon who had experienced all sorts of things.

"But..."

Yurim wanted to say something but bit her lip.

"Seol, you mustn't be rude to the Old One."

"Okay. So, could you let me go...?"

"Ah... Did I hold too tightly...?"

As Yurim and Toki stepped back, I opened the door and entered inside.

And...

"A ball...?"

【I'm not a ball!】

I forgot I was told not to be rude and acted rudely immediately. But I had no choice. There was a black ball in front of me.

It had a round body with short limbs, and its size was comparable to mine.

One might have mistaken it for a fat person.

【I'm Agony!】

Bzz...

'Huh?'

Another feeling of déjà vu.

It was annoying.

【I'm Agony! People call me Old One here! After all, I've lived for a long time!】

"Are you playing with me...?"

Agony sighed and approached me.

【Agony is a high-ranking officer of the Veil. Even if you're a child Toki brought, I must check your past.】

"I don't mind, but... how are you going to check that?"

Swoosh...

Agony's small hands grabbed mine.

【Agony will read everything about you. Don't resist. That will only make both of us tired.】

"There's no way something like that..."

Whir...

Black energy came out of Agony's body and flowed into my ears, nostrils, and mouth.

"AGH!"

【Hold on a bit... Your memories...】

- Yurim! Take care! Leave! Don't come back to this place!

The memories of when I sent Yurim away with a smile.

- You better brace yourself.

And what happened when Jamad seized me.

- Yes. Today is your ninth birthday. Happy birthday.

The two tortuous yet refreshing years I spent with Gollun.

- Of course we will, you idiot!

The time I spent with Santos.

- Either die in agony or survive and become my body.

And how I fell into hell again as a price for having saved Yurim once more.

Whir...

The black energy gradually subsided.

【Uuhh...】

"..."

【Uuhh...】

"Are you crying...?"

Agony shed round tears.

【It’s too sad! It’s too terrible! You should have told Agony earlier! I didn't have dinner yet!】

"..."

【Did you tell Yurim? Your past?】

I shook my head. Agony placed a hand on my shoulder.

【Don't tell Yurim. She might faint. That child likes you a lot.】

"Yurim, me?"

Yes, that's probably why she came back to save me.

【Yes. I thought she might change as she grew older, but she kept searching for your whereabouts, even during missions. I thought she had given up...】

Agony frowned again.

【To think something like that happened there. Agony didn't know. Hmm... It can’t be helped. Now!】

"What...?"

【Agony is soft. You can use it!】

Agony spread its arms and closed its eyes.

"Are you telling me to hug you?"

【Darkness is more comforting than dazzling light. It embraces everything. Use Agony.】

The huge ball was soft. No embrace could probably be more comforting than this.

I took a rest within it.

【Once again, you've saved Yurim. Thanks to you, we've also been able to deal with Agras, who had been causing problems.】

"Agras... What was his identity?"

【He was a ghost. A ghost of an old Magician that kept changing bodies. And... a servant of the Faces.】

"The Faces...?"

【Jamad, the one who pushed you into hell, was one of them. And there are plenty of others. The Faces is the organization where they belong.】

"I see... So, is the Veil an organization that confronts them?"

Agony thought for a moment and replied.

【Strictly speaking, the Veil and the Faces share the same roots. Even those who created the Veil initially had the same intentions as the Faces.】

"Then..."

【But of course, now we have entirely different ideals.】

That was a relief.

Dying might be better than receiving care from the monsters that had messed me up so much.

【We're going to stop the Faces. While hiding in the darkness... Stealthily! And soon, you're going to become part of the Veil.】

"But I'm not that strong."

【Power isn't what's important! What matters the most is your conviction and will, boy! Agony has seen your past. You've saved Yurim twice during your seventeen years of life. But instead, you ended up falling into hell. What do you think is the reason?】

"..."

【Why did you save Yurim?】

Why...?

Isn't that obvious?

"Because it was the obvious thing, saving Yurim."

【Obvious?】

"I thought I had to do that. Because we were friends."

Agony smirked.

Its fangs gleamed.

【Conviction and noble will aren't made overnight. They must be forged like a sword. Even within the Veil, there aren't many who were strong from the start. Now, we're going to check your power.】

"I'm sorry in advance."

I reached out my hand just like earlier.

Whoosh...

This time, the dark energy only entered through my mouth and seemed to tear apart my innards.

【The Veil was heavily defeated in a fight against the Faces many years ago. Many died, and we have no choice but to hide. We lacked power! But Agony thinks our future...】

Whoosh—!

'Ugh...'

Agony's darkness spread throughout my body.

He found things hidden all over my body, including my blood vessels.

Agony's eyes widened in surprise.

【H-Huh...? Th-This...】

[The blessing of Darkness activates.]

[You awaken Darkness's Disposition!]

…