— KONRAD —
30 MINUTES BEFORE KUBATO'S ABDUCTION
Konrad sat alone on a bench in the schoolyard. Classes had already begun, but he had no intention of going inside.
It was 8:30 in the morning, and ever since he had left the house, a heavy, uneasy feeling had clung to him.
When he failed to find the three friends with whom he had abducted Kubato two nights ago, doubt had already crept into his mind.
Something about this day felt wrong.
Something inside him refused to calm down, and his thoughts kept circling around Kubato—again and again.
As if something was about to happen. As if something terrible was approaching.
But why did he feel this way?
Was it because, deep down, he had already betrayed his country and begun questioning its core principles? And yet, even now, it was difficult for him to think differently about beastfolk. Just days ago, they had been his enemies—according to the state.
Now, with Kubato and Akumu having entered his life, his entire worldview was falling apart and reassembling itself.
Was that really right?
And who even was Akumu?
Was he truly Death itself—or just a fraud?
He didn't feel like Death.
More like… a human.
A rugged off-road vehicle with the brand name "Lilith" stopped outside the school fence.
A man hurriedly stepped out, wearing a heavy coat and a pulled-up hood.
"Are you Konrad Bernheim?" he asked bluntly.
What does he want? Who is this guy?
"And who's asking?" Konrad snapped back, making no move to stand up.
The mysterious man glanced left and right, then pulled back his hood. He was middle-aged, with short hair and an unkempt three-day beard.
"My name is Wilhelm Ziegler. Former deputy commissioner and state security officer. I'm here to warn you."
Konrad's heart skipped a beat.
Damn it. I'm done for. He's going to arrest me.
For a brief moment, the sixteen-year-old considered running—but he stayed where he was, forcing himself not to show fear.
"Konrad Bernheim," Wilhelm continued hastily, "I don't have much time. Your family is about to be arrested. They're being accused of helping beastfolk flee the country."
Konrad's breath caught in his throat.
"W-What…?"
"We have to leave. Now," Wilhelm urged. "I used to be part of the regime—but I turned against it. I want to help you."
Konrad stood frozen for several seconds, unsure what to do.
Can I trust him?
In the end, his legs moved on their own. He climbed over the fence, jumped down, and quickly got into the vehicle.
"But what about my sister Larissa?" Konrad asked, his voice trembling.
"We can't leave her behind…"
Wilhelm looked surprised.
"Alright. Where is she?"
"At an all-girls school a few streets from here," Konrad replied, giving directions.
When they arrived, Konrad rushed inside and went straight to her classroom, asking the teacher to let Larissa step outside.
Larissa—the biological daughter of Marcel and Margarita—was only twelve years old.
Her blonde, curly hair bounced lightly as she stepped out, wearing a pretty pink dress.
"What is it?" she asked irritably.
"We don't have time," Konrad said. "We have to go. Now."
He didn't wait for an answer. He grabbed her wrist and pulled her down the hallway.
"Hey! Wait!" she protested angrily. "What do you think you're doing?!"
"We're in serious danger," Konrad replied. "Come on, Larissa! We can't waste time!"
She looked confused—and angry.
"Konrad! Let go of me!" she struggled.
"Ever since that stupid beastfolk moved in, you've been acting weird! Why are we in danger? What happened? Are they trying to take that crybaby away?!"
At the exit, Konrad stopped and turned to face his half-sister.
"Her name is Kubato. And they're coming to arrest our entire family."
Larissa froze. The peaceful world she had lived in just moments ago shattered under the weight of his words. Silently, she followed him to the vehicle—lost in thought, withdrawn.
Wilhelm drove fast through the streets—over the speed limit, but not recklessly. Still, blocked roads and patrols slowed them down. The tension inside the car was suffocating.
Finally, they arrived home.
It was quiet.
There was no sign of the city guard.
Had they not arrived yet?
"Aren't the city guards supposed to be here already?" Konrad asked, eyeing the large house and the driveway.
"If they haven't arrived yet, this is our chance," Wilhelm said urgently.
"We grab your parents and get out."
He parked the vehicle and ran to the door.
Konrad followed quickly. Larissa lagged behind, still struggling to fully grasp the situation.
As Wilhelm knocked, he noticed signs of forced entry at the same time.
"Damn it," he cursed—and shoved the door open. It wasn't locked.
Horror washed over them.
The entrance hall, the kitchen, the corridor—everything was wrecked. On the staircase lay a city guard, dead, upside down, a knife lodged in his throat.
"Don't look!" Konrad shouted, stepping in front of Larissa.
"What's going on?!" she cried anxiously.
"Where are Mom and Dad? Where are they?!"
She began to cry.
Wilhelm's shoulders slumped.
"We're too late…" he muttered. "They already—"
Konrad looked deeper into the house—and noticed two figures near the staircase.
Akumu.
And the slave woman.
"Akumu!" Konrad called out. He was relieved to see him—yet at the same time, part of him wished he had never met him at all.
"What happened?"
Akumu approached calmly, the slave woman walking beside him. She looked terrible—bloodstains covered her body, and she appeared paler and more fragile than usual. Yet her steps were steady. Alive.
"What an unexpected visit," Akumu said serenely.
"Konrad, if you had arrived a few minutes earlier, they would've taken you too."
"Who took the Bernheim family?" Wilhelm demanded tensely.
Akumu answered as if the truth were obvious.
"Who else? Humans who abduct humans."
Wilhelm fell silent.
"And who is this clown?" Wilhelm asked, glancing at Konrad.
"That's Akumu," Konrad said quietly.
"Death itself."
The former deputy commissioner stared at them both in disbelief.
"But I'm a pacifist," Akumu added calmly. "So, Konrad—what do we do now? They're going to hurt them."
"Yeah…"
For a moment, Konrad wondered why Akumu couldn't simply wipe them all out and save his family.
The thought vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Wilhelm cleared his throat.
"They'll execute them. I know Siegmund—and how he operates. I'm sorry. I came too late."
He lowered his gaze.
"I won't let them die," Akumu said firmly.
"I can free them."
Wilhelm stared at him, stunned.
"R-Really?" Larissa's small voice trembled from behind Konrad. Tears streamed down her face.
"Please… save Mom and Dad…"
Silence filled the room.
Then Wilhelm spoke: "Alright. I have an idea. And it goes like this…"