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Sky Island No. 2 · Regule Aire
"So that's how it is. You're the ones who created this paradise in the sky."
Willem looked at the skull and his former companion seated across from him, finally piecing everything together.
"Yes. To escape the threat of the [Seventeen Beasts], we used a tremendous amount of power to raise the land into the sky. And now, we've managed to survive for five hundred years."
Suowong Kandel nodded calmly as he answered Willem's question. Beside him, the black skull immediately puffed up with pride.
"I did eighty percent of the work! Yehahaha!!!"
Willem frowned slightly.
"What exactly are these so-called [Seventeen Beasts]? What happened?"
The atmosphere immediately grew heavier.
"This is humanity's own sin..."
Suowong and Ebon Candle then began explaining the origins of the Seventeen Beasts. However, they deliberately concealed the truth, telling Willem that the Seventeen Beasts were the result of human experimentation.
In reality, the Seventeen Beasts were humanity itself.
The conversation gradually shifted to the origins of the Leprechauns.
"Fairies are unstable, ghost-like existences," Suowong explained. "They are the souls of children who could not accept their own deaths and continue drifting through the world. To be honest, they can hardly even be considered living beings."
He paused briefly, studying Willem's expression before continuing.
"I possess a form of necromancy capable of creating fairies from specific souls. Fairies are ideal mass-produced weapons. They do not fear death and can release vast amounts of Venenum in self-destructive attacks.
"However, their lifespans are short. If they generate too much Venenum during battle, memories from their previous lives gradually begin to resurface. Once that happens, their personalities eventually collapse."
Hearing this, Willem finally understood the true nature of the children he had been caring for.
Thinking about the fate awaiting Chtholly Nota Seniorious, Nephren Ruq Insania, Ithea Myse Valgulious, and the others, a heavy shadow fell across his face.
Suowong also invited Willem to participate in the campaign to reclaim the Surface, but Willem refused without hesitation.
"You value those fairies, who are destined to die, more than the future of this world?"
"Yes," Willem answered immediately. "Right now, all I want is to return to them as quickly as possible."
A trace of disappointment flashed across Suowong's eyes.
"Is that truly your answer, Willem Kmetsch?"
"It is."
"I always thought you were a man closer to being a hero."
Before Willem could respond, an unfamiliar voice suddenly interrupted.
"What's wrong with wanting to return to a group of beautiful girls? It's a lot better than spending your time with an old geezer like you, isn't it?"
"Who's there?!"
"Intruder!"
Willem and Suowong immediately turned toward the sofa.
At some point, a young man had appeared there without anyone noticing.
"An asymptomatic species..." Suowong muttered under his breath. "Looks like a man-eater..."
"A man-eater?" Kaito looked genuinely offended. "Do I seriously look like someone who eats people? I'm a genuine human."
"What?! Impossible!"
"How can you be human?"
"There should only be Willem left!"
Both Willem and Suowong stared at Kaito in disbelief. Even Ebon Candle, who had already left earlier, returned after hearing the commotion.
"No matter how much you refuse to believe it, I'm human. In fact, I'm a far purer human than either of you. After all, you people are..."
Kaito abruptly stopped speaking.
Willem immediately sensed there was more hidden behind those words.
"What do you mean by that? What are we?"
Ignoring Willem's question, Kaito looked directly at Suowong with an amused smile.
"Do I need to continue?"
Rather than answering, Suowong narrowed his eyes.
"Who exactly are you, sir? If you truly are human, how have you survived until now?"
"I can only tell you that I'm human. As for everything else, I'd rather not explain. You'll understand eventually."
Kaito casually crossed one leg over the other and grinned.
"Besides, I only came here for one reason. How about adding me as one of the warehouse managers?"
The moment those words left his mouth, Willem immediately objected.
"No! How can I let an unknown stranger look after Chtholly and the others?!"
"Are you sure?" Kaito asked with a smile. "Sometimes, a single choice can change everything. Choose wrong, and you might lose something precious."
"I..."
Looking into Kaito's eyes, Willem suddenly felt an inexplicable sense of unease. It was as though refusing this offer would lead to a future he absolutely could not accept.
"We still don't know your name, sir," Suowong said. "Would you mind introducing yourself?"
Beside him, Ebon Candle quietly observed Kaito. For some reason, merely looking at him sent a chill deep into his soul. For once, the usually talkative skull wisely kept his mouth shut.
Kaito casually grabbed a piece of fruit from the table, wiped it on his clothes, took a bite, and introduced himself.
"Kaito. Human."
"Mr. Kaito, then..." Suowong turned toward Willem. "What is your decision?"
Willem stared at Kaito for nearly a full minute. Finally, he seemed to make up his mind.
"Mr. Kaito, you really won't harm those children?"
"Of course not. Little lolis are treasures of the world!"
The instant Kaito said that, his eyes practically sparkled.
Willem rubbed his forehead helplessly.
For the moment, he decided to set his concerns aside. Besides, this was the second human he had ever met. Even if they were complete strangers, Kaito's appearance brought him a sense of joy he hadn't felt in a very long time.
The joy of meeting another member of his own kind.
"In that case..." Willem extended his hand. "Welcome aboard, Mr. Kaito."
Kaito smiled and shook it.
"Please take care of me, Willem. Second-Class Technician."
Seeing the two shake hands, Suowong smiled as well.
"Since that's settled, Mr. Kaito can return with Willem later. I'll arrange your identity documents."
"Much appreciated." Kaito suddenly turned toward Ebon Candle. "Oh, right. Skull, I don't have anywhere to stay. Can you arrange a room for me?"
"Um... I do have a name," Ebon Candle said helplessly. "It's Ebon Candle. And this old man here is Suowong Kandel."
"Oh, it doesn't really matter. You're a skull, so calling you Skull feels perfectly appropriate."
At that moment, Kaito suddenly remembered someone.
"There happens to be a skeleton wandering around the underground labyrinth of the Jura Tempest Federation. Shuna brought him back a long time ago."
A grin spread across his face.
"Later, I'll introduce you to him. I think you two will have plenty to talk about."
The moment those words left his mouth, a sharp glint flashed through both Willem's and Suowong's eyes. The casual information Kaito had just revealed gave them plenty to think about.
"Well then, I won't disturb you three any longer."
Kaito stood up and looked toward the attendant.
"Miss, would you mind showing me to my room?"
"Of course. Please follow me."
The attendant nodded and led Kaito away.
The remaining three watched him leave in silence.
A mysterious human had appeared out of nowhere, and no matter how they looked at him, Kaito was anything but ordinary.
What exactly was the purpose of this suddenly appearing human?