The World Is Not Always Happy

Perhaps the world was never meant to be entirely happy.

Arcana, the Secret Forest — a mystical sanctuary where fairies and spirits lived side by side. And at this very moment, a single elf had come calling.

"Curas! Where are you? Come out here right now — I came the moment I read your letter!"

"Ah, Lady Arhen. Welcome. It must have been a long road — you must be exhausted."

"I am. Getting here was a nightmare, so let's skip the pleasantries. Show me that child from the letter, right now. A *human*, you say, burned the trees of Arcana?"

The trees of Arcana were on an entirely different level from ordinary trees. Spirits and fairies were living, breathing pure mana — and any tree that grew where such beings dwelled could never be ordinary.

"The child's name is Yuna. She will arrive shortly, so please wait just a moment. And while we wait, won't you share a cup of tea with me?"

"Well... I suppose I can wait a little."

And so the two of them talked and talked, as if trying to fill all the time they had lost to each other. It was after a great deal of time had passed in this way that Yuna finally arrived.

"Oh? I've never seen you before, big sister. Hello! I'm Yuna."

"Ah, so you're the child Curas wrote about. But... you don't seem to be carrying anywhere near the mana described in that letter. What's going on here?"

"That would be thanks to the special magic tool I made, of course. Yuna, it's all right — take off the tool now."

The moment Yuna removed the magic tool, an overwhelming tide of mana swept across all of Arcana.

"What is this? No ordinary human could ever possess this much mana. Is she... not human?"

"No, Yuna truly is human. She has simply coexisted with the fairies and spirits, and an enormous quantity of mana has accumulated within her body. It is because we need that mana controlled that I called you here."

"I see. With mana like this, there's no one in the world but me who could control it... Listen here, little sprout. Your name was Yuna, was it? From now on, I shall be your teacher. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Will you not come away with me?"

"Hmph! Yuna is not a little sprout. And I can't go! Daddy said to come home early today, that's what!"

"Well, there you have it. Arhen, I'm sorry, but could you spare some time for this child's sake?"

"*Sigh*... Do you people even know what kind of elf I am? ...A fairy, was it? Whatever. I don't have endless time either, so I can't come often."

"Then that means you will teach Yuna!"

"Yes. I can hardly leave a monster like this unattended — I'll have to teach her myself. I'll come twice a week. Have her ready."

"Thank you so much, Arhen! Let me hug you!"

"Ugh, disgusting! Don't come near me, you little— no, Yuna. I'll return next week. Have everything prepared by then."

"Okay! I look forward to learning from you, big sister!"

"From now on, you will address me as *Teacher*, and you will speak to me respectfully."

"Yes, Teacher! See you next week!"

And so was the first meeting between Arhen and Yuna.

In the north of the Arceus Kingdom lay a mountain range known as Sliph. The range marked the border with the Arman Empire, and in one of its caves lived a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠woman. Her name was Noah — and right now, she was deep in an experiment.

"Haaah... another failure, is it?"

The experiment Noah ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠was conducting was the summoning of demons. She had once loved a man with all her heart — until Shiina Secree stole him away from her. Now she had sworn revenge.

Shiina Secree, I will never forgive you. I will kill you, and I will take Erich back.

And so, in recent days, she had run experiment after experiment upon numerous monsters in pursuit of a successful summoning — until, at last, she had succeeded in calling forth a demon.

The one I summoned recently was wiped out by Sarah Shadow, but this time it won't be so easy! I'm sorry, Shadow family, but you'll have to be sacrificed once again!

With her summoning materials in hand, she set off toward the city where the Shadow family resided.

Haaah... I'm already seven years old, and I still haven't been taught a single assassination technique or any swordsmanship. What's the point of being born into an assassin family?! How am I supposed to convince Mother when I can't even learn the skills?

Albert sank deep into his brooding — and that was when Lara came to find him.

"Young master, Teacher Yurihen has arrived. You should come out now."

"Right, I'm coming. Tell him I'll be there in a moment — ask him to wait a little."

"Yes, understood."

Lara stepped out, and as Albert was straightening his clothes, a massive explosion thundered through the air. Then came the blaring of a loudspeaker, echoing across the city.

Just then the door burst open, and Sarah came rushing in.

"Al! Are you hurt?"

"M-Mother... have demons really attacked?"

"They have. I must fight them, so stay beside Teacher Hiridi. Your father and Tiny are already gathered there — go, quickly."

"Mother, I can fight too! I have the power to protect my family — take me with you, please!"

In that instant, Sarah slapped Albert across the cheek.

"Don't say such insane things. I acknowledge that you have a talent for magic — but you are still a child. Stay beside your father. There's no time now; we will speak of this later."

And so Albert, following his mother, fled with his family to the shelter of the underground chamber.

"Honey... come back safe. I'll be waiting for you."

"Jack, I leave Al and Tiny in your hands."

"Yes, dear... be safe out there..."

"And Teacher Hiridi — I entrust my family to your care."

"Rest assured, Madam. As long as I stand, no harm shall come to your family or the citizens."

"Thank you, Teacher. I believe in you. I'm going... And Albert — I'm sorry I struck you. It was not my true heart. I hope you can understand..."

"It's all right, Mother. I know. Be careful out there... we'll talk about the rest when you come back!"

"Yes... I'm off."

And so Sarah left her family's side to purge the demons. Her destination was the situation control room — where Apis was already waiting.

"Apis, what's the current situation? The confirmed demons are quite numerous. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠One High Demon and roughly thirty mid-grade demons, as far as we can tell."

"And our own forces?"

"We've gathered every able fighter from the nearby cities and villages, and we're pulling in forces from outside the region as well. Current headcount: two commanders, six chiefs, and twenty-four field officers."

"Good. Understood. I will take the High Demon myself — make the evacuation of the citizens your absolute priority. That is all."

Sarah immediately made for the High Demon's location. There awaited one of the twenty-four High Demons — Matilda, a demon modeled after a goat.

"I was told this place was full of strong ones, yet there's nothing here but pathetic little humans. Or is it simply that I am too strong?"

"Strong you may well be — you've killed that many of my subordinates, after all. Or perhaps they were just weak to begin with."

"Who are you? Show yourself at once!"

What is this? No presence at all. I can hear the voice, but I can't see anything, can't sense anything—

"Can you not see me? Then you must be nothing more than an ordinary demon yourself."

In that instant, Sarah's blade carved horizontally through Matilda's throat.

"GRAAAAAAGH! Where are you?! I've found you, you wretched woman — I'll chew you to pieces and swallow you down!"

"Oh my... so you call yourself a High Demon, do you? You didn't die from that, I see. Then I shall simply come at you harder."

This demon's hide is harder than steel — but not beyond cutting. Sharper. Faster.

Sarah's movements were like watching a flash of lightning, and slowly, Matilda's body began to come apart.

"Hah... hah... So you must be the Shadow everyone speaks of. To drive a High Demon such as myself this far... But it ends now. Did you truly believe a High Demon came alone? You may have bested me in our duel — but in this battle, you have already lost. KHAHAHAHAHA!"

Don't tell me there's another High Demon. Where is it... no. No — that presence is at our own estate. The estate where... my family is!

"Die right now, you miserable bitch."

In that instant, Matilda was torn to pieces and scattered into nothing, and Sarah was already tearing toward the estate at breakneck speed.

Hold on just a little longer — Al, Jack, Tiny!

About thirty minutes have passed since Mother left to hunt the demons. The citizens are growing more anxious by the minute, and Father has been trying to calm them down.

"Everyone, I understand your fear — but if you will simply place your trust in the Shadow family, we will see you through this. Those of you here are safer than anywhere else, so please, simply wait. The gentleman standing before you, Teacher Yurihen Hiridi, is the younger brother of Arhen Hiridi — the direct disciple of the legendary Hero-Mage Kim Jaehyun — and a mage of extraordinary power. You have nothing whatsoever to fear!"

At that moment, Teacher looked utterly mortified while Father puffed up proudly, and I laughed to myself.

Then, a voice unlike any they had heard before rang out.

"Ah, there you are. So this is where you were all hiding."

"That presence — a demon?! Father, help me — lend me your support!"

Isaac instantly cast support magic upon Yurihen, and Yurihen hurled an attack spell at the demon. But the demon was completely unbothered.

"Khehehehehe... That's all? You truly thought attacks of this caliber could kill me — Killion, the High Demon? How utterly laughable."

High Demon Killion was a demon modeled after a chameleon — peerless among all demons in the arts of concealment, and possessed of immunity to magic besides.

"All citizens, please gather behind me. I will raise a protective barrier. Father, Albert — help me hold it!"

"Yes, understood!"

"You think a barrier that flimsy can stop my attacks?"

"Teacher, why aren't you attacking? Apis and I will watch for an opening and strike!"

"No, Albert — that would not be wise. From what I can see, that demon appears to have resistance to magic. For now, we have no choice but to hold out and wait for your mother."

But the barrier began to crack, and hope and despair crossed paths.

"Is that all you have? Humans truly are weak. This has grown tiresome — shall I break it now?"

In that instant, the barrier shattered. The backlash threw Yurihen to the ground, and Isaac — his mana all but spent — collapsed beside him.

"Well, little one. It seems you're the only one left who can protect these people. I'll start by killing you, little one."