Re:Zero - Archbishop of Vainglory : Chapter 1-6

Chapter 1: Reborn an Oni

High in the mountains of the Dragon Kingdom stood a village belonging to the Oni Clan, a demi-human race that sat at the very peak of its kind.

The place was quiet. Peaceful. Life drifted along at an unhurried pace, as if the chaos of the outside world had never existed. A sanctuary straight out of a fairy tale.

And yet, in the dead of night, a small boy lay sprawled across a boulder by the riverbank, staring blankly at the moon hanging overhead.

Time passed.

Finally, he let out a long sigh, far too heavy for a child his age, and muttered under his breath, irritation bleeding through every word.

“My stomach’s killing me… If this world has child protection laws, I swear I’d sue those two for abuse. They forget I exist, don’t make lunch, and when I grab a piece of fruit myself, I get dinner taken away? That’s just cruel, isn’t it?”

The targets of his complaints were his parents.

More precisely, his parents in this world.

Because yes. This world.

The boy now called Carlos had lived another life before this one. Back then, he was just a university student who'd become an unwanted extra after his parents' marriage fell apart. He moved out early, worked part-time, scraped by on his own.

Then one night, exhausted after a late shift, he missed a turn on his electric scooter.

A van driving the wrong way did the rest.

Reincarnation should have been a blessing. At first, he’d been thrilled, dreaming of a second life where things finally went right. Maybe this time, he’d be one of the lucky ones.

And honestly, he’d had reason to hope. He’d crossed worlds with what called itself an Intelligent Support System.

Sounded promising.

That optimism didn’t last long.

The moment he was born, reality came crashing down.

He realized he could understand the language of this world before he even opened his eyes, and before he could celebrate, the first words he heard weren’t blessings.

They were shouting.

His mother and grandmother, arguing fiercely.

About him.

Specifically, about the fact that as an Oni, he’d been born with only a single horn.

From their argument, everything clicked into place. He hadn’t reincarnated as a human at all, but as a member of the Oni Clan, a demi-human race identical to humans in every way except one.

Their horns.

An Oni’s horn was a unique organ formed of condensed energy, something they could freely manifest. Normally, it only appeared when an Oni entered Oni Form. At birth, however, horns briefly surfaced before vanishing as the child grew, making them indistinguishable from humans.

The horn was everything. Power. Status. Identity.

Lose it, and you lost your place in the clan.

Being born without one, or worse, with a damaged horn, was taboo.

Which was why Carlos, born just before dawn, found himself placed atop a sacrificial altar that very same night, alongside twin sisters born at noon, both Single-Horned.

Execution awaited them all.

If fate hadn’t intervened, that would’ve been the end.

One of the twins, just like a protagonist ripped from legend, unleashed overwhelming power the moment her younger sister began to cry. The eruption spared them all.

They lived.

But survival didn’t mean salvation.

Marked as cursed children, the three were treated with open disgust. The clan didn’t bother hiding it. Even their parents kept their distance, cold and detached, as if the children were little more than inconvenient objects.

That shared isolation bound them together.

The three grew close, until they entered the village school and began formal magic training.

That was when the elder twin, Ram, revealed astonishing talent. Overnight, she overturned the clan’s expectations, elevating both herself and the sister everyone had pinned their hopes on, Rem.

Carlos was left behind.

Alone.

“What kind of joke is this…? I’m happy they’re doing well, sure. But me? I’m their older brother. If I’m this pathetic, what kind of authority do I even have left?”

He stared at the moon, bitterness seeping out with every word.

He’d thought he could lean on knowledge from his previous life. Become rich. Powerful. Someone important.

Too bad the Oni Clan lived in seclusion. Leaving the village without special permission was forbidden.

Fine. He could work with that.

After all, he still had his Intelligent Support System, and a rare gift of this world: a Divine Protection.

Unfortunately, his was Berserker's Divine Protection. The more injured he became, the stronger he grew. For someone who hated pain, it left him deeply conflicted.

But the system was the real prize.

According to its stiff explanations, it had been created by the War God Artosh, assembled from vast quantities of Ex-Machina remnants and refined across multiple models. Its purpose? To help Carlos defeat Artosh himself.

Gods, apparently, didn't think like people.

. . .

Carlos was chosen for one reason: across countless worlds, he was the only soul compatible with the modified Divine Essence now fused to him.

Gods were embodiments of concepts. Divine Essence was their origin, the source of their power. The essence bonded to him had once represented something else—what, no one knew. Artosh had reshaped it into something resembling a War Divine Essence.

By absorbing negative emotions directed at him, he could slowly activate the dormant Divine Essence. Once fully awakened, any negative emotion in the world would fuel his growth. For now, his range was limited to about twenty meters, and the emotions had to be aimed at him specifically.

Each absorption granted him Energy Points—a currency governed by the system's rules. The system's Ex-Machina Core could manufacture any weapon in its database, and could even analyze attacks used against him and recreate them as new weapons. All it cost was points.

. . .

The irony wasn’t lost on him. Absorbing hatred felt… complicated. But in a village where everyone despised him anyway, it was practically ideal.

The problem was cost.

After filtering out low-tier magic he could learn at school and weapons not worth the investment, the cheapest worthwhile offensive armament cost twenty thousand Energy Points.

He had saved nineteen thousand eight hundred twenty-five.

So close.

Normally, he should’ve been born with two horns. After absorbing so much negativity, he ought to be stronger than any other child his age.

But before birth, the system had intervened, using Divine Essence to modify and merge his horns so they wouldn’t become liabilities during his travels across worlds. It even built pseudo-neural circuits into them, capable of efficiently driving both Pseudo-Scripture and True Scripture.

The Divine Essence prioritized sustaining the horns, given their overwhelming adaptability and burden. That allowed them to grow properly, but left far less power for him.

All told, he was only slightly stronger than an average adult human.

“Figures… ninety-nine percent is always the worst part,” he muttered. “Maybe I should burn down the house of the guy who threw rocks at me this afternoon?”

The number floated in his vision, visible only to him.

A dangerous thought.

Then,

“, N-no! You can’t! If you do that, they’ll beat you to death!”

A panicked voice rang out behind him.

Soft. Young. Urgent.

He clutched his stomach, struggling upright as he turned.

A blue-haired girl stood there, no more than ten years old, holding a roasted sweet potato with both hands. Her hair was cut short at the chin, and she wore a white kimono traced with blue patterns. Over-the-knee white stockings peeked out beneath it, the mix of old and new somehow fitting perfectly.

Her face was delicate, her expression gentle, soft enough that she looked like she might cry at any moment.

Easy to bully.

Which was precisely why no one ever did.

She was one of the only two people in the village who treated him kindly.

The younger twin.

Rem.

He hadn’t gone into the forest or down to the river to find food.

Because he knew she’d come.

……

….

…

Chapter 2: Ram · Rem

“Honestly, the way you say things is a little too convincing sometimes… kind of scary, actually. But relax, I was just talking.”

Fully aware of his own situation, Carlos had only been venting. He waved it off with a grin, then deliberately widened his eyes as he looked at what Rem was holding.

“Steamed sweet potato? Is that… for me?”

“Mm!” Rem nodded hard, eyes curving into a bright smile as she carefully offered it with both hands. “You’re hungry, right? This is for you.”

“Thanks! Then I won’t hold back!”

At first, Carlos’ adult pride had made it hard to accept food from a child. Over time, though, he’d gotten used to being fed.

A real man knew when to bend. Pride wasn’t worth starving over, especially when malnutrition might stunt his growth. That would be truly tragic.

Besides, he was a kid now too.

Seeing him eat so enthusiastically, Rem looked pleased. With a small “heave-ho,” she sat down beside him, then copied his earlier pose, lying back on the rock, hands folded behind her head, gazing up at the moon.

“The moon’s really pretty tonight,” she murmured.

“—kh, cough, cough!”

The phrase triggered a memory from his past life, a famous literary reference. He choked on the sweet potato, eyes watering.

"Huh? W-what's wrong? Are you okay?"

Startled, Rem scrambled upright and patted his back over and over.

"I'm… fine. Just got a little surprised."

"By the moon?" she asked, tilting her head. "Because it's that pretty?"

She had no idea what she'd just said. Of course she didn't.

Carlos shook his head with a wry smile and nodded.

“…Yeah. Let’s go with that.”

“If Carlos says so, then okay!”

Rem accepted it without a hint of doubt, smiling brilliantly.

Innocent kids really are dazzling, he thought. And adorable. I can live with this.

Feeling oddly cleansed, he wiped his hands on his clothes and ruffled her hair.

“H-hey, don’t do that! Even if you wiped them, you were just eating, your hands are still dirty!”

“It’s fine, it’s fine~ My hands are clean enough to lick. Totally fine!”

“Even so, ”

…

“, You two. What are you doing outside at this hour?”

Another girl’s voice sounded from behind them.

It was just as soft as Rem’s, just as young, but carried a sharp edge that made the air tighten.

Rem immediately hopped off the rock and ran over, pointing dramatically.

“Sister! Carlos is bullying people!”

The girl who looked exactly like Rem, aside from her pink hair and eyes, narrowed those eyes at once and shot him a piercing glare.

Ram.

“Oh? You’ve got some nerve, Carlos. Bullying Rem while Ram isn’t around?”

“No way. We were just playing.”

Bathed in the little girl’s icy stare, Carlos felt equal parts helpless and amused, especially when his Energy Points stubbornly refused to increase.

“You’re the only one having fun,” Ram said flatly. “Get over here. Ram’s going to make it even for Rem.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I’m older than you. Head-patting is a privilege of seniority.”

“Older? By less than a day?” Ram scoffed, then gestured at herself. “And height-wise, Rem and Ram are taller than you. Enough talk. Come here, or Ram’s coming to you.”

She lifted her chin smugly.

Annoyingly, she wasn’t wrong. Girls matured earlier, and during childhood that often meant being taller. Carlos was, in fact, a little shorter than Ram.

The well-aimed jab left him sulking. “Putting height aside, don’t you think this is excessive? You’re trampling on my dignity as a man.”

“A man?” Ram snorted. “You? A kid like you can talk about being a man after you’re taller than Ram. Now behave and let Ram pat you. Or Ram’s eating this sweet potato herself.”

She revealed the sweet potato she’d been hiding behind her back, identical to Rem’s, and waved it enticingly.

“…I’ve said this before, but if you keep bullying people like this, it’s going to come back to bite you when you’re older.”

“What? You thought this was for you?” Ram laughed. “This is Ram’s midnight snack. Ram’s. Own.”

“Fair enough. I can’t steal your snack.” He turned away dramatically, clutching his stomach and sighing. “…Only one sweet potato… I wonder if I can make it to breakfast. Guess I’ll have to jump in the river for fish, or head into the forest for food.”

“A-again with this?!”

Ram’s smugness collapsed instantly. She ground her teeth. “That trick won’t work on Ram… not sixteen times!”

“It’s fine, Ram. Don’t force yourself. This isn’t your fault,” he said gently, even patting her head. “If I drown in the river or die from poisonous mushrooms, that’s on me. Even if we’ve known each other for years, you’re not obligated to save me.”

“Ugh…”

Ram froze, unable to even swat his hand away. Rem tugged at her sleeve, eyes pleading.

“S-sister…”

“, F-fine! I get it!”

Unable to withstand her sister, or her conscience, Ram angrily shoved the sweet potato into his hands. Carlos instantly brightened, earlier misery gone without a trace.

“Thanks~! That’s my best friend for you. When it really counts, you two are the only ones I can rely on!”

“Waaah, ! So it was all an act again! You’re the worst!”

Defeated for the sixteenth time, Ram stamped her foot in frustration.

Carlos, meanwhile, happily enjoyed the spoils of victory, until he suddenly stopped eating, staring at the sweet potato in his hands as he sighed again.

Ram noticed at once. “What now?! Why are you sighing again?! Don’t tell me Rem’s sweet potato tastes bad! If you dare say that, Ram will seriously hit you!”

“R-really?”

Rem’s eyes welled up, and Carlos hurriedly shook his head.

“No, no! That’s not it. I was just thinking… I’m kind of pathetic. This is better than when we had to scavenge in the forest, sure, but now I’m reduced to tricking kids out of food. Mentally, it almost feels worse than eating bugs.”

“You are a kid too,” Ram said flatly. “Why do you always pretend to be an adult? Do you actually like eating bugs?”

She hesitated, then added, almost kindly, “If you really want to eat them, we could help you catch some… but the first time Ram shoved a bug in your mouth, didn’t you throw up horribly? Every time after that, you acted like you were dying.”

“…Why would you ever conclude that I like eating live bugs? And stop bringing that up!” he snapped. “Just thinking about it makes me feel like there’s something wriggling in my mouth!”

The memory hit him full force, especially that first time, when Ram had stuffed a still-living bug between his lips.

The sensation. The taste.

His stomach lurched, and even the sweet potato suddenly became hard to swallow.

Chapter 3: Ex-Machina Armaments

“You’re seriously troublesome. Ram takes such good care of you, and you still find things to complain about.”

Ram’s displeasure hit him instantly. Her pink lips puffed out in a dramatic pout.

“That’s not what I meant…”

The childish sulk was disarmingly cute. Carlos’ resistance evaporated. He scratched his head, sighed, and forced himself to push past the lingering shadows in his mind. He stuffed the rest of the sweet potato into his mouth, gulped down the water Ram had brought, and swallowed it all down.

Then he climbed back onto the rock, his rock, and lay flat on his back, gazing up at the clear night sky.

“Well… what’s done is done,” he muttered. “It’s been years already. This kind of life should be ending soon. A little longer, and maybe I can finally turn things around.”

“Turn things around? What does that mean?”

“Rem wants to know too!”

The twins had somehow flanked him without him noticing, one on each side. Both were staring at him now, eyes bright with curiosity.

“Mm… it means being independent. Not getting looked down on anymore.”

“Really? That’s great!”

“That would be nice,” Ram said, frowning slightly. “But you’re not running a fever, are you…?”

Unlike Rem, who celebrated without hesitation, Ram leaned in and reached straight under his shirt, pressing her hand to his stomach.

The sudden warmth against his skin caught him off guard. He knew she was worried. He'd even taught her this method himself. Still, having someone fuss over him for the first time felt… awkward.

"…My temperature's normal," he said stiffly. "I'm fine, really."

"No fever? Good." She looked relieved.

He sighed. Being looked after like this was still a foreign feeling after years of taking care of himself.

“Are you really okay?”

Rem leaned closer, her voice dropping to a whisper near his ear. “Sister’s actually been worried about you too. If something’s wrong, you can tell us, okay?”

“I’m fine. Really,” he said, smiling despite himself. “Thanks, Rem.”

He reached out and gently patted her head.

This time, she didn’t protest.

Ram, however, stood up with a huff, muttering under her breath. “That’s not fair. Whispering behind Ram’s back, even though Ram is the big sister.”

“Yes, yes. Ram’s the big sister.”

“Hey! Why are you calling me big sister while patting my head?!”

“Don’t worry about it. This is the last shred of pride I have left, as an adult who’s forced to call a kid like you ‘big sister.’”

Despite the reluctant tone, Carlos didn’t actually mind. If calling her that let him handle a stubborn little girl so easily, he considered it a win.

Ram thought it over seriously, then decided that being called big sister was her gain. A proper big sister should be generous. With that settled, she let him continue, hands planted on her hips, chin lifted proudly.

That, unfortunately, made Rem feel a little left out.

It wasn’t jealousy, just the quiet sting of being excluded by the people she cherished most. She didn’t say anything, but the look in her eyes dimmed.

Carlos noticed and couldn’t help smiling. He reached over and rested his hand on her head too.

“Why are you looking at me like that? We’re already this close. If something’s bothering you, just say it. We’d never leave you out.”

“That’s right, Rem,” Ram said decisively. “Sister will always be your sister. Now Carlos, move your hand. Only Ram’s allowed to touch Rem’s head.”

“Even if you’re the sister, I’m Rem’s older brother from another father and mother!”

“That just makes you a stranger. Shoo. Don’t get in Ram’s way.”

The two were on the verge of arguing over the right to ruffle Rem’s hair when the gloom in her heart vanished completely. She hurriedly squeezed between them, tugging at their sleeves.

“S-sister, Carlos… don’t fight all the time. Rem doesn’t mind. As long as everyone’s together, it’s fine. Just… don’t leave me out.”

……

Beneath the star-filled sky, by the quiet riverbank.

The same pointless bickering as always, yet it washed away the heaviness that had been piling up in Carlos’ chest for years.

When the night grew too deep, the twins finally gave in to sleepiness. Hand in hand, they headed back to the village. Carlos stayed behind, staring at the moon until his thoughts blurred, and he drifted off right there on the rock.

………………

………………

Life settled back into its unremarkable rhythm.

Days were spent at school, learning letters, culture, and magic with the other children. Breaks were for playing with the twins. When bored, he wandered around aimlessly, soaking in the looks of dislike from the villagers.

Years of experience had taught him one thing: the stronger the source, the greater the Energy Points gained. That was why he made a habit of loitering near the clan chief, provoking the white-haired old man until his beard bristled and his eyes bulged.

Ram, despite her age, possessed power that surpassed even the chief's. Provoking her would yield even more Energy Points.

But she was also terrifyingly strong. Unlike the chief, who just huffed and grumbled, Ram would absolutely pin him down and beat him senseless.

Being beaten up by a little girl was even worse for his pride.

And so time flew by, him staring at Ram’s skirt hem, Rem staring at him in confusion, until one night, the final threshold was crossed.

Two thousand Energy Points short had become none at all.

He was too excited to sleep.

Once again, he slipped out to the riverbank and opened the carefully curated list of Ex-Machina armaments.

. . .

Passage Rule (10,000) — Deflects all directed energy. Extremely high deflection limit. [Owned - Can summon directly]

No Passage (10,000) — Defensive armament effective against both physical and energy attacks.

Pseudo-Scripture · Light Halberd Matrix (20,000) — Reproduced from Sylph defense systems. Offense and defense combined. Can unleash swarms of light halberds to pierce enemies, or form a cage to restrain them.

Pseudo-Scripture · Forest Sky Severance (50,000) — Reproduced from Sylph magic. Releases countless vacuum blades that cut through all matter.

Pseudo-Scripture · Withered Dragon's Roar (100,000) — Reproduced from one of the three Dragon Kings. Planetary-scale destruction capable of triggering crustal tsunamis.

...and countless more.

. . .

The moonlight reflected off the river as his gaze lingered on the list, heart pounding.

Chapter 4: You’re Getting Married Next Year

The arsenal unfolded inside Carlos’ field of vision like a flood.

Even after multiple filters, what remained was still overwhelming, once expanded, it swallowed nearly everything he could see. Among the countless entries was something that had been there from the beginning, a system artifact that had never been removed: Passage Rule. It was available from birth, summonable at will.

All system-generated armaments could be carried on the body or concealed within an attached personal subspace. Passage Rule lived permanently inside that subspace.

It was a purely defensive tool, effective only against directed energy. Against that, it was formidable. Against something as simple as a brick to the head? Useless. That was why he’d never had a chance to use it.

He could have exchanged for No Passage early on as well, but its defensive ceiling depended entirely on the user. For someone as weak as him, the real goal had always been,

【Confirm exchange: Pseudo-Scripture · Light Halberd Matrix?】

As his focus locked onto Light Halberd Matrix, a voice cut into his thoughts, mechanical, emotionless, unmistakably female.

He was used to that flat, unchanging tone. Still, heat flared in his chest.

“Of course I confirm! I’ve waited nine years for this! Do you have any idea how I’ve lived these nine years?”

【Acknowledged. Initiating transfer. Pseudo-Scripture · Light Halberd Matrix, transmission begins.】

The instant the final syllable faded, the manifestation he’d imagined never appeared.

No flashy pillar of light. No dazzling divine radiance. Just... a flood of new memories pouring into his head.

“…So it’s just knowledge?” he muttered. “Then why didn’t you give it to me from the start?”

【Some Pseudo-Scriptures have no physical form. They require only simulated neural circuits and the corresponding data to operate. However, there is a minimum strength threshold. Forcing activation would place extreme strain on the Final Individual, potentially draining all their power. Also, starting from weakness aids in eventually defeating the strongest. Therefore, this unit must avoid over-assisting the host.】

The system answered faithfully, without a trace of emotion. As always, it addressed him as Final Individual.

According to the system, his rebirth had involved Artosh in some way. That technically made him a special case among the Ex-Machina-adjacent beings, a classification that explained the strange title.

He had no wings. No halo.

Yet within his pupils rested a cross-shaped sigil, proof of a fundamental, constant art shared by that lineage.

Most of the time it was hard to notice. But when he pushed his magic to its limits, or actively drove it, the sigil ignited. Light bloomed in his vision. His sight sharpened, motion clarity increased, night turned transparent. He could even see energy flowing through the air, within living bodies, beneath the ground.

At that point, he stopped complaining about how unlucky it was for an Oni to have crosses in his eyes.

…

Setting aside the system’s favorite title, he frowned and thought it through.

“So basically, I need to reach a certain level before I’m qualified to use it?”

【Correct.】

“And the extra energy? Where did it go? Don’t tell me you skimmed it.”

【There is no surplus energy. All power derived from negative emotions is absorbed by Divine Essence. When the system creates armaments, it consumes energy from the Final Individual’s body or extracts ambient energy through the Horn. Thus, Energy Points are defined as ‘points.’】

“I get that points are just a record of spending,” he sighed. “Still feels bad somehow… Whatever. I’ll focus on studying Light Halberd Matrix.”

Negotiating with a mindless machine was pointless. He’d learned that lesson thoroughly over nine years.

With a quiet breath, he gave up the argument, sat down on the ground, closed his eyes, and dove into the magical data flooding the depths of his memory.

He wasn’t a true Ex-Machina. He wasn’t a machine. He couldn’t simply read and reproduce the technique flawlessly.

Understanding came first. Integration second. Execution last.

While studying, he made a decision.

Once he mastered this magic, he would leave the village.

The Oni Village was perfect for farming points, everyone was strong, and he could gain Energy Points easily. But he wasn’t a masochist. Years of discrimination had worn him thin. He wanted to see the outside world.

Out there, he could use modern knowledge to make money. With money, he could hire powerful mercenaries as bodyguards. Then he’d come back and bully the people who had bullied him.

The stronger the negative emotions, the faster the points would roll in.

Of course, that all depended on whether Light Halberd Matrix, selected as a high-value spell even among Ex-Machina Pseudo-Scriptures, was strong enough.

And whether everything went smoothly.

…

…

Life in the Oni Village passed without incident. In the blink of an eye, half a month was gone.

Training every night under the system’s guidance, Carlos had reached the point where, after entering Oni Form, he could use Light Halberd Matrix with reasonable proficiency for both offense and defense.

“A bit more practice,” he murmured on his way home from the river, “and I should be able to leave… though how do I even get out of a sealed village like this?”

He pushed open the door, still muttering, barely sparing a glance at the two people talking on the wooden sofa.

Normally, acknowledging them only led to irritation. It was easier to pretend they didn’t exist.

But today was different.

The middle-aged man on the sofa, plainly dressed, yet striking thanks to the Oni Clan’s strong bloodline, spoke first.

“Carlos. Why are you back so late again?”

“Gathering food,” he replied flatly. “Emergency supplies.”

“Emergency supplies?” The man frowned, clearly wanting to say more, but thought better of it. He changed tack. “I ran into Edgar at noon. We’ve decided, you’re getting married next year.”

“Oh. Sure. Weddings are nice. Free food too, ”

He froze mid-step.

Mid-sentence.

Then spun around, staring at his father, who, for the first time in his life, was smiling at him.

“Wait. What did you just say?” Carlos’ voice jumped. “Who’s getting married? Me?”

“Of course. You, Lady Ram, and Rem.”

“No, no, no, details! Why?! I’ll only be ten next year!”

The announcement hit him like a brick. Nine years old. Married next year. His brain shut down.

His father slammed a hand onto the armrest.

“Ten is old enough. And don’t forget your position!”

“Even if I’m Single-Horned, what does that have to do with marriage?!”

“I originally planned for you and Rem to contribute to the clan, at least have a child to prevent the Oni Clan from dying out. Single-Horned with Single-Horned might produce a normal Oni. But Edgar spoke with Lady Ram and Rem today. Since Lady Ram refuses to be separated from her sister, they’ve agreed to marry you together.”

His father leaned forward, eyes burning.

“You must seize this opportunity. No matter what, you will marry Lady Ram.”

When he spoke of Ram agreeing to the marriage, the man looked ready to celebrate. All that was missing was a declaration that their ancestors’ graves had burst into holy flame.

He finished with a hard warning: if Carlos failed to maintain a good relationship with Ram, he’d be thrown out of the house for good.

Chapter 5: Days That Somehow Looked More and More Promising

“Here, take this. Go thank Lady Ram properly. Spend more time with her.”

The moment the man finished speaking, the woman beside him snatched up the roasted suckling pig leg wrapped in lotus leaf from the table and shoved it into Carlos’ arms. While sternly warning him not to eat it himself, she physically hustled him out of the living room and straight toward the door.

…Were these two seriously this mercenary?

Standing at the entrance, pig leg cradled in his arms, Carlos stared into the wind, utterly at a loss.

Once he calmed down, though, he could understand them. Among the Oni Clan, strength came first. Reproduction came second.

As demi-humans, Oni were famous for their tough bodies, overwhelming magic, and unmatched combat ability. Their only real flaw was that being too strong made conception difficult.

That weakness had forced them into the deep mountains, avoiding unnecessary conflict to prevent their already small population from being wiped out. Even then, they were barely surviving.

Carlos’ parents had him late in life. They knew they wouldn’t be having more children, so this had likely started as a matter of efficiency, pairing him with Rem, another Single-Horned child no one expected much from, hoping the two might produce a normal Oni.

In eras with low life expectancy, marriage naturally came earlier. With the Oni Clan on the brink of extinction, ten wasn’t considered young at all. Their bodies were far stronger than humans’; childbirth at that age wasn’t a problem.

As for whether Ram liked him…

That thought had never crossed his mind.

If there was any kind of fondness, it certainly wasn’t romantic. Nine-year-olds didn’t understand that sort of thing. More likely, she just wanted to stay with Rem, and disliked the villagers who had always looked down on them. Marrying him was the simplest solution.

For a clan that valued strength to the point of executing defective infants, Ram’s parents were surely unwilling to marry her off to him. But her opinion couldn’t be ignored. She was already chosen as the next clan head, the one hailed as the “return of the Oni God.”

“…What a race,” Carlos muttered. “And my life just keeps getting stranger.”

By the twins’ front door, he knocked while grumbling under his breath, finding the whole situation equal parts ridiculous and absurd.

The unlocked door swung open almost immediately. Rem peeked out cautiously, then lit up the moment she saw him.

“Carlos… did you come to play with us?”

“Something like that,” he said. “Want to wander around a bit?”

“Yes! Wait, Rem will get Sis!”

She nodded without hesitation and darted back inside, returning moments later with Ram in tow.

The three of them headed toward the small river near the village, just like they always did. Watching the inseparable sisters walk ahead of him, Carlos thought for a moment, then handed the pig leg to them.

“Do you two know what happened at noon?”

“You mean how Sis and Rem are getting married to Carlos next year?”

“You’re really lucky,” Ram added coolly. “Getting to marry sisters as beautiful as us.”

Rem beamed, clearly just happy that they’d get to spend even more time together. Ram looked just as indifferent as ever, her usual air of quiet superiority intact.

“…You really don’t understand what marriage actually means,” he said.

Looking at the two of them, he didn't feel anything about this so-called engagement, just numb. The whole arrangement was absurd.

He'd always treated the twins as little sisters.

“What does marriage mean?” Rem tilted her head. “It means lots of tasty food, right? I hope next year comes soon~”

Her eyes sparkled as she imagined the rare feast that accompanied weddings.

Ram, meanwhile, unwrapped the lotus leaf, took a bite, then, eyes lighting up, snapped the pig leg in half with terrifying ease and handed one piece to her sister.

“This tastes good. Rem, try it.”

“Thank you, Sis!”

“Such a little glutton…”

Rem’s innocent delight left Carlos at a loss for words. He sighed, then looked at Ram.

“What about my share? You’re not leaving me nothing, are you?”

“Ram will save a bit for you.”

“Rem will save some for Carlos too!”

“Hah… forget it. You eat. I won’t fight kids for food.”

Watching the sisters utterly conquered by the pig leg, he gave up the idea of indulging himself. Instead, he simply watched them with a gentle gaze.

The marriage didn’t matter to him anymore.

After all… he had no intention of staying here until next year.

……

About a week after the engagement was verbally confirmed, the Oni Village grew lively. For the first time in nine years, the three of them stood together on the ritual platform again.

This time, they weren’t there to be executed.

Before their ancestors and the assembled clan, the marriage set for next year was formally announced.

“Being engaged to two little girls…” Carlos muttered. “This feels weird.”

“What are you talking about?” Ram shot back. “Being engaged to a child like you is what’s complicated.”

"Sis, Carlos, n-now isn't the time to argue," Rem said, on the verge of tears. "We'll get scolded…"

“Behave yourselves!”

The white-haired clan head barked sharply, just as Rem feared.

“Carlos and Rem! You should feel honored to become part of Ram’s family! This is no time for nonsense! You will devote yourselves fully to supporting her, do you hear me?!”

“Yes, yes…” Carlos replied with a lazy nod.

“We, we understand!” Rem nodded frantically. “Please don’t worry, Clan Head!”

Carlos’ lackadaisical attitude made the elder’s expression harden. His fist clenched, looking ready to strike.

Before he could, Ram stepped forward, planting herself in front of Carlos, her face calm.

“Carlos will belong to Ram from now on. Ram will discipline him properly. There’s no need for the clan head to trouble himself.”

“Ram…!”

The clan head clearly wanted to snap back, but whatever held him back swallowed the words before they could leave his mouth.

Nearby, an elderly Giant, Cromwell, who had come to the Oni Clan as a guest and stayed to witness the ceremony, shook his head.

“Being that harsh with children isn’t right,” he said mildly. “Since she’s already chosen to marry, we should let that matter rest.”

“Marriage has nothing to do with war!” the clan head snapped. “Cromwell, you’re not thinking of abandoning this, are you?!”

“No matter how many times you ask, my answer won’t change,” the old Giant replied evenly. “I’m tired. I have a child to look after now. Continuing this discussion serves no purpose. I’ll return to the Royal Capital tomorrow.”

The clan head’s intense glare met only calm resistance.

Carlos and Rem exchanged confused looks, completely lost. Ram, on the other hand, looked bored.

Carlos leaned closer and whispered, “Ram… is what they’re talking about related to you?”

She didn’t even glance at him.

“Just foolish adults,” she said flatly, “making foolish plans for foolish ambitions.”

Chapter 6: The Abrupt End of Ordinary Days

Ram’s offhand dismissal, combined with the exchange between the clan head and the elderly Giant, stirred something unpleasant in his mind. Carlos couldn’t help thinking of the civil war recorded in history books, one that had torn the kingdom apart decades ago.

A cold suspicion crept in.

Was the clan head trying to ignite another war?

Ram’s talent was absurdly high. Even if the Oni Clan had been reduced to this single village, every last one of them was an elite fighter. And Ram, still a child, already surpassed the clan head in raw strength. If she joined forces with other demi-humans, seizing control of the kingdom didn’t sound impossible.

“…We’ll discuss this later,” the clan head said at last, his displeasure obvious. “For now, continue the ceremony.”

He closed his eyes and stopped paying attention to the three children altogether.

“Hmph. Should’ve done that from the start,” Ram muttered, wearing the smug look of a victor.

Rem quickly bowed toward the elder, apologizing for her sister’s rudeness.

Lately, Ram had been like this with almost everyone, merciless, sharp-edged. She spared only her parents, Rem, and Carlos… though even with him, “lenient” might have been an exaggeration.

The ceremony dragged on in that strange atmosphere. From the outside, it almost looked less like Carlos marrying Ram, and more like him being married into her household, with Rem following after.

The kingdom didn’t practice monogamy, yet Carlos still felt like he’d somehow gained an extra spouse without his consent. If he had to guess, it was probably another side effect of how obsessively the Oni Clan worshiped strength.

After that, life settled back into quiet routine.

The old Giant left the next day. The excitement of having a rare visitor faded, soon forgotten by the village.

Days passed slowly. Carlos still spent time with the twins from time to time, then returned to the river at night to immerse himself in studying Light Halberd Matrix. Over and over, the same rhythm.

About a month after he’d acquired Light Halberd Matrix, he was once again alone by the river late at night, eyes closed in meditation. He’d turned down the twins’ invitation to play, just like always.

And tonight,

Something changed.

……

The moonlight was frighteningly clear.

In the dense forest near the village, shadows appeared where none should have been.

Figures cloaked head to toe in black robes. Their faces were hidden behind hood-like coverings, their gender impossible to tell. Every one of them held a cross-shaped dagger.

From their weapons and attire alone, it was obvious they weren’t travelers who’d wandered in by chance.

They waited in silence beneath the trees.

Around two in the morning, when the village had fully fallen asleep, they moved.

Soundlessly, they flooded in from every direction. Doors were opened with ease. Homes were entered one by one.

The Oni Clan, spoiled by years of peace, noticed nothing.

Renowned as the strongest of all demi-humans, warriors who could face a thousand foes, caught unprepared, they died no differently than ordinary people. Slaughtered in their sleep, without resistance.

The attackers’ presence was only revealed when they reached the home of the clan head, one of the few with real battlefield experience, a former commander among demi-humans.

“GRAAAAAAH!”

A thunderous roar tore through the night, jolting the village awake.

The white-haired clan head burst forth, two glowing Horns blazing above his brow. With his bare hands, he ripped the intruder inside his home clean in half.

The black-robed figures surrounding the house raised their hands at once. Fireballs flew. Wind blades screamed. Earthen spikes erupted from the ground. Magic poured down in a relentless storm.

The old Oni charged straight through it.

Wielding a massive blade long since dulled by rust, he burst from the house and cleaved his enemies apart with ease.

Then he saw it.

Homes, everywhere, engulfed in flames.

His body shook. Rage exploded in his eyes.

Another beastlike howl tore from his throat as he sprinted toward the shadows flooding in from afar, swinging his blade in a frenzy of fury.

The attackers, fighters who combined magic and martial skill, fell like straw before him. None could slow his advance.

The gap in strength was overwhelming. Even alone, the old Oni had the power to slaughter them all.

And yet,

Despite entering Oni Form, he didn’t cast a single spell.

His magic didn’t surge. His physical strength didn’t rise. The glow of his Horns dimmed, little by little. His movements slowed.

Fatigue came quickly, too quickly.

For a human, it might have made sense. For an Oni, it didn’t.

By the time he realized something was wrong, it was too late.

The black-robed figures seized the opening. One after another, they drove their cross-shaped blades into his body.

The towering figure shuddered violently, then fell backward.

Still.

Silent.

……

Unaware of any of this, Carlos remained by the river, eyes closed in meditation, until a horrifying roar echoed from afar.

“That voice… the clan head?” He flinched, eyes snapping open. “What’s he howling about in the middle of the night? Practicing to be an alpha wolf?”

Grumbling to himself, he turned toward the village, curiosity piqued.

Then he froze.

The night sky, once dark, was painted red.

Firelight surged upward from the ground, illuminating everything.

Before he could process it,

Boom!

A deafening explosion shattered the night.

The peaceful village in the valley erupted into chaos. Screams, roars, and dying cries blended into a nightmarish chorus that carried all the way to the riverbank.

The Oni Clan was powerful. That much was undeniable.

But they’d lived in peace for far too long. They’d forgotten what it meant to guard against danger.

They were still taught magic and combat, but real fights, real killing, were almost nonexistent. A year could pass without a single brawl. Life revolved around farming, hunting, bearing children, raising them.

When attacked in force, they couldn’t hold out.

Unlike the panicking villagers, the black-robed attackers remained eerily silent. Whether killing or being killed, they showed no emotion. Like puppets on strings, they butchered indiscriminately, men, women, the old, the young.

The ordinary days ended there.

Abruptly.

Violently.

=====
Happy new year guys!!
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