When the mission ended, Nova, Haru, and Subaru broke into a sprint, heading straight for Io's group. The moment they reached him, Haru leaned forward, panting.
- "We felt that surge of power from your side… we were worried something happened."
Io wiped sweat from his brow and gave a short nod.
- "A Liaz showed up. To 'introduce' herself, she unleashed her entire aura—because Yota provoked her. We fought… and Rhéa collapsed."
He glanced at the unconscious girl beside him.
- "Either way, she's out cold. She can't exactly argue with me on that."
Nova's eyes widened.
- "A Liaz?! We have to tell the teacher—"
- "Go," Io interrupted. "I'll take the president to the infirmary. Nova, don't wait up for me—I might not be back tonight."
- "Alright. Just… take care of yourself."
The moment they turned, Haru spotted the crimson seeping from Io's shoulder.
- "You're bleeding!"
He waved them off.
- "It's nothing. It'll heal."
They carried Rhéa away, straight to the professor—who was nearly sick with worry and immediately bombarded them with questions. Io deflected them all, leaving Nova, Haru, and Subaru to tend to Rhéa while he slipped away. Once the others returned from their missions, Io sat alone in the infirmary, waiting. The minutes bled into an hour before Rhéa's eyelids finally fluttered open.
- "Finally awake," he murmured. "I was starting to get bored."
She stared at him—not with relief, but with the empty eyes of someone who'd already given up on life.
- "You're… going to kill me, aren't you?"
Io blinked.
- "Why would I?"
- "You're the Original. The one everyone fears. Don't tell me you don't want to kill me."
He froze, a strange heaviness pressing against his chest. Why would she think that? The door slammed open. A tall man stepped in, sharp-eyed and reeking of liquor. Io recognized him instantly—Venus, one of the Nine elite vampire hunters, and the same man he'd seen with Nova's father. Venus strode forward and seized Rhéa's arm.
- "You plan to drag our family's name through the mud, you worthless brat?!"
- "Father, calm down!" Rhéa gasped.
- "I warned you—fail your first hunt, and you'd pay for it!"
- "But Yota killed the vampire—"
- "That traitor sided with Mercury! It should have been you!"
With a snarl, he threw his daughter to the floor. Io stepped in front of her, shoulders squared.
- "That's enough."
The man's bloodshot eyes narrowed, the stench of alcohol heavy in the air. Recognition flickered—then he smirked.
- "So, you're the condition Mercury was talking about."
He shoved Io aside and drove his boot into Rhéa's stomach. She gagged and vomited. Io's hands trembled, his face twisting with barely contained rage.
- "...Bastard."
He turned his ring to IX. The mana around them shifted violently. Venus froze, caught by the sight of Io's glowing red eyes—eyes that dug into the depths of his mind and pulled him into a nightmare. Again and again, Io killed him—hundreds of times—each death seared into his brain until the man was nothing but a trembling shell. When he finally blinked, he was back in the infirmary, staring up at Io's faint, chilling smile.
- "...Filthy monster," Venus spat through trembling lips, tears cutting down his face.
He gathered his things and fled.
Io knelt beside Rhéa. She was battered, but her life was no longer in danger. Without a word, he hoisted her onto his back and started toward Nova's dorm. Halfway there, she stirred. Weakly, her eyes opened, realizing whose back she rested on. She didn't speak—she couldn't.
- "You awake?" Io asked quietly.
She managed the smallest nod.
- "Can't talk? Fine. Just answer with yes or no."
Another nod.
- "First question—will you keep this a secret?"
She shook her head.
- "Second—do you have anywhere to stay besides your family's house?"
She shook her head again. Io exhaled through his nose, squinting as his irritation bled into his voice.
- "Tch."
Without another word, he turned down a side street, slipping into the shadows until they reached a place hidden from curious eyes. A few minutes later, they stopped in front of a modest hotel. Pulling out his phone, he typed a short message to Nova: Not coming home tonight. Busy with someone in distress. Her reply came instantly:
« O.K. »
What Io didn't realize… was that Nova was watching from just down the street. Inside, the receptionist greeted him with a polite smile.
- "How many rooms?"
- "One. Two separate beds."
- "I'm afraid the only room left has a single bed."
Io's expression didn't change.
- "...Fine. I'll take it."
The receptionist's smile took on a teasing edge.
- "Just… try not to make too much noise tonight."
- "It's not what you're thinking," Io snapped, irritation flaring.
Upstairs, the door clicked shut behind them. Io set Rhéa down gently on the bed. She stirred, but her body still wouldn't obey her. Her eyes scanned the unfamiliar surroundings—the clean walls, the dim lamp glow—until realization dawned. A hotel? Io stepped closer, his shadow falling over her.
- "Tell me… since you're so eager to die, that means I can do whatever I want with you, right?"
Her gaze dulled further, head tilting to the side in silent surrender. Io smiled faintly, leaned in—then bit into her neck. Warmth spread through her as he pushed a trace of his blood into her veins, enough to restore her voice. But Io's raw blood was potent—far too potent. A dizzy heat bloomed inside her, her pulse racing.
- "Once you've recovered," Io said, pulling back, "leave this city. Don't come back."
- "...When I'm strong enough," she whispered, "I'll go. Far away."
- "Good. That's what I want to hear. But know this—next time, I won't be lenient."
He leaned in again to seal his point with another bite. But this time, the dose was larger… and Io knew too late what he'd done. His blood in such quantity had a dangerous side effect on women—a powerful, aphrodisiac-like rush. He expected her to collapse into sleep, as Ymir once had. Instead, she lifted her head slowly, cheeks flushed deep crimson, eyes hazy… and locked them on him. Io's stomach sank. Danger.
- "S-Stay back…"
- "Too late."
Her fingers closed around his hand, bringing it to her lips. Her teeth grazed his skin, then her tongue swept over his finger with a soft sound that sent a chill racing down his spine. Io scrambled to put distance between them, but Rhéa lunged, pressing against him. She was softer—far softer—than Nova or Haru, and every movement made him painfully aware of her curves. Then she kissed him. Shocked, Io tried to push her away, but tears welled in her eyes. Something in him faltered. He pulled her into his arms, holding her as if she might shatter, but she only lifted her head and kissed him again. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught movement. Turning, she froze—a maid sat at the far end of the room, composed and silent.
- "Do you mind not barging into people's rooms?" Io muttered, finally noticing her.
The maid inclined her head, her voice crisp.
- "Forgive me, Master. I didn't mean to interrupt. I'm here to collect the new recruit."
- "New… recruit?" Rhéa asked faintly.
The maid's tone was absolute.
- "Rhéa—from this day until your death, you will serve as the Eightieth Liaz. The mark on your body is proof."
Rhéa's eyes widened. She turned toward the window, catching her reflection—her irises burned a deep, unnatural red. Io gestured toward the maid.
- "Take her to the palace. Teach her what she needs to know."
The maid bowed low.
- "When will you return to the castle, Master?"
Io looked away.
- "...I don't know."
He met her gaze briefly, his voice hardening.
- "Not until I've recovered all my memories."
- "But Master," the maid pressed, "the Queen is waiting for you. It's been more than ten years since you left."
- "Ten years?"
Ten years! A voice echoed in Io's mind—LaVoix, dry and amused. You're full of surprises. The other one must be furious. Io's expression hardened.
- "I know. But I have too much to do… and my memory loss isn't helping."
Still, the news unsettled him. What had I been doing for ten whole years? Three months had already felt like a lifetime—fights, secrets, betrayals—and he could barely keep up. Now ten years hung over him like a fog he couldn't pierce. The clock on the wall read 4 a.m.
- "Leave before sunrise," Io told the maid.
- "And deliver this message to the Queen: During the winter holidays, at the Dornéra Festival—come to the arena."
She bowed and slipped away. Io lingered at the window, letting the moonlight wash over him. The pale glow seemed to pull him in, its calm so different from the storm inside his chest. When he finally returned to Nova's place, the house was dark. He was about to crash on the couch—until he saw her already there, head buried in her arms.
- "...Nova?"
She flinched when his hand touched her arm.
- "Don't leave me alone anymore…" Her voice cracked, heavy with suppressed sobs.
- "Tell me what's wrong."
- "I saw you," she whispered. "At the hotel. With that girl."
Io blinked.
- "Oh—that? I just left her somewhere safe so her family wouldn't hurt her—"
- "Liar!" Her voice sharpened. "You want to abandon me, don't you?"
- "What are you talking about—"
-"Always… I've always been alone." Her voice trembled. "I thought you were someone I could count on. I was an idiot to believe it."
Something inside Io snapped. He slammed his hand down on the table, the sound shattering the silence.
- "You think this is easy for me?! Since the day we met, I've done everything I could so you wouldn't be alone. But between losing my memories and every damn problem piling up, I don't even know who I am anymore! I kept moving forward anyway—and now you're accusing me over a girl I dropped off at a hotel?! She's been treated like trash by her own family, and you're talking about abandonment?!"
He stopped abruptly. Nova was crying—really crying.
- "Ah—dammit…" He stepped closer, panic flashing in his eyes. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I didn't mean—"
- "No," Nova interrupted, shaking her head. "I'm sorry, Io. I was selfish."
He rubbed the back of his neck, guilt settling in, and pulled her into his arms.
- "I shouldn't have yelled."
The quiet moment was interrupted by soft footsteps—Ymir stepped into the living room, saw Nova's tear-streaked face, and immediately rushed over, wrapping her arms around her. Nova managed a small smile through her tears.
- "Don't cry…"