---
In the early morning, Mihon and Youray were carrying their belongings as they made their way toward a small boat. The sea wind tugged at their clothes—Mihon in his black and blood-red garments, and Yorai in his silver and gold attire.
Suddenly, Mihon spoke: "Did you leave that thing in the center of the island?" Youray replied, "Yes. Don't worry. Everything is prepared just as we agreed."
They boarded the small vessel and began sailing. The waves struck the boat from all sides, as the wind was fierce and the sea agitated.
"Sailing this little boat is no easy task," Youray said.
"We have no alternative," Mihon replied. "But it's enough to get us away from this place."
After half a day, they came across a massive warship. Above the ship, a flag fluttered in the sky: black in color, with two red stars on either side and a yellow hourglass shaped like an infinity symbol (∞) in the center. The ship was filled with soldiers.
One of the soldiers called out: "Stop! Where did you come from, and what are you doing here?" Mihon replied, "We were near the shore, fishing—but the waves dragged us out here."
The soldier looked at their small boat and saw nothing but a few fish, two fishing rods, and a net. "Do you have a fishing permit for this area?" "I told you—we weren't here to begin with! The waves brought us."
Another soldier spoke: "What are your names?" "I'm Mihon, and this is Youray."
The soldier said: "Wait here a moment." He went to the ship's storage room and began rummaging through a cabinet. Suddenly, he pulled out a large ledger and started scrutinizing it. After a moment, he returned to the ship's railing where Mihon and Youray stood and declared:
"Get out of these waters! If we catch you here again, we'll imprison you on sight."
Mihon replied: "Understood. We'll be on our way."
On the Warship's Deck
Near the banner, two young men sat observing Mihon and Youray. One suddenly spoke—
"Commander, they seem ordinary... but I don't trust them. There's something off about them."
The other whispered back: "You're right. I feel it too. But they've done nothing imprisonable, and their names/faces aren't in our records... Still, we must track them. Reno, send two men to surveil them!"
Blue Run (Commander, 26 years old):
His hair was blue, his clothes deep blue and wind-tossed, with two golden stars adorning his chest.
Reno (Deputy Commander, 19 years old):
His hair was brown, his eyes sharp and blue. His light-blue uniform bore no stars.
---
Mihon and Youray sailed away, unfazed despite sensing pursuit. After another half-day, they reached the mainland. They retrieved their belongings from beneath the boat (wrapped in airtight transparent plastic), then changed out of their tattered fisherman-like clothes. The two soldiers witnessed everything, but it was too late—the pair vanished into the trees in a flash.
The soldiers acted swiftly: One traced their footsteps into the forest.
The other returned to the sea, heading back to the warship.
At That Moment:
A massive explosion erupted on the island where Mihon and Youray had lived! A black container shot into the sky from the blast, opening to release a red banner that floated down slowly toward the explosion's epicenter. Everyone within 20 km of the island witnessed it—including Commander Blue Run's warship, which happened to be nearby.
Blue Run commanded: "Head there immediately!"
The crew responded in unison: "Aye!"
---
As the soldier tracking Mihon and Youray retreated to the shore after losing their trail, Youray asked:
"Will the explosion be large enough?"
Mihon answered: "I don't know. But we must trust that person's invention... they're insane. I wonder what they're doing now."
Youray laughed: "Probably conducting another mad experiment!"
Upon reaching the island: Had Mihon and Youray been there, they would have been shocked by the horror of the explosion—it had completely destroyed the village they were in.
The warship came to a halt on the island's shore, and the soldiers disembarked to investigate the cause of the blast. Blue Run and Rino moved swiftly, making their way to the island's center. What they saw there was a flag fluttering at the heart of the destruction—a blood-red banner, with a sun impaled by ten swords, and in the center of that sun, a terrifying crimson face, like that of a demon.
Blue Run commanded, his expression grim: "Search the records thoroughly for the owner of this banner!"
Rino scoured the area for any clues or evidence to explain the explosion. Despite the time that had passed, he found nothing, and eventually returned to his commander's side.
After a thorough search, the soldiers returned. One of them said, "Commander, we found no flag in our records that matches this one! It seems to be new."
Blue run whispered, "It seems someone wants to draw attention in this way."
Reno said, "What do you think of the two hunters we met? Their personalities are mysterious, and the explosion occurred after we encountered them. We haven't seen anyone here for ten days."
Blue run replied, "I agree with you. We came to capture the rebel known as the 'Devil of Man,' and we ended up meeting two individuals who are truly intriguing."
Reno added, "That scoundrel causes trouble wherever he goes!"
Blue run responded, "No wonder! Everyone born in that cursed year is a devil. And we—the guardians of this world—must exterminate them. Have you ever heard that they are called 'Children of the Devil'?"
Reno asked curiously, "Why?"
Blue Run answered:
"Because that year... a terrifying demonic face appeared, witnessed by everyone in this world. It appeared monthly for ten months."
Reno asked: "Did you see it yourself, Blue Run?"
Blue Run replied: "How could I forget that face and those black eyes? Much escapes me, but those eyes are etched into my memory."
Reno questioned: "Weren't all children born that year eliminated?"
"90% were purged. The remaining 10% were hidden by their families."
Reno whispered: "Do those bastards seek to ignite global chaos?"
Blue Run stated: "M
any families were dealt with by higher authorities. This matter is beyond our jurisdiction."