Kazuki strolled casually out of his room. The Altherion household remained quiet, accompanied only by the morning sunlight streaming through the tall glass windows.
In his hand, a wisp of light magic danced like a toy. Not for any particular purpose—just a habit. Or maybe... a personal ritual before breakfast.
His steps were light, almost soundless. He wasn't in a hurry. The main character is never in a hurry.
Kazuki walked down the long hallway as if walking across a stage. Every step calculated. Every movement... as if following a script.
And as always, no one paid attention.
"As it should be," he muttered softly, glancing up at the ceiling as if there was a hidden camera following him.
He descended the stairs to the dining room.
There, the Altherion family had already gathered in the grand dining hall, filled with the aroma of warm bread and herbal tea.
Kazuki entered the room at his own pace, unbothered by the formal atmosphere. The little light spell kept twirling around his fingers—functionless, just passing time while playing.
He took his usual seat. Silent. Not one for small talk. A servant respectfully approached, pouring water into his glass and serving the food without a word.
Kazuki began eating. Slowly. Calmly. As if nothing in this world mattered more than his breakfast.
Suddenly, his father's voice broke the silence at the table.
"Kazuki. I was planning to pass down the family fortune to you… But you have no potential."
The voice was calm but cold. Like delivering a disappointment as a fact, not an emotion.
Kazuki lifted his head. His eyes stared directly at his father, his face expressionless.
"Sorry, Father," he said softly, his voice gentle but laced with his usual theatrical tone. "I'll try harder… to raise the potential I apparently don't have."
His father fell silent. He let out a quiet sigh, then returned to his meal without another word.
Meanwhile, inside Kazuki's mind…
"This kind of script… so cliché. Inheritance talk, failure son, empty expectations… feels like this drama's been reused for centuries."
Kazuki continued eating calmly.
"But that's fine… I'll flip the script. Slowly. From beneath the stage."
He sipped from his glass, staring blankly ahead.
"Just wait, Father. Behind this 'lack of potential'... lies something you could never measure."
Kazuki gave a small, almost invisible smile.
A servant standing behind him turned slightly, as if sensing a sudden chill… but upon seeing Kazuki simply sitting quietly, they quickly bowed their head again.
Kazuki resumed eating, as if nothing had happened. But within his mind, a grand plan was starting to take form.
"One day… this will be my stage."
After finishing breakfast, Kazuki returned to his room with light steps.
In his hand, a tray covered with a white cloth carrying a full meal—taken without anyone's knowledge, not even the servants or his family.
"Secret aid delivery... successful without incident."
He moved silently through the corridor. His aura suppressed so tightly, it was nearly erased from reality.
"Household-level infiltration. Simple, but still an art."
Once in front of his room, Kazuki placed his palm on the door handle. A faint purple light spread from his skin, checking for any surveillance magic placed by Lycia or the servants.
Clear.
He slowly opened the door.
The room was still quiet. The curtains were not fully drawn, but morning light slipped through the gaps, casting a soft shadow on the wooden floor.
And there... by the window, stood Neera, gazing out at the sky with an empty expression.
Her dark hair was slightly messy, but her body looked more refreshed than the night before.
Kazuki stepped in silently.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked calmly, his voice flat but sharp as always.
Neera flinched. She turned to Kazuki quickly, her eyes widening.
"Ah… y-you… I didn't hear your footsteps…"
Kazuki closed the door behind him with his foot. He didn't answer her comment—just walked to the small table beside the bed and placed the tray of food down.
"Standard noble breakfast. Balanced protein, high carbs. Ideal for recovery," he said plainly, like reading a mission report.
Neera continued to stare at him, confused.
"Why… did you go out of your way to bring this to me?"
Kazuki turned slowly, then sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the same window.
"Because in the long-term strategy, keeping allies alive is more efficient than recruiting new ones."
Neera frowned. "You talk… like all of this is part of some plan."
Kazuki glanced at her briefly. A thin smile appeared on his lips.
"It is. Isn't this world just a giant chessboard? I'm merely… thinking twenty steps ahead."
Neera looked at him silently.
"You're weird," she finally said.
Kazuki stood up again. "Thank you."
He walked to a small bookshelf in the corner, pulled out a thick book titled Foundations of Magic Architecture: Volume I, flipped it open randomly, then put it back.
"Weird is a plus. This world's already overflowing with normal."
He turned to Neera. His eyes glowed faintly.
"Eat. Your energy's still unstable. And I don't want my organization member collapsing on her first day."
Neera looked at him with an unreadable expression.
"Organization… you mean Nocturne Eclipse?"
Kazuki nodded.
"The name's already good. Just need a logo. The motto... is still in progress."
He walked over to the window, standing next to Neera. The two of them gazed at the rising morning sky.
Kazuki crossed his arms.
"Once you're done eating… come with me to eliminate some criminals and weirdos," he said calmly, but with a mysterious edge.
He half-turned, his gaze sharp yet relaxed.
"And remember… I'm not a hero."
He paused for a moment.
"...Nor the world's greatest villain."
His tone was heavy, as if declaring something monumental to the annals of history—even though he might just be talking about a casual nighttime patrol.
Neera jumped out of bed with energy.
"All right! I'll follow your orders, my lord!" she declared without hesitation, her eyes shining.
Kazuki gave a subtle smirk. In his mind, he muttered in satisfaction:
"See? Easy as that~ 100% success… just as planned."
He stepped to the center of the room, his cloak fluttering softly from the breeze coming in through the window.
"Tonight… we move in the shadows."
He clenched his fist, as if shaping the fate of the world in his hand.
"Target: small-scale cleanup. Location: the city's dark corners. Operation name… uhh… still working on it, but it'll sound cool later."
Neera simply stared at him, unsure whether this was serious… or just pure delusion.
But to Kazuki, this was all part of the grand design.
"One small step for man… one giant leap for Nocturne Eclipse."
And that night, the world would remain unaware… that two figures would slip into the darkness—not as heroes, not as villains… but as something that defies logic itself.
And with that, the chapter ends.