Morning sunlight spilled through the thin paper windows of the Golden Bloom Inn, painting warm lines across the tatami floor.
The faint sound of bells echoed from outside — the city of Kin no Yama had already come alive.
Haruki groaned, rolling out of bed like a lazy cat.
"Ugh… sunlight. Why must you hurt my eyes and my soul?"
He squinted, dragging himself toward the window.
The streets below shimmered with gold, merchants shouting cheerfully, kids chasing each other past glowing fruit stalls.
For a brief second, Haruki forgot he was on a mission in another world.
Then the door slid open.
Riiki stood there, holding two cups of tea."Morning, sleepy corpse."
Haruki blinked. "Wow. Tea from you? What's the occasion? Did you hit your head?"
Riiki placed one cup on the table. "No. I just didn't want you whining about dying of thirst."
Haruki grinned. "Aww, you do care."
"I don't," Riiki replied flatly. "I just hate noise."
Before Haruki could answer, a knock came from the hall.
"Come in!" Haruki said.
The door slid open again — this time, Yuzuki stepped in, her silver hair tied neatly, a calm but worried look on her face.
"Good morning," she greeted softly. "The city leader has agreed to meet you. He wants to explain what's been happening near the mines."
Furuha's voice came from the next room. "Finally. I was getting bored." She emerged, already wearing her uniform, eyes sharp as ever. "Let's move."
"Hold on, no breakfast?!" Haruki protested.
"You can eat later," Furuha said coldly, already walking past him.
Haruki sighed dramatically. "Every day with her feels like signing up for pain."
Riiki smirked. "Then stop volunteering."
They stepped outside, the warm morning air brushing against their faces. The streets were busier than before — merchants calling out prices, guards patrolling, golden banners fluttering in the wind.
But beneath the bustle, there was something else… a faint unease.
Misora noticed it too. "People are smiling, but their eyes… they look scared."
Yuzuki nodded. "They've been uneasy for weeks now. The glow from the mountain keeps fading faster every night. And the closer you get to the mines… the colder it feels."
Haruki tilted his head. "Colder? Like… spooky ghost cold?"
"Something like that," Yuzuki murmured. "Even light doesn't feel right down there."
As they walked, they passed a line of guards — each one armed with crystal-laced spears, their armor reflecting the sunlight like mirrors. At the end of the path stood a massive structure:
Kin no Hall, the city's council building.
Two golden doors opened before them, and an elderly man in white robes greeted the group with a bow.
His eyes were sharp, his posture strong despite his age.
"Welcome, heroes of Hiloxy," he said. "I am Lord Tenrai, steward of Kin no Yama."
Kyosuke stepped forward politely. "We're honored to meet you, Lord Tenrai."
Tenrai smiled faintly, though fatigue shadowed his face. "No need for formalities. I'm just grateful someone came to help."
He gestured toward the holographic model hovering over his table — a golden mountain glowing faintly, veins of light running through it like living rivers. But near the base, the light dimmed… pulsing weakly.
"This is the heart of Kin no Yama," Tenrai said. "The Golden Vein — a natural source of energy that powers our entire city. But something is eating it from within."
The room grew quiet.
Riiki crossed his arms. "Eating? Like corrosion?"
Tenrai nodded slowly. "Perhaps. The miners who went below said they saw shadows moving in the tunnels. Then their voices started changing — echoing even after they spoke. Some went mad… others vanished."
Haruki swallowed. "Oh yeah, totally fine, nothing horrifying about echoing voices and vanishing miners…"
Yuzuki lowered her gaze. "My brother was one of the last to go in."
Everyone went silent.
Misora stepped forward gently. "I'm… so sorry."
Yuzuki shook her head, forcing a small smile. "That's why I asked for help. I need to know what happened to him."
Furuha clenched her fists. "Then we start from the source. The mine."
Tenrai nodded. "Be cautious. The lower levels are unstable. We closed them weeks ago, but something down there… still moves."
The golden veins on the hologram flickered again — faintly forming shapes in the dark areas near the base.
For a split second… one looked like a face.
Haruki leaned closer, eyes narrowing. "Did anyone else see that?"
Riiki frowned. "See what?"
"The hologram. I swear it just blinked at me."
"Haruki," Riiki said, expression blank. "Holograms don't blink."
"...Then who the hell just winked at me!?"
Everyone turned. The hologram's glow rippled — then went back to normal.
A faint whisper brushed the air.
Barely audible.
Almost like someone—or something—had laughed.
The faint laugh faded, leaving only the hum of the hologram.
For a few seconds, nobody moved.
Then Kyosuke stepped forward, his tone sharp.
"Enough staring. Let's move. If something's alive down there, I'll kill it before it blinks again."
Furuha smirked faintly. "Careful. You said that last time, and the monster bit your sword."
Kyosuke shot her a glare. "That was a warm-up."
Desmond cracked his knuckles. "Alright, bossy duo, calm down before you destroy the furniture."
Lord Tenrai raised a hand, silencing the bickering. "The mine's upper tunnels are still stable. I'll send my best guard to guide you there."
He gestured toward the doorway, and a tall woman in golden armor entered — her eyes cold but steady.
"This is Captain Renya," Tenrai said. "She'll lead you to the entrance."
Renya bowed slightly. "I'll make sure you don't die before finding the problem."
Haruki blinked. "Wow, confidence booster of the year."
Riiki muttered, "She's my kind of person."
"Figures," Haruki shot back.
Renya turned without a word, motioning for them to follow. "Let's move. The mountain doesn't wait."
They walked through the winding streets toward the city's outer rim. The closer they got to the mountain, the fewer people they saw. Stalls were empty, windows closed. Even the golden light that once glowed so warmly now seemed dim and cold.
Nanako hugged her arms. "It feels like the air's… dying."
Megumi, who had been scanning her device, frowned. "Energy readings are dropping the closer we go. Something's interfering with the crystal flow."
"Like what?" Dylan asked, pushing up his glasses. "Magnetic disturbance?"
"Or magic," Megumi replied softly. "Maybe both."
Haruki tilted his head. "So basically, science and curses had a baby, and now it's eating mountains."
Desmond laughed. "Best explanation yet."
Misora chuckled softly but said nothing, her gaze distant — watching the shadows flicker between the golden lamps.
Yuzuki walked silently at the front beside Renya. Her voice was low when she finally spoke.
"When I was small, my brother used to bring me glowing stones from the lower tunnels. He said they sang when you held them close."
She smiled faintly, then it faded. "But now, all I hear from there… are screams."
Haruki's grin faltered. "…We'll find him, Yuzuki. Promise."
Furuha glanced sideways, unimpressed but not cruel. "Don't make promises you can't keep."
Haruki met her eyes, serious for once. "Then I'll make sure I can keep it."
She blinked — just slightly surprised — before looking away with a quiet "hmph."
They reached the mine entrance before noon.
A massive steel gate stood embedded into the golden mountainside. Two guards stood at attention, their spears tipped with faintly glowing crystals.
Renya placed her hand against the scanner, and the gates opened with a deep metallic rumble.
A cold breath of air rushed out — sharp, heavy, and unnatural.
Haruki shivered. "Yup. Definitely haunted."
Riiki elbowed him. "You scared?"
"Of course not," Haruki replied, his voice one octave higher than usual. "I'm just… emotionally cautious."
Kyosuke sighed and walked in first. "Move."
The group followed, their footsteps echoing off the smooth walls. The tunnels glowed faintly from veins of golden crystal embedded in the rock — pulsing like slow heartbeats.
At first, everything was silent.
Then, a faint echo drifted from deeper within the mine.
"…help… me…"
Everyone froze.
Misora turned quickly. "Did you hear that?"
Desmond frowned. "Sounded like someone calling for help."
Yuzuki's face went pale. "That voice…"
Haruki's heart pounded. "Don't tell me—"
Renya raised her hand, cutting him off. "Stay alert. Sound travels strangely down here."
The voice came again — clearer this time, trembling.
"…Yuzuki…"
She froze.
"That's him," she whispered. "That's my brother!"
Before anyone could stop her, she started running down the tunnel.
"Yuzuki, wait!" Furuha shouted, chasing after her.
"Damn it—" Riiki cursed, following too.
The rest sprinted after them, their boots slamming against the ground. The golden glow around them flickered, growing dimmer with every step.
Finally, they reached a wide cavern — huge, filled with broken mining carts and shattered crystal shards.
And in the center, kneeling on the ground, was a man.
He wore a torn miner's coat, his hands covered in dust and gold.
His face was hidden by shadow.
"Brother!" Yuzuki cried, running forward.
"Wait!" Furuha yelled — but too late.
The man lifted his head slowly.
His eyes glowed white.
And his voice came out warped, layered with dozens of whispers.
"…Yuzuki… stay…"
Then his shadow moved on its own.
It rose from the ground — stretching tall, twisting — until it no longer looked human.
Nanako gasped. "That's—!"
Haruki stepped back, eyes wide. "Oh no no no no—shadows are not supposed to have arms!"
Riiki grabbed his wrist. "Move!"
The shadow lunged forward — its shape snapping into claws of black light.
The room erupted into chaos.
Kyosuke drew his sword instantly, his aura flaring blue. "Everyone, form up!"
Desmond and Dylan flanked him, while Misora pulled Yuzuki back to safety.
Megumi's gloves lit up as she activated her device, scanning the monster. "It's not physical—energy form, mixed with corrupted crystal resonance!"
"Translation, please!" Haruki shouted, ducking another swipe.
"Translation: you can't hit it with a stick!" Megumi snapped.
Haruki held his head. "Then what do we hit it with—?!"
Before he could finish, the shadow twisted again — this time splitting into two identical forms.
"Great," Riiki muttered. "Now it multiplies."
Furuha's eyes flashed. "Then we destroy both!"
Her twin blades ignited in silver flame as she dashed forward, cutting through the first shadow. It screamed, bursting into a cloud of black dust.
But the second one grabbed her leg, pulling her down.
"Furuha!" Haruki yelled, running toward her.
She slashed upward just in time — cutting its arm — but black liquid splattered across her hand, burning through the glove.
Furuha hissed in pain. "Damn it—!"
Kyosuke leapt in, his strike slicing through the second shadow cleanly. "You're reckless as always."
"Shut up," Furuha growled, clutching her hand.
The room fell silent again, the shadows fading into smoke.
Only Yuzuki's trembling voice broke it. "That… thing… it had my brother's voice…"
Haruki stepped forward slowly. "Then maybe it wasn't your brother. Or maybe it was… what's left of him."
The golden crystals around them pulsed faintly — like breathing.
Misora whispered, "Something deeper in the mine is creating these… echoes."
Yoruto's warning echoed in Haruki's head from days ago:"The Soul Ghost manipulates voices, shapes, even shadows."
Haruki's stomach dropped.
"…No way…"
Riiki looked at him. "What?"
Haruki swallowed hard. "If Yoruto's right… this isn't a random monster. It's one of the Harbiloy."
Everyone turned toward him.
Misora's eyes widened. "You mean—"
Haruki nodded slowly, his voice trembling.
"…The Soul Ghost."
The air hung heavy with silence. The faint shimmer from the crystals dimmed until only the flickering light from Megumi's scanner painted their faces.
Dust drifted through the cavern.
No one spoke.
Finally, Furuha broke the stillness. Her voice was low, steady, but laced with pain.
"Haruki… what did you just say?"
Haruki swallowed, his throat dry. "Yoruto mentioned a demon that can copy voices. The Soul Ghost. It… tricks people by using the ones they love."
Yuzuki's breath caught. Her fingers trembled as she stared at the spot where her brother's shadow had vanished.
"That voice—it sounded exactly like him. Even his laugh…"
She gripped her sleeve tightly. "If that thing can use their voices… then maybe…"
Her voice cracked. "Maybe he really is gone."
Misora stepped closer, her tone gentle. "We can't be sure yet. Shadows like that—sometimes they copy what's near them. Don't lose hope too soon."
Kyosuke exhaled sharply. "Hope won't save anyone if we don't act. We need to find the source and kill it."
Desmond cracked his neck. "Finally, something I can agree on."
Nanako frowned. "Wait, are we really going deeper? It's too dangerous—"
Kyosuke turned to her coldly. "We're not here for sightseeing."
"Hey!" Haruki snapped. "She's right. We just got attacked by a ghost that used someone's voice. You think charging in blind will fix it?"
Kyosuke's eyes narrowed. "You suggesting we run?"
"No," Haruki said, his voice firmer than usual. "I'm suggesting we don't die like idiots."
The tension between them flared, electricity crackling in the air.
Before it could explode, Riiki stepped between them. "Both of you, shut up. We need information first."
Dylan nodded. "Riiki's right. If this really is the Soul Ghost, then we're dealing with psychological warfare. Fighting head-on won't work."
Megumi typed furiously on her device, scanning the remnants of the black smoke. "There's residue energy here—see? It's similar to the dark crystal samples Yoruto showed me once. Pure corruption, parasitic in nature."
"So," Desmond said, "it spreads."
"Exactly," Megumi confirmed. "And if the Golden Vein's losing power, this corruption might be draining it directly."
Haruki frowned. "Then that means the Soul Ghost isn't just haunting people… it's feeding."
Everyone went silent again.
Yuzuki closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath. "Then if we stop it… the Golden Mountain might shine again."
Furuha nodded slowly. "Then we'll stop it."
Misora smiled faintly. "You sound so sure."
"I am sure," Furuha replied coldly. "Because I don't plan to lose to a shadow."
Kyosuke smirked faintly. "Hmph. Good. Then don't slow me down."
Haruki groaned. "You two really need to chill with the rivalry. One day you'll both stab the same monster just to see who does it better."
"Maybe," Furuha said without hesitation.
"That's not comforting!" Haruki shouted.
Riiki sighed. "Focus, please."
Renya, who had been standing near the tunnel entrance the entire time, finally spoke. Her calm voice echoed through the cavern.
"The deeper levels are below this point. But the gates there were sealed by Lord Tenrai himself."
"Why?" Dylan asked.
Renya's eyes flicked to the dark tunnel ahead. "Because anyone who entered… never came back."
Nanako shivered. "Then… how do we even get in?"
Megumi tapped her device again. "I can override the barrier. But it'll take time."
"Do it," Kyosuke ordered.
Megumi raised an eyebrow. "You giving me orders now?"
"Someone has to," Kyosuke replied flatly.
Before she could retort, her device beeped. A golden rune appeared on the wall — faint, ancient, glowing with residual energy.
"That's the seal," Megumi said. "It's tied directly to the city's power core. Once I break it, the energy will flow again—temporarily."
Haruki squinted at the rune. "Wait, so we open it… and what, wake up whatever nightmare's inside?"
Riiki shrugged. "That's the mission."
Haruki sighed. "Why does every mission sound like a suicide note?"
Misora chuckled softly. "Because you're always in it."
Furuha smirked. "Accurate."
Haruki pointed at both of them. "Et tu, Misora?!"
Kyosuke stepped forward, resting his hand on the hilt of his sword. "Enough jokes. Megumi — open it."
The device hummed. Lines of golden light spread across the stone like veins awakening after centuries. The air trembled, and a low hum filled the chamber.
The gate ahead shimmered — then cracked open with a thunderous groan.
A wave of cold air burst out, blowing out the torches. The crystals flickered, dimming one by one.
A deep whisper slithered through the dark.
> "Welcome… Hiloxy…"
Everyone froze.
Haruki's eyes widened. "Oh, no. It knows who we are."
Yuzuki's voice trembled. "That… wasn't my brother."
"No," Riiki said quietly. "It wasn't."
The darkness rippled deeper in the tunnel — like something breathing.
Kyosuke drew his blade, its glow cutting a thin line of light through the black. "Ready yourselves."
Haruki sighed shakily, pulling up his gloves. "Right. No pressure. Just fighting an invisible demon that talks. Totally fine."
Misora stepped beside him, her voice calm. "Then stay close. If it tricks your senses, I'll pull you back."
Haruki blinked. "…Thanks."
She smiled. "Try not to run off this time."
As the group stepped past the cracked gate, the last shimmer of gold light flickered out behind them — leaving only cold, silver darkness.
From deep below, faint echoes began to rise — laughter, whispers, and the sound of something dragging across stone.
The descent had begun.
The shadow surged forward, its tendrils writhing like living darkness. Voices of the lost miners — some crying, some laughing — echoed through the cavern, pressing against their minds.
Haruki swung his gloves wildly. "Alright… invisible monster arms… let's see what you've got—"
"Focus!" Kyosuke shouted, cutting through a black tendril. It hissed and dissolved into mist.
Furuha's twin blades sliced through the shadows, silver flames tracing arcs of light in the darkness. "Don't let it surround you!"
Riiki darted past, daggers flashing, but every strike passed through empty air. Haruki frowned. His gloves tingled faintly — the pulse from his birthmark flaring stronger. The air around him shimmered for a second, and the shadow hesitated… then vanished.
"Wait… it just… disappeared? Why?"
"Where—where is it?!" Kyosuke yelled,
"Gone?" Misora murmured, her eyes scanning the cavern. "It should still be here, feeding… but…"
The group froze. The whispers had stopped. The tendrils had vanished. Only the dim golden glow of the crystals remained, flickering uncertainly.
"Wait… it just… disappeared? Why?"Said Haruki.
Riiki's expression was unreadable. "Maybe it's scared?"
Haruki blinked. "No… it didn't act scared. It just… left. I don't know why."
The silence pressed down on them. Even the golden crystals seemed hesitant, their light wavering.
Furuha clenched her fists, scanning the empty space where the shadow had been. "Then it's planning something. Leaving without reason… doesn't mean it's gone."
Yuzuki's voice was low, almost a whisper. "And next time… it might not leave so easily."
Haruki rubbed the back of his neck, uneasy. "Great… a monster that vanishes for no reason at all. Super reassuring."
Riiki smirked. "I like it. Means we've got no idea what we're dealing with. Fun."
Kyosuke sheathed his sword, his expression unreadable. "Good. Let it think it's in control. Things like that always slip when they start feeling confident."
Misora glanced at Haruki, her tone gentle. "Whatever it sensed… we'll need to be ready for it. Even if we don't know why it left."
Haruki nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah… guess this is one of those 'figure it out as you go' situations."
The cavern remained silent. Somewhere deep in the darkness, the Soul Ghost had gone — but the sense of its presence lingered, cold and unyielding.
And Haruki couldn't shake the feeling that it would return, and that the next time, he might not be ready. Haruki's gloves tingled faintly. Beneath his sleeve, his birthmark pulsed — hot, alive — for just a second, and his vision blurred. Whatever that thing was… it had noticed him.
Kyosuke said"lets go, Soul Ghost were already leave."The group left the mine as the sunlight dipped low, painting the mountains in shades of gold and crimson.
No one spoke. Not even Haruki — which was rare enough to make everyone uncomfortable.
The gates closed behind them with a heavy clang, sealing the darkness once more.
Renya wiped the dust from her armor. "We'll report to Lord Tenrai immediately."
Kyosuke nodded. "He needs to know what's down there."
Yuzuki walked silently beside Haruki, her eyes distant. He glanced at her, unsure what to say.
"…You okay?" he asked quietly.
She gave a small, forced smile. "He's really gone, isn't he?"
Haruki looked down. "Maybe not completely. But that… thing wasn't him anymore."
She nodded weakly. "I know."
They reached the city as the evening bells rang.
Merchants were closing stalls, and the golden glow of the mountain had dimmed to a faint, trembling light — like a heartbeat fading.
Lord Tenrai's Hall
Lord Tenrai stood near the hologram of the mountain again — but this time, the light at its core was almost gone.
When the group entered, he turned sharply, eyes narrowing at the sight of their worn faces.
"You've seen it," he said quietly.
Kyosuke nodded. "The corruption is real. It's spreading. And it's alive."
Tenrai's hand tightened on his staff. "Then it's as I feared…"
Megumi placed her device on the table, projecting the data she'd recorded. "We identified a form of dark resonance. Similar to the Harbiloy reports — a being called the Soul Ghost. It consumes energy… and memories."
Desmond crossed his arms. "And it knows who we are. It called our names."
Tenrai's expression darkened. "Then it has already marked you."
Haruki blinked. "Marked—wait, what does that even mean? Like cursed-marked or… friendship-marked?"
Riiki deadpanned. "Definitely not friendship."
Tenrai noticed the faint glow beneath Haruki's sleeve. "That mark on your arm…"
Haruki froze. "...You can see it?"
Tenrai's tone turned grim. "That's no ordinary mark. It reacts to the Soul Ghost's presence."
He stepped closer, eyes narrowing. "Tell me, boy… where did you get that?"
Haruki hesitated. The others turned to him — tension thick.
"I… It's been there since I was born."
Renya's eyes sharpened. "Then maybe you are the reason the Soul Ghost woke up too."
Everyone went silent.
Haruki's stomach twisted. "...You're kidding, right?"
No one answered. But Furuha, "No way. I've got a birthmark since I was born too — and so do Kyosuke and Misora. So why does only his react? That doesn't make sense."
Furuha crossed her arms. "Our birthmarks are all the same color. Maybe the powers behind them differ, but the marks themselves—identical."
She turned to the others, voice firm. "If you don't believe me, let's show him. Haruki, Kyosuke, Misora — come on."
Haruki sighed. "Alright."
They all raised their sleeves, revealing the same crescent-shaped birthmarks glowing faintly beneath the hall's dim light.
Renya studied them quietly. "They're identical… So the Soul Ghost's reaction can't be because of the marks. That means…"
Her voice trailed off.
Haruki ran a hand through his hair. "Forget that thing for now. Let's focus on the Golden Vein. The Soul Ghost already drained it — the energy's fading fast. Whether we let it go or chase it, the result's the same: the Vein's dying."
Megumi's eyes narrowed as she glanced at her scanner. "Once the Vein's absorbed, it can't be restored easily. The Soul Ghost never appears directly. What we fought in the mine — that was just a shadow it controlled."
Furuha clenched her fists. "Then we find another way. We can't abandon the mission."
Renya nodded. "Agreed. We'll make a new plan — track down the real Soul Ghost."
Kyosuke frowned. "That's easier said than done. It hides within its own domain — its city. That's what the old records said."
Haruki looked up sharply. "Yoruto once mentioned it to me, something… about Fatuxy. The Soul Ghost ranks fifth among them, right? No wonder it's hard to catch. It manipulates humans like puppets even voices and shadow."
Misora exhaled slowly. "Then we'll need another approach."
Desmond crossed his arms, expression grim. "Fatuxy creatures are all mysterious. Especially the higher ranks — from third to first. Those ones are beyond comprehension."
Haruki frowned. "How do you even know that?"
Xavier gave him a look. "You kidding? We barely survived the shadow fight. Imagine facing a Rank 3 Fatuxy from Harbiloy — we wouldn't even stand a chance."
The room fell silent again, the only sound the faint hum of the dying hologram of the Golden Vein.
Each of them understood what that silence meant — the real war hadn't even started yet.
Furuha exhaled softly, brushing some dust off her shoulder. "Alright, let's just take a break for now."
Lord Tenrai gave a calm nod. "Very well. You all may leave. Come back anytime if you need anything. Renya, take them to the exit."
Renya bowed slightly. "Understood."
Haruki stretched his sore arm, sighing. "Seriously? That fight with the shadow was insane…"
Riiki crossed her arms. "Don't speak too soon. If you had fought the real Soul Ghost, you'd be gasping for air by now."
They stepped out of the dimly lit hall, the faint sound of the wind brushing past them as the heavy door closed behind.
Renya turned to them with a small smile. "Alright, you can all go rest now. Thanks for helping us out."
Haruki waved dismissively. "Yeah, no need to thank us. We just didn't wanna die down there."
Furuha smiled faintly, her tone softening. "Let's go then. Yuzuki—" she stopped mid-sentence, realizing Yuzuki hadn't followed. "...Yuzuki?"
Yuzuki blinked out of her daze. "Uh—ah, yeah. Coming."
Misora stepped closer, concern flickering in her eyes. "You okay? You've been quiet since earlier."
Yuzuki hesitated, eyes dropping to the ground.
Misora gently nudged her shoulder. "Hey, don't worry. We'll help you get your brother back. We're heroes, remember? Just leave it to us."
Nanako grinned. "Yeah, we've got your back."
Yuzuki smiled faintly — a fragile but genuine smile. "I believe you all. Thank you." She took a deep breath. "Alright, let's go home and rest. I'm sure everyone's starving by now."
Haruki's stomach growled right on cue. "Oh, yeah. I haven't eaten since—"
Furuha shot him a sharp glare.
Haruki froze, then gave a nervous laugh. "I-I mean, I skipped breakfast on purpose! Totally not because I overslept, hehe…"