The academy's shopping district was far more crowded than usual today due to the upcoming New Year celebration. Rather than thinning out, the crowd only grew denser as time passed.
Some people shopped alone.
Some laughed with friends.
Others,clearly couples,walked side by side, browsing together for the festival.
The atmosphere carried a faint romantic air.
Lovebirds could be seen everywhere, enjoying their dates, while others lingered anxiously, waiting for their partners to arrive.
Near the shopping district lay a small artificial pond, which had become a popular meeting spot for couples. Compared to the main area, it was slightly quieter,though still lively.
Among those waiting was a young man with black hair and black eyes.
He sat calmly on a stone bench near the pond, his expression as unreadable as ever.
Rio Flash was waiting for someone.
The scenery was peaceful,almost unreal.
If this were Earth, such tranquility might have lasted for hours. But this world was chaotic by nature, a place where powerful individuals walked openly among the masses.
Still, setting those thoughts aside, the day itself was perfect.
A clear blue sky.
Warm sunlight.
A gentle breeze rustling the leaves now and then.
It was the kind of weather made for dates.
Suddenly, a luxury car arrived at the entrance of the district, followed closely by several black vehicles.
Someone important had arrived.
That alone didn't cause much stir,during this season, influential figures frequently visited the academy. Still, when the cars came to a halt, a group of bodyguards in black suits rushed out, swiftly clearing the area.
One of them opened the luxury car's door.
A breathtakingly beautiful girl stepped out.
Dressed elegantly, she walked toward the artificial pond,toward a specific bench.
Her extravagant entrance immediately caused a commotion.
At her silent signal, the guards efficiently cleared her path, bowed respectfully, and withdrew without delay. Watching them leave, the girl wore a satisfied expression as she approached the boy seated by the pond.
Rio glanced at her and spoke calmly.
"Such an extravagant entrance… are you trying to make me the target of everyone's envy?"
A faint blush appeared on the girl's face.
She glared fiercely at the idiot before her,but that only made her look cuter. Several nearby men were already losing their minds.
She sat down beside him, still glaring.
"Hmph! Who cares? I just wanted to get here faster, so I took the car. That's all."
(Lia)
"Well, anyway," Rio replied casually, "you look good today."
The grin on his face made Lia's fingers twitch.
She really wanted to punch him.
Instead, she settled for a murderous glare,which, unsurprisingly, had no effect. Whether due to his thick skin or complete shamelessness, Rio remained unfazed.
As they talked, envious stares gathered from all directions. Some whispered insults. Others simply glared.
Rio ignored them all.
He'd known from the moment Lia arrived that this was inevitable.
After some light conversation, the two stood up and headed toward the shopping district.
Suddenly, a young man stepped forward.
His eyes were glued to Lia, drool nearly dripping from his mouth,his intentions painfully obvious.
Rio stopped.
An uncontrollable anger surged from deep within him.
He locked eyes with the man and released just a sliver of his aura.
Instantly, the young man's lecherous expression vanished, replaced by pure terror. His legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground, drenched in sweat.
Rio merely shook his head and walked past him as if nothing had happened, following Lia naturally.
Without realizing it, he had become extremely protective of her.
Perhaps it was the result of living two lives alone.
Or perhaps… something else.
Something he hadn't yet recognized.
Once Rio and Lia left the area, silence lingered briefly,before erupting into chaos.
"Who was she?! She's gorgeous!"
"Maybe she's a student?"
"Idiot. That's Lia,the daughter of an S-ranker. I saw her on TV with her father."
"No way!"
"They say she has S-rank potential herself."
"Then who was that guy with her?"
"No clue. Never seen him before."
No one knew much about the boy accompanying Lia.
Rumors spread rapidly.
This was the first time Lia had appeared publicly,before this, she'd only been seen on television.
Even the guards monitoring the situation were confused. They'd assumed Lia came merely to shop or take a walk. Seeing her with an unknown boy threw them into disarray.
Photos were taken immediately.
One was sent directly to Lia's father, along with a request for instructions.
Without realizing it, Rio had triggered something massive.
Unaware of the storm gathering behind them, the two continued walking. Lia blushed under the attention, while Rio remained as indifferent as ever.
What Lia didn't notice was that several young men had already collapsed along the way,victims of a certain dangerous aura.
They had become the center of conversation.
Yet neither slowed their pace.
Somewhere Near an S-Rank Dungeon
A burly man stood before a glowing dungeon portal, calmly lighting a cigar.
The dense mana pouring from the dungeon didn't faze him in the slightest.
A massive broadsword rested on his back, and light armor covered his muscular frame. He appeared to be in his forties, with a rugged, barbaric look. A large scar ran across his face, making him even more intimidating.
A butler rushed toward him and bowed deeply.
"Master."
The man frowned. "Why are you so out of breath?"
"Master, please look at this photo. It was taken a few hours ago."
The man glanced at it, puzzled at first,
Then his eyes widened.
"Is this… real?"
"Yes, Master."
The photo showed a boy and a girl walking together.
They looked like a perfect couple.
But what stunned him most wasn't that.
The girl was smiling.
Lia… was smiling.
As if sensing his thoughts, the butler spoke softly.
"Young Lady appears quite happy."
"…"
The man slipped the photo into his pocket and stared toward the horizon.
Old memories surfaced,painful ones,but he suppressed them.
After his wife's death, he and his daughter had grown distant. Once, she'd smiled freely every day. After that tragedy, her smile vanished.
Seeing her smile again filled him with relief.
But as a father…
He had to be certain she wasn't being deceived.
"Did you investigate the boy?" he asked.
"Yes. He's an orphan and ranked within the academy's top hundred."
"Top hundred…" The man narrowed his eyes. "That means A-rank potential at minimum. Anything else?"
"His past is… bleak. He's a survivor of the Drift City Massacre."
The man stiffened.
That name dragged memories from the depths of his mind,memories he despised.
He shook his head violently, forcing them down.
"That period…" he muttered. "My wife died around then too."
The butler continued carefully.
"He also saved Young Lady's life during an S-rank dungeon incident. They likely grew close afterward."
The man turned sharply.
"She was in danger? And I wasn't informed?"
"She was rescued safely, s-so,"
The man exhaled slowly.
"…What's his name?"
"Rio. Rio Flash."
The man froze.
"…What did you say?"
"R-Rio Flash, Master."
The burly man stared blankly into the distance.
"That surname…" he murmured.
A name escaped his lips unconsciously.
"Kevin Flash… the Soul Splitter…"