Chapter 12

Livia was feeling somewhat frustrated.

She had returned home alone, driven by her desire to watch a particular TV program. However, leaving her beloved (even though they were technically just an “other person”) behind during their date felt like a waste.

With time still left until the TV show aired, she busied herself with preparing dinner and setting the table. But then…

Crash!

Her hand slipped, and she accidentally broke a plate.

“Ugh,” she sighed.

“Guess I’ll have to buy a new one…”

With that thought, Livia cleaned up the broken plate and opened the refrigerator.

As expected, she realized she had forgotten to buy milk.

“Oops, no milk,” she murmured, shoulders slumping in disappointment.

“Guess I need to go shopping.”

◆

The supermarket was crowded.

Still, spending time shopping with her son, Kevin, was a rare and precious moment for Fleur. Despite the inconvenience, she felt surprisingly calm.

Kevin, on the other hand, looked thoroughly bored as he reluctantly accompanied her. Apparently, there was a TV special about his favorite exotic animals airing today, and he wanted to get home quickly.

Being at the supermarket wasn’t his idea of fun either.

“Let’s go, Mom,” Kevin said, half-dragging Fleur out of the store, carrying half the groceries.

She smiled and followed him.

…Tomorrow would be another busy day, but having her son by her side made Fleur feel like she could handle it.

.

.

.

“It’s Fleur Knight, isn’t it?”

Was the absence of people in that place truly a coincidence?

A slender man stood before them.

There was clearly intention behind his appearance, and the fact that there was nobody else around was likely not by chance.

“Mom…”

Sensing the unsettling atmosphere, Fleur placed a hand on her son’s shoulder and addressed the man in front of her.

“Who are you?”

“Let me be blunt. Your power is needed — you’re the last knight.”

”…”

“This city operates on the premise that something must be sacrificed, hidden behind the neon glow. There are comrades here who fight together.”

”You know this, don’t you?’

The man continued.

“Even now, someone is being sacrificed, serving as the source of light. Do you not think this reality is wrong?”

She had a premonition.

Fleur could feel it.

The beginning of a story. Perhaps this was the beginning of everything, or maybe it was the end.

So…

“Pervert alert!!!”

With all her might, she shouted from her gut.

“Indecent exposure freak!!!”

“No, no, I’m properly— darn it.”

Footsteps approached.

Sensing it, the man who seemed to notice hastily turned and bolted.

A lone girl ran toward them.

“Are you okay?!”

“Y-yeah, there was a suspicious person. But they ran off that way.”

“…Got it, I’ll contact the police just in case, okay?”

The girl took out her phone and began making a call.

“Mom?”

With a worried expression, her son looked up at Fleur, and she gently stroked his head.

“It’s alright, Kevin.”

Even if the world is calling for heroes…

…I won’t let you be a hero’s sacrifice.

◆

Finally allowed to leave the scene after explaining to the police, Livia muttered to herself.

“About that thing earlier, the sacred sword… well, does it really matter?”

She sighed, looking up at the sky.

Not a single cloud in sight in the starry sky, yet her heart remained heavy.

“It’s already night…”