Author: TA☆KA	Original Source: Kakuyomu / Syosetu
Translator: Jiro	English Source: Re:Library

Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

With a thunderous roar, the temple’s altar was destroyed, and the head of the temple was blown away, buried beneath the rubble. Many children had been sacrificed before his eyes, and the soldiers who were supposed to act as bodyguards were mercilessly beaten to death as they tried to stop the carnage. He and Lavi, enraged, had also risen to fight back, but they were easily overpowered.

“You b̲a̲s̲t̲a̲r̲d̲! Let go of me! Let go of me, damn it!!!”
“You’re so damn noisy! Your turn will come too, so wait patiently!”

Ryder’s restrained head was shoved further into the ground, his teeth sinking into the sand.

“Damn it! Lavi! Lavi!!!”
“What? Do you like this child that much? Then watch closely. I’ll be done soon enough.”

A heavy boot pressed down on Ryder’s back. Unable to move, he was yanked up by his hair, and forced to lift his head. A gurgling sound escaped from his throat. As he was made to look up, his gaze fell upon Lavinia Cloud.

Lavinia was laid flat so that she seemed to be floating in mid-air. However, a slender arm had slipped around her waist, holding her aloft with ease. Lavinia’s body remained motionless as if restrained by an invisible force.

Droplets of blood trickled onto the floor, forming a small pool. Her right arm was twisted unnaturally, hanging limp and lifeless. Blood streamed down her arm in multiple streaks, as if the bone had broken through the skin.

Despite such a grave injury, the light in her eyes had not dimmed. She fixed a powerful gaze on Ryder, unwavering in her resolve.

“Lavi! Damn it! Lavi! Lavi!!!”
“Ryder…”
“Lavi! Damn it all! I’ll be right there! Wait for me, Lavi! S̲h̲i̲t̲! Let go! Let go of me, damn you! Lavi! GOD DAMN IT!!!”

The boot pressing down on Ryder’s back pushed him harder into the floor.

“Haha! Are you stupid? There’s no way you can save her! Make sure to watch closely!”
“D-Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!”

Tears welled up in Ryder’s eyes, distorting his vision. He clenched his teeth and pressed his face against the floor, frustration spilling out in silent sobs.

“Lavi! No…”
“Ryder…!”

Lavinia’s voice, still strong and warm, called out to Ryder. Her encouraging voice reached him, stirring something inside him. Startled, Ryder looked over at her.

“Ryder… Please… Please don’t give up! Please save everyone! I know you can do it! I’m sure of it! I believe in you! Please! Ryder! Ah! Aaaaaaahhhh!!!”

The ringleader of the massacre sank his fangs into Lavinia’s throat. Her voice, strained and trembling, echoed through the temple. Eventually, all sound left her, and her skin paled to a waxen white, drained of blood.

With a dull thud, Lavinia’s lifeless body was discarded onto the floor. The one who had bitten into her turned something in his mouth for a moment before revealing a small, exquisite red sphere, no larger than a pinky finger, resting on the tip of his blood-stained tongue. He picked it up delicately with his fingertips, holding it up to the light as if peering into its depths. The sphere shimmered like a flawless ruby.

“Magnificent…! I’ve never seen such a beautiful Heavenly Pearl! Such purity, such clarity… and the Mana, so rich and refined… perfect! I’ve never seen anything like it! I can’t believe my luck! This village is the best! Hahaha! Hahahaha!”

The one speaking was Orbet Mash. A True Vampire. One who devoured children to harvest Heavenly Pearls. And the mastermind behind this tragedy.

The Heavenly Pearl was a crystallized mass of Mana and life force, sealing and solidifying the astral body and Manas, containing the very radiance of a person’s soul.

Orbet, exhilarated, continued to praise the finest specimen he had ever acquired.

“Congratulations, Master Orbet.”
“Thank you, Lawrence. Today is the best day ever!”

While Lawrence was congratulating Orbet, beneath his feet, Ryder clawed at the ground in a frenzy.

“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!! Lavi, Lavi, Lavi, Lavi! Damn it, damn it, damn it!!! You, you, you, you, you! I won’t forgive you! I’ll never forgive you!!! I’ll kill you! I’ll murder you! I’ll slaughter you! I’ll destroy you! Damn it! God damn it! Lavi! Lavi, Lavi!!!”

Orbet beamed as he gazed down at Ryder, who writhed on the floor, struggling to rise.

“Oh? This one’s boiling over nicely, too! Excellent! I can’t wait to see what comes from him! This is turning out to be a fantastic day.”

Ryder glared at Orbet, trembling with rage, his vision blurred by fury. His head felt as if it were burning red-hot with anger. But before he could move, a blinding white light erupted from the wall behind Orbet, shattering it in an instant.

The next time he regained consciousness, nearly a week had passed since the tragedy. Lavinia was gone.

Ryder sobbed uncontrollably before her gravestone. Her final words echoed in his mind, refusing to fade. The memory of that constantly ate away at him.

“What is it, Lawrence? Is he a friend of yours?”
“Beats me. It probably has to do with something that happened before. I don’t bother to remember everything. I don’t know.”
“That’s true. It would’ve been more unusual if you actually remembered.”

The silver-clad butlers carried on their conversation in a languid manner. Ryder watched this, his brow furrowing. His teeth clenched so tightly that it felt as if the onlookers could hear them grinding.

“Ryder… Is he, is he the one who…”

Just as Howard was about to question Ryder, the sharp ringing of bells echoed through the village. It wasn’t the deep, ominous toll of the station’s alarm bells, but a clear and resonant chime. Yet, despite its pure tone, the bell was struck over and over with such force and urgency that it carried an unmistakable sense of desperation.

“This bell… It can’t be… The school!” Gary Meyers gasped in shock.

“That’s right! Their aim is the children!!!” Howard turned toward the butlers, his eyes burning with rage.

At the same time, an even deeper darkness surged forth from behind the butlers, swelling like a tidal wave. The low-ranking members of the group instantly went pale, all color draining from their faces.

“What perfect timing! Eliza really pulled through!”

The thick darkness began to take form. Colorless white hair. Cerulean eyes that seemed to pierce through the soul. A black outer coat draped over a crisp white shirt. On the figure’s chest, a jabot with many delicate folds, fit for a nobleman. At its center, a gemstone gleamed—a shade identical to his chilling blue eyes.

The moment he appeared, the malevolent energy in the air grew heavier, thickening like a suffocating fog, consuming all those present. The lower-ranking members, already drained of color, stood frozen in place, unable to move. Even those of mid-rank could do nothing but tremble, soaking in cold sweat.

Amidst the oppressive silence, Ryder’s voice shattered the air.

“YOUUUUUUUUUU! It’s you! I could never forget you! You are… You are!!!”

His rage flared uncontrollably as if he were vomiting up his fury from the very depths of his soul. Gripping his knight’s sword tightly, he crouched low, ready to strike at any moment.

“You’re being quite rude out of nowhere, aren’t you? Can I kill him, Master Orbet?”

The question came from a silver-haired girl with a medium bob, dressed in a butler’s uniform. A black ribbon was wrapped around her head, and her expression remained grim as she awaited permission.

“Now, now, Leila. This is certainly amazing. To meet someone who recognizes me…”

Orbet replied, a smirk forming as he watched Ryder while running his fingers over the gemstone on his chest.

“I see… So he… He’s the one, isn’t he, Ryder?” Howard turned to Ryder, his voice low and steady.

“Yes, Sir Cloud! It’s him! He! He took Lavi’s…”

As he answered Howard, Ryder’s glare bore into Orbet, seething with fury.

“Haha… I see… Hah… Hah… Haha. I see… Finally… At last… Hahaha.”
“What’s with this old man? Why did he start laughing out of nowhere? How creepy! Is he a friend of yours too, Lawrence?”
“I told you I don’t know them!”

The butler named Leila shot an irritated glance at Lawrence.

“Marceeel!!! Sound the war hymn!!! Raise your battle cries!!!”

Howard drove his Zweihander forcefully into the ground, his chest heaving as the very air around him trembled with his command.

“HAHA! HAHA, Hahaha! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! I’ve longed to meet you! Oh, how I’ve wanted to meet you!! CHILD EATER!!! Come now. Don’t hold back! With these hands!!! Today!!! Today is the day I destroy you myself!!!”

With bared teeth and a ferocious grin, Howard Cloud—the Gray Iron Demon—roared his challenge.

Amukham Village Alerts

Regular Alert Type 3 / 5
** High Threat Level Demonic Beasts have invaded the Safe Zone. Vigilance required.
Regular Alert Type 2 / 4-2
** Threat of Demonic Beasts emerging from the forest. Strengthen defenses.
Regular Alert Type 1 / 4-1
** Risk of Overflow. Strengthen defenses further.
Special Alert Type 3 / 3-2
** Risk of Overflow reaching into the village. Prepare villagers for combat.
Special Alert Type 2 / 3-1
** Large scale Overflow. Begin battle on enemy encounter.
Special Alert Type 1 / 2
** All villagers begin battle. Annihilate the enemy.