1.
Luna’s first memory.
It was someone turning away coldly after abandoning her in the <Ashen Wasteland>.
She was very young then, but the memory remained as vivid as if it had happened moments ago.
– Please don’t die, Luna, and I hope you find happiness.
Golden hair glistening under the moonlight and a glimpse of emerald eyes.
– M-Mom…!!
Young Luna, desperate at the thought that losing hold would be the end, reached out, but couldn’t even grab the hem of her clothes and was left behind there.
<Ashen Wasteland>.
A forsaken land crawling with monstrous beasts, located between the Gardner Count territory and the Koppel Viscount territory.
Because the Babylonia Empire paid little attention to it, all sorts of criminals had gathered there, each forming their own enclave.
A barren land with nowhere to sleep, nothing to eat, and not even drinking water.
Abandoned there, Luna wandered like a beast in every corner, just to survive.
Chiiik…
…Munch… Munch…
She tore into the rotting corpse of a monstrous beast, drinking its blood and consuming its flesh.
– Guhhaaa!! Guhk…!!!
She nearly died several times, but even after surviving, the environment didn’t change.
Chiiik…
…Munch… Munch…
She ate to live, she struggled because she didn’t want to die. Those days repeated over and over.
How many months—no, how many years—passed like that?
– …Guhh.
She was devouring the corpse of a special demon, on the brink of death, trembling all over. At that moment, a masked woman reached out a hand to Luna.
– You can die now, or die a little later. The choice is yours.
Grab!
Luna quickly seized the offered hand and managed to lift her head, mumbling,
– …Mom?
– …No. I’m not your parent.
But—
– If you wish, I can become one.
.
.
.
“…Kh, huff! …Huh?”
Her consciousness flickered out and back in.
‘I blacked out for a moment.’
Even so, Luna was still smiling, but she was clearly at her limit.
The same was true for the children who had just witnessed Orlan’s death.
“Sniff… Orlan….”
“No… I-I don’t want this anymore, Sniff…!”
“Orlaaan….”
Of the five children, three were crying, excluding Orlan and Luna.
“One million gold.”
“Number 1, sold. Use?”
“Same as before.”
Crunch.
Sssss.
Gulp.
That same kind of death repeated three times.
Still smiling, Luna steadied her blurry vision and bore witness to the children’s final moments:
Orlan, who wanted to feel full.
Mina, who wanted to wear a dress.
Baeng, who wanted to see the ocean.
Karin, who wanted to go home.
“…I told you not to cry.”
In the end, they all died.
This place was <Wandering Troupe – Loss>.
A garbage group that sells “goods” to high-ranking nobles to rake in money.
Once again, Luna alone survived. She naturally lowered her gaze to look at Mother.
Regardless of that, Mother spoke in the same cold voice.
“Luna. Starting at 100 million gold.”
A price so high that, even for high-ranking nobles, it was hard to raise a hand.
“They’re pushing it. Let’s go.”
“Damn it. She didn’t cry last time and endured so well.”
“Forget it. Don’t bother with small change. Maybe we’ll have another chance next month.”
The onlookers began gathering their things,
“…Tsk.”
Number 1 had disappeared at some point.
“End.”
As soon as Mother confirmed their departure and declared it over, the bright lights went out.
…Creak.
“Khah! Pwaah, gasp, gasp!!”
The moment her feet touched the ground, Luna took a desperate breath and barely managed to lift her head.
“Mom…!!”
In the darkness of the empty tent left behind by the Wandering Troupe, the only person visible was Mother.
By instinct, Luna looked for that shadow first. Only after confirming he was gone did her face twist, and she dragged herself along the ground.
“They died, they all died again…!! Everyone but me!!”
“…Shh.”
“I told them not to cry…!! I told them everything you taught me…!!!”
Shiver.
Mother gently held Luna’s trembling hands and whispered into her ear:
“Smile brightly if you want to live.”
“Yes, that’s it. Smile a bit more.”
“Wider. Smile like your mouth will tear apart.”
“That’s how you survive.”
When Mother removed her mask, a chillingly radiant smile appeared beneath it.
…Click.
Mother then placed the mask she had taken off onto Luna, whispering until the very end:
“Don’t tremble; that’s how you survive.”
“When it’s too hard, cry under the mask.”
“Keep trying, again and again.”
“Someday, you’ll be able to smile even with the mask on.”
Gently curved eyes, twisted lips.
A pouch filled with gold coins.
…Grip.
One hand held on to Luna, the other clutched the money pouch tightly. In that moment, a voice filled with rage came from the darkened seats.
“Get away from her.”
A voice seething with terrible hostility.
…No.
【<Veil of Shadows (EX)> has been activated.】
【Absorbing part of the spatial <Force (EX-)> through the <Sword Specter’s Necklace>.】
【<Veil of Shadows (EX)> manifests at full power.】
“Get away from Luna. Right now.”
A voice filled with terrifying murderous intent.
2.
As soon as they stepped into the tent of <Wandering Troupe – Loss>.
Dalan, walking in silence, nudged Ruby, who was hesitating.
“Focus, Ruby.”
“Ah, I’m sorry.”
At that, a spark of light returned to her fear-darkened eyes.
Confirming that, Dalan slowly scanned the dust-covered interior and asked.
“No information? As a branch manager, you should have free access to intelligence.”
“I did check briefly earlier, but there was nothing. You know how it is—<Ashen Wasteland> is treated almost like demon territory.”
Ruby was right.
<Ashen Wasteland>.
Four years ago, before a certain <incident> took place, it had been a den of criminals. But after a complete purge, it was now nothing more than abandoned land.
With the Hero Party’s expedition, the number of beast attacks had significantly decreased, and the resulting trickle-down effect had made the area much safer than before—though the beasts hadn’t completely vanished.
Because of that, the Mercenary Alliance, nobles, and merchants alike had all hesitated to invest in this place. Even gathering intelligence was deemed unnecessary and had been halted.
Dalan sighed quietly, slumping his shoulders in disappointment.
“So we’ll have to figure things out the hard way.”
If only they had at least a blueprint of this tent-like structure.
Sensing Dalan’s frustration, Ruby grinned and handed him a piece of paper.
A fresh sheet, with what looked like a red substance marking a floor plan.
“I already took care of it before we came in.”
“Was it those bandit dolls or something?”
“Flesh dolls. Just call them ‘babies’ for simplicity.”
Dalan ignored the glint of madness in Ruby’s eyes and examined the floor plan.
A semicircular stage. Facing it, seats arranged in a fan shape.
Aside from the installed mechanisms on the stage, it was no different from an ordinary circus tent.
“That’s it?”
“Most likely.”
Nodding, Dalan folded the floor plan neatly and tucked it into his coat.
There were two layers of curtains to get past—the entrance flap and another inner layer.
As he analyzed this, his sharp gaze detected a presence—something ‘leaking’ from Luna.
“Luna must be on the stage.”
“And Han-Ryang is standing in front of her.”
In an instant, they had pinpointed their targets.
“We capture them alive if possible. If not…”
“…We kill them. Then forcefully break the Captain’s restriction.”
Blue and red eyes crossed momentarily.
“I’ll handle Han-Ryang.”
Crack.
Dalan lowered his stance, veins bulging, and nodded. Meanwhile, Luna covered her mouth with a sly smile.
“Leave Luna to me.”
Was it because their disguised identities were one of the Great Ten and the Mercenary Alliance’s branch manager?
The two, unexpectedly well-matched, steadily approached the inner curtain.
“On three, we go in.”
“Got it.”
“Alright. One, two…”
Three!
Whoosh!
At Dalan’s muted countdown, the curtain was yanked aside, revealing the hidden interior.
And—
“…Ah, dammit…”
A Han-Ryang unlike his usual lazy self.
Instead, he wore a mask exuding deep malicious energy.
“Ah, damn it!!!!!”
Crunch!
Han-Ryang clenched his fist tightly, swinging before he could even react.
“Well, looks like we walked into the wrong fight.”
Dalan let out a short chuckle—
Right before Han-Ryang’s punch slammed into him.
—BOOOOM!!!!
The ground quaked violently.
“Ruby! Release the Captain dolls! Dump everything we have!!!”
Barely managing to block the attack, Dalan turned to Ruby, shouting.
But what entered his vision was Luna, wearing a mask.
Ruby had likely been taken moments before—her hands had frozen mid-motion as she tried to rip the mask off her face.
‘They were waiting for us.’
Since when?
‘…Probably the moment we got separated and fell earlier.’
A mysterious rampage.
A technique akin to brainwashing.
Three members of the <Black Wolf> had already succumbed. Including himself, that made four.
Dalan quickly judged the situation—determining that an all-out battle was the right choice.
But then—
– I can take a break, right?
The face of a man he could rely on came to mind.
So, instead of resisting, Dalan tossed his sword out of the tent.
Then, he smirked and murmured,
“Apologies, but you’ll have to handle this for us, Captain.”
That was his last thought.
“Smile brightly. That’s how you survive.”
Click.
A serpent-like hand coiled around him, placing an ashen mask over Dalan’s face.
