Countless threads intertwine.
Threads that descend from the sky like clouds enter the loom and form their own cloths.
The shapes of the completed cloths are all different from one another. As many as the number of threads with no discernible end, the looms stretch endlessly in a line.
This is the factory of weaving that turns forever.
Step.
In the middle of it, a man walks between rows of looms that he will never reach the end of.
“I’m here, old hag. I showed up exactly when you called. But why do you people even bother setting a ‘meeting time’?”
Golden eyes, short height. More fitting to call him a boy rather than a man, he looked around and shouted.
“The reason is,”
And at that shout—
“Because this time, you must not be late.”
Three women appeared, and the woman on the left spoke.
For someone he had just called an “old hag,” none of the three looked old. Their age was impossible to guess from their appearance.
Only, all three had hair gone entirely white, and their clothes and skin were the same. From head to toe, they were white—but it felt less like elegance and more like a withered pallor, as though they had lost all color.
How long it took for them to lose all color, and how long has passed since then, even the boy did not know.
“Frondier has departed.”
The woman in the middle said that.
The boy scowled.
“I know. I figured that’s what this would be about when you summoned me.”
“Then you know what must be done.”
The boy shook his head. It wasn’t denial—more like dusting something off.
“Why do I have to tiptoe around that bastard? Whether it’s Frondier or whoever, if I just kill him—”
“Thanatos.”
This time, it was the woman on the right who cut him off.
“This time, it must be handled perfectly.”
“.......”
“And wasn’t this something you wished for as well? Didn’t you say you owed Frondier a debt?”
“Ah, right. He dared to pull an insolent stunt.”
Thanatos laughed. He laughed, his golden eyes flashing.
“He’s the kind of bastard you can tear apart and it still won’t feel like enough. That’s what pisses me off. Waiting for him to step outside this world. Why should I avoid him?”
“Frondier is dangerous. It’s not a matter of power.”
The boy, Thanatos, did not answer, but he didn’t seem convinced either.
“What a strange thing.”
“What is?”
“That you three are moving so actively. You always said your purpose was to manage, not interfere.”
Thanatos looked at all three, then recited:
“Moirai.”
“......This, too, is management.”
“Haha. Playing with words, are you.”
Thanatos scratched his head roughly. He muttered like talking to himself.
“Fine, you want me to begin while Frondier’s not here. While Frondier’s gone...”
Just that thought made anger rise in him.
Since his very purpose revolved around Frondier, he hated the order to avoid him.
Then the woman in the center spoke.
“This is in agreement with the three women of Norn as well.”
“......Norn? Those women of Asgard? You actually meet each other?”
Thanatos’s eyes widened as though genuinely shocked.
Three women who handle fate in each of their worlds. They had reached a consensus.
“Hmph. Well. If that’s the case, then.”
Thanatos’s anger subsided.
Since all who govern fate were in agreement, it was no longer a matter of Moirai simply being afraid of Frondier.
“Is the preparation for descent ready?”
“It has already been completed. Children who lose their home tend to be obedient.”
“What, you led Manggot? Management, you say. This is way past interference.”
“There was no need to handle all of it. Ten, no—nine were enough.”
...Ah.
Thanatos let out a short snort, as if he roughly understood.
And as that smile vanished, killing intent rose.
“Then I’ll go. As per my role.”
***
The imperial palace has been more chaotic recently than ever before.
Because the imperial family, high nobles, the Pro, and even the Zodiacs all gathered to hold a meeting.
Originally, even the imperial palace cannot summon the Zodiacs at will.
Unless it’s a massive monster assault, a war with an external force, or a threat aimed directly at the Emperor, they rarely respond.
But this time, even though none of those applied, the Zodiacs gathered in the palace.
Because they had committed a sin.
“Thus, in this case, it was close to an act of force majeure...”
“Force majeure? Is that a fitting term for a Zodiac?”
“What else could we have done? There was divine intervention.”
Most of the noise in the chamber came from the retainers’ voices.
The Zodiacs simply stayed silent. Those who knew their sin wore dark expressions.
“Until now, we have used divine power to defend against the threat of monsters.”
“So you are saying the Zodiacs merely rely on divine power. Is that it?”
“Do not twist my words so carelessly...!”
The matter of the meeting was comparatively simple.
The Zodiacs lost control and headed toward Agoris. However, even while they were out of control, they roughly remembered what they did.
They went to kill a demon. They went to kill the arrogant demon who dared imitate a god.
In the Empire of the past, such an irregularity might have been overlooked without issue—but now, it is different.
“This is not only a Zodiac’s problem. All who possess divine power—these people must be prepared at all times to surrender their bodies to the gods.”
“But it is the gods’ affair. They would not mishandle their vessels. Even this time, did they not act to eliminate a demon?”
“And do you know who the Zodiacs met when they went to eliminate that demon?”
The reason the conflict in this meeting was intensifying—
“Frondier de Roach.”
“......Yes. And what is the problem with that? They went to eliminate a demon, so meeting Frondier—who is a demon—what issue is there—”
When that retainer spoke up to that point—
A retainer on the opposite side, who had been arguing the opposing view, recoiled in horror, his expression twisting. He didn’t voice it, but he hurled every curse he could with his mouth and face.
Only then did the first retainer realize what he had just said.
He reflexively turned his gaze toward the side where the Pros were gathered.
“......Why are you looking at me?”
There sat Atjie.
When the Roach family had been summoned, no one responded—except Atjie, who attended to fill the Pro’s place.
“I am listening. Continue.”
“N-no, it’s just...”
The retainer lost his words and looked around nervously.
He had attended several meetings dealing with similar topics before.
But back then, only people of the imperial palace were present. No Zodiacs or Pros.
Now that he thought about it, it wasn’t only Atjie he should fear. Among the Zodiacs, there were several who supported Frondier. It was painfully obvious what they would think of his words.
This wasn’t about winning or losing a debate. His life might be on the line.
As the terrified retainer fell completely silent, the chamber grew quiet. The one who should speak was not speaking.
Philly was just about to step forward when—
“...Frondier is a demon.”
The one who breathed out that line with a small sigh was none other than Atjie.
Everyone turned to him.
“We have designated him a demon and expelled him from the imperial palace.”
The Pros, the Zodiacs, the retainers—even Philly—were shocked and stared at Atjie.
“We must not forget that.”
“...Atjie.”
“We made a decision. With that decision, we drove out a demon. We expelled the sinister demon who had infiltrated the Empire and restored peace.”
Atjie’s face and tone were expressionless. Like reading words written on paper.
But those watching {N•o•v•e•l•i•g•h•t} him had eyes that trembled without end.
Because it was Atjie who spoke these words. And no one could guess what he felt as he said them.
“We must not waver. That is not the important part.”
“...Ah...”
“The Zodiacs moved according to the possession of the gods. It is unfortunate they lost control, but the fact remains—they went to kill a demon. We must choose which of these facts carries weight. That is what this v
