Bro, I'm not an Undead!

A bowl shaped haircut on vanilla coloured hair, big, downturned chartreuse coloured eyes, a rather thick button nose and thin lips – these made the unique face of the man named Karrun.

He had a short figure and his seated position while in the lounge with everyone stood on a thin line between confident and nervous.

"Oh... I didn't scare anyone did I?" Karrun asked while looking around.

"What the hell?! You've been here this entire time?!" Stylla barked to which Karrun nervously scratched his neck.

Stylla hadn't been shocked by the man's appearance.

She was more so annoyed.

Silrat breathed out a burst of frustration.

As someone who had a mild control complex that was slowly growing because of Skullius' wanton behaviour, having someone be present around him for an extensive period of time without him knowing was... infuriating.

"Don't take it too seriously, Stylla," Setkh said with a partially seductive voice, his eyes lazily resting on his furious sister. "We both have eccentric tastes, don't we? You know Karrun here is a bit shy and has a habit of hiding his presence to better fit in crowded places."

Karrun rose and stood beside Setkh, evidently unwilling to have an independent stance in this conversation.

He looked over to Skullius and Yuyui and smiled in a friendly manner.

"Hello. I'm Karrun. I guess we'll both be fighting for OUR Family," Karrun said as he extended his hand to Skullius for a handshake.

Yuyui wanted to reciprocate the friendliness Karrun was postulating but as she saw Skullius being unresponsive, she held herself.

An awkward silence ensued.

Karrun kept his hand erect in Skullius' direction but the Hybrid Luman remained still like a statue without any semblance of a shadow of potential movement to shake the man's hand at all.

Yuyui prayed for this poor soul in her heart. She had recently experienced the same with Ferex but the difference was, there was a happy ending to her story.

Karrun nervously took back his hand with a wide smile, the look in his eyes turning ice cold for a second as he asked himself...

'Did he figure out my intention? No, no one but Setkh knows this one...'

"Ooff. It looks like we're off to a rough start," Setkh said as he patted Karrun's shoulder. "I suppose this is a fitting introduction. Nothing more is needed. We'll retire for the night in preparation for tomorrow. I assume you have many things to catch up on anyway and would prefer us to leave wouldn't you?"

No response came to Setkh's question but it was obvious he was right.

'Tomorrow?' Skullius wondered.

What was tomorrow?

Karrun and Setkh walked out of the lounge, disappearing upstairs as they left the group.

With them gone, the atmosphere turned lighter,.

Stylla slumped on the couch while Silrat was reenergized, his fury returning.

"What the hell took you so long this time?!"

"I apologise."

"Wh... I don't care! I need answers!" Silrat boomed.

Skullius walked over to Silrat and smiled while patting his shoulder.

"It's all going to be alright, dear friend," he said to Silrat's furious face's confusion which twitched a couple of times.

Silrat felt like he could have keel over just about now.

The Hybrid Luman turned to Stylla and asked, "What's happening tomorrow?"

Stylla sank further into her seat as she then answered without much delay.

"The Royale. It starts tomorrow. Officially at least. I don't know if that was the original timing or if some manner of luck just happened to waltz by for your sake... but apparently, participants have the first priority to this."

"I see," Skullius said.

'Luck, huh?'

He wiped his mind of unnecessary thoughts before asking again.

"You're not nervous at all about it?"

Stylla gave a short subdued laugh.

"I have many other things to worry about now," she said.

"Unfortunately for me, you remain my single worry," Silrat chipped in while removing Skullius' hand from his shoulder. "We have a lot of things to discuss."

"I know. I have things to discuss with you too, as I promised. This is probably the best time for that."

"Hmmm?" Silrat didn't quite follow.

"Ahem..." Skullius cleared his throat, a gesture that had infiltrated his mind from having absorbed many memories through [Basic Evil Sanction]. He turned to Stylla and then said, "...could we have a moment alone?"

The redhead was surprised at first but quickly rose from her seat.

She accepted that Skullius' relationship with Silrat would probably be stronger than her own with him for a while.

It was a given.

As far as she was concerned, they were only business partners for now. For good reason.

"Very well. You're part of the Family so feel free to be more direct. I'll also retire for the night," Stylla said before disappearing up the stairs.

Skullius and Yuyui sat down, the Hybrid Luman activating [Greater Mana Crafter] which changed the air within the room as mana formed a hazy, condensed cube.

Silrat looked around with narrowed eyes and breathed in.

The mana had suddenly turned thick, nearly becoming tangible, like water in the sea.

"What.. is this?"

"Insurance. What I'm about to tell you is very sensitive. If we are going to continue with a mutually beneficially relationship, you'll need to know more about me and my abilities."

"I... see..." Silrat paid attention.

Skullius was dreadfully serious right now and he could tell that what he was about to be told would revolutionise their entire relationship.

To be trusted with this information was a big deal too.

However...

"Before that..." Silrat said as he passed something to Skullius.

It was a green object, like a card with black texts in a spiral shape.

"You need to declare your participation with this seal. You can tell me everything after you have registered for the Royale. There's a time limit for participants. It's best not to miss it."

Skullius accepted the object, holding it in his hand.

This thing?

The moment he held it, a string of words emerged within his mind, stating and inquiring important details, mainly his consent first.

***

Next day.

The early morning was blissful and full of activity.

Under the vibrant suns in the sky, a bustle could be felt within the city. Literally, if one was in the midst of it.

There was overall a positive atmosphere but the enthusiasm demanded the attention of the Capital Service.

Hundreds of Knights had to ensure that there was order.

Unlike everyone else, those who were participating in the Premium Age Royale had been informed that the event was to begin today and they in turn notified their respective Families of that and other details.

For the general public however, all over the vast city, many had woken up to see hundreds of small stalls where friendly individuals calmly presented them with green cards that had dark text written over them in a spiral design.

Control Seals.

In order to qualify as a spectator, one had to have one of these and they were free of charge.

Thousands of people lined up before these stalls, the individuals that served them pulling out these cards one after another endlessly.

The more, the merrier.

Unlike with the participants, the issued Control Seals for spectators were to be given out freely and without limitation in time.

For the participants, as soon as the number of candidates declaring their position in the Royale was filled, there would be no room for anymore additions past the night of the day before.

That was the rule.

The orderly yet chaotic scene of these events were being overseen by two individuals perched on top of a tall building – one who sat down, the other standing aloof as he seemed to be filtering things in his 'sight'.

The one who sat wore a special silver armour with a three point star over the chestplate.

It was the Paladin Champion Ruhrees, the one stationed in Genhuis City to assist the Capital Service.

The other was a man who wore a monocle that covered his left eye, a powerful light hidden behind the glass.

A seriousness could be felt from him as he was truly suspicious of this... event.

It was his duty as City guardian.

A duty that someone else from another distant city had.

Unbreakable.

"It's beginning," Ruhrees said with a languid expression. "What do you think?"

"What do I think? It's too early to tell. I escaped having to chat with the Governor over his numerous troubles as a result of this event yet... I've found nothing suspicious," the man with monocle said. "That's demeaning."

"The old geezers in the towers found nothing?"

"Some declare so, some dismissed me and some refused to tell. They aren't obligated to tell me anything, after all."

"Some guardian you are."

The man with monocle sighed with the click of his tongue.

"One of them did say something interesting though..."

"Hmmm?"

"Apparently, the venue for this event was POSSIBLY set wherever it is... to hide from my Daylight Dominion."

"I see. That's not enough to prove anything though. It's at least enough for us to keep a keen eye. Either way, we'll just have to split up and see if there really is much to concern ourselves with here."

The man with the monocle paused for a bit before nodding.

Down below, a man was literally shaking in excitement as it was finally his turn to receive a Control Seal.

Everyone who had gotten away scurried away as they waited by friends and family, zoning out for a few moments before they came to with even more excitement up their gullet.

"Focus on the spiral on the seal for a couple of seconds and give the information required," the man behind the stall instructed while giving out another Seal.

The man next in line happily received the green card and walked away to a safe corner.

He took a deep breath, calming himself and did as the stall keeper had said.

First came words that sprang in his mind, asking for consent and then...

Almost instantaneously, rules and regulations for the event swarmed in...!