Rise of the Rejected Deity from Chaos

"Now, I know it won't take long for that dumb head to barge in after I introduce the new Humanity Savior, so I should hold back on it for a while," the commander reasoned to himself, referring to the Blind Fangs' leader, since he himself had leaked the news regarding the village in hopes of finding the person behind it.

As the commander reasoned things to himself, Seiya rose, heading for the door.

"W-where are you going?" The commander asked, leaning forward.

"Just to have a look around," Seiya replied flatly.

"Then, I will escort you. I don't mind showing you around," the commander said, ready to rise from his chair.

"No need," Seiya replied. "I know my way, so I can go by myself."

The commander didn't protest any further, more like he couldn't protest any further, and could only watch as Seiya pulled open the door and walked out.

"He's still just a kid. He must be feeling suffocated with no one his age to interact with," the commander observed to himself, feeling a bit sad. "I should introduce him to everyone, so he makes friends to talk with," he nodded, boldly approving his own plans.

****

Along the vast hallways that stretched from one end to another, Seiya strolled, determined to tour the main building. Although he had already seen the structure, every inch, with his eyes, he hadn't been there, and had now resolved to visit each nook and cranny since he had nothing to do.

As he strolled, he came across one of the dorms, multiple rooms lining the hallway on either side. At the door to one of the rooms, a boy stood, his back toward Seiya—his blond hair styled neatly behind him.

Seiya advanced silently, and as he did, the boy turned, seeing Seiya approach. Instantly, the boy's eyes widened, his muscles locking up, and trembling with fear that he collapsed to the ground—panting.

Cold sweat drenched him, his expressions dark with dread, wheezing as he found it difficult to breathe.

"I-I didn't, I didn't," he struggled to speak. "I didn't tell anyone about you, I didn't," he repeated, drooling from his mouth that hung agape to assist him in breathing.

The more Seiya advanced toward him, the more he trembled, wheezing aloud. "I swear I didn't, I didn't," he kept repeating.

"I am not here for you," Seiya told him, gaze lingering on him briefly—recognizing him as the boy from the village. The same one he had threatened never to speak of what happened there.

Even though Seiya assured the boy he wasn't there to harm him, the boy—Beni—couldn't calm down. Seiya ignored him, whooshing past him like a soft breeze, and continuing his tour.

From behind where Seiya had come from, Zero, one of the boys that had been handling the village matters, and had gone to bring back Beni the other day, sighted Beni on the floor.

He rushed over, crouching in front of him, and trying to calm him down.

"What happened?" He asked, voice calm and steady, barely bothered by the situation. After several moments of trying to calm Beni down to no avail, he carried him instead, and took him to the infirmary.

****

Back in the commander's office, Zero knocked on the door, going in when the commander allowed it.

"Yes? Do you have anything to report?" The commander asked, a bit burnt out from work, and all the thinking he had to do. Furthermore, he didn't get enough sleep last night either, so he was still tired.

"I bear reports about Beni," Zero said. The commander stared in silence for a while, trying to recall who Beni was, until he remembered.

"What about him?" He asked. "I heard he's doing fine now."

"He relapsed," the boy replied.

"What happened?"

"I'm not entirely sure myself," the boy admitted, "but the doctor said such a reaction could only happen if the patient was confronted with the event itself… or something directly tied to it."

The commander's brow furrowed. "How is that possible? I gave strict orders—no one was to speak of it again. So how could he have been reminded?" He paused, voice tightening. "And to encounter something from the incident? That's out of the question. The Association is heavily secured—no outsiders have access."

"No," Zero interrupted firmly, drawing the commander's full attention. "The doctor was clear. A relapse this severe could only be triggered by contact with something—or someone—from that day." He paused, his gaze locking with the commander's. "The only thing capable of shaking him this deeply… is possibly the one responsible for killing his teammate."

The commander fell silent, mind racing. The logic wasn't far-fetched. Trauma doesn't resurface so violently unless the past finds its way back to the present.

His thoughts whirled. Was it Im Seun the boy encountered? Could it truly be him who took the life of one of our Humanity Saviors? Could he be… a demon?

Or perhaps it wasn't the killer himself—but someone else who had been there that day. Either way… does it still lead back to Im Seun?

"I don't think that's possible either," the commander spoke after a while. "It is a demon that killed his teammate, and a demon would never be allowed into the association," he said.

"While that it's true, we shouldn't entirely forget they're all all speculations," the boy pressed.

"Are you saying the examination team were wrong in their assessment?"

"I'm merely looking at things from all angles, commander. No one is above mistakes, after all."

"So, what are you getting at?"

"Let's say he didn't encounter the killer then, but it can't be denied that he encountered someone from that day that triggered his relapse," the boy said.

"True, but how can that be? The association won't just let anyone inside."

"No, I did see someone," Zero said, voice stern. The commander's eyes widened slowly, dropping the pen that he was working with to focus intently on Zero.

"Who?"

Could it really have been Im Seun? I've been holding back from asking him what truly happened in the village, because I wanted him to settle into the association first but….

"A young boy," Zero replied, drawing the commander from his thoughts. "He had white hair, wore a blindfold. Though I only saw him from behind, he was the only one with Beni when I found him relapsing," he said, leaving the commander shocked with wide, frozen eyes.