"Irregulars"

"List of Recorded Explorers Abandoned by the Seven Deities.

"Judgement from the Dominion of Dea – Church of Light."

In this stack of papers written several names deemed to be abandoned by the Seven Deities; those that were viewed as abominations in the eyes of the ardent believers of the Church of Light, and outcasts of society for the other six churches, were carefully assorted on the desk according to General Aladan's wishes.

This information containing the backgrounds of the "Irregulars" was inaccessible to almost everyone apart from those similar to General Aladan possessing authority to get ahold of such significant, confidential documents.

On the other hand, Yura, one of the genius Explorers who had graduated from the Labyrinthos Academia, as General Aladan's confidant, was eligible to foresee such a task in regard to the Doctrine of Divine Abandonment.

"Yura."

Standing in front of the lofty brownish door of the General's Headquarters, Yura heard General Aladan's voice as she responded, her tone reserved, "Yes, General?"

"Come in here for a second."

Click–

Without asking any questions, the door of the somewhat spacious headquarters opened ajar, and her seemingly innocent yet abyssal countenance peeked through the door's gap before inviting herself inside.

"Take a seat. I have a few questions regarding your circumstances."

Yura did not utter a single word, similar to a broken inanimated doll waiting for the right catalyst called 'order' to move. It could be said that she's a perfect soldier on the battlefield based on her demeanor of absolute subservience.

After a moment or two, with his gaze fixated on the documents he was presented, General Aladan's voice echoed, "Yura. Can you tell me what Attributes do you have?"

Such a question was personal. However, every safe-keeper of the Endaira Empire, those who were a part of the Empire's Explorer Forces, was subject to its own circle of privacy and hierarchy, allowing the one with the highest position for the command to be informed of another's detailed Explorer Status Window.

Even though he was already aware, General Aladan wanted to reaffirm as an act of formality and... to 'see' Yura's restrained, somewhat interesting expression in answering such a personal question.

Listening to General Aladan's query, Yura answered with reluctance, "General, I possess the [Dimension] and [Chain] Attributes."

Pausing for two seconds, Yura couldn't help but ask:

"...General, forgive my rudeness, but may I ask the purpose of reiterating my information?"

Her query was understandable. From Yura's perspective, General Alandan's mood was ambiguous after being away for some time.

The latter's usual routine seemed to deviate from usual as the general of the Radnan Fortress, foreseeing the safety and maintenance for any unexpected occurrence of Void Tremor — an earthquake within a labyrinth that would cause the space outside its premises to distort, pouring out labyrinth monsters bestowed with Divine Multiplier and affected by troublesome Divine Overdose.

"It's fine. Even though you're bound by the Explorer's Contract, it seems uncomfortable being asked about your personal information.

"That being said, a son of mine woke up from his deep slumber. Yura, you could say that his case was similar to yours — both considered as abandoned ones, 'Irregulars' from the societal and theological perspective."

Yura seemed to remember General Aladan's two sons, whom she occasionally saw in the Labyrinthos Academia. Somewhat confused as a realization dawned on her, Yura said with hesitance:

"...General, are you perhaps referring to–" Before she could finish speaking, General Aladan interjected, "That is right. It's my son whom I declared dead around four years ago. His awakening was akin to a divine miracle, something I have never expected to happen."

Aladan did not remind Yura to not tell anyone about such crucial information since the latter was heavily aware of the repercussions of breaking the Explorer's Contract under the gazes of the Seven Churches.

Explorer Contract — a binding contract from the Seven Churches, allowing the subject of the 'Calling' that had been abandoned by the Seven Deities to fulfill the perceived heaven's will by overseeing the public safety in exchange for freedom and immunity against the atrocious prejudice from the public eye. However, such an offer was only limited to Yura and some others as it required a minimum qualification of having a Dual-Attribute.

Yura subconsciously straightened her body as she continued to attentively listen; her pale and supple hands on her lap:

"To be honest, disregarding the matters concerning the hostile noble families against my entire household, I wanted my son to at least take the path you are walking on so that he'd still have reins even if his circumstances are similar to yours. But I haven't asked if he has a Dual-Attribute, which is the minimum condition for the Explorer's Contract."

Remembering what had transpired earlier in the morning, General Aladan couldn't help but inwardly sigh, 'I guess it wouldn't matter now.'

Yura fell into momentary silence, contemplating General Aladan's words. Overtaken by curiosity, she asked, "Um, General, if I may ask, since when did the son you're referring to begin his process of awakening?"

At that moment, just like what General Aladan was hoping to see when conversing with an 'Irregular', he noticed the subtle change in Yura's demeanor as a provoking thought dawned on him.

'It may just be my imagination but sometimes Yura's expression has that subtle indifference similar to my son, Zero...'

Even though the Patriarch of Ariad hadn't seen Zero Ariad–Fragmenta's fighting capability, the former arrived at a few hypotheses, recalling how the latter was able to withstand and seemed to be unaffected by the Mana Pressure he exuded when he utilized one of his abilities to restrain Icaria's mobility during the 'Slap–Incident'.

After what seemed like an eternity, General Aladan sighed inwardly, responding to his confidant's query, "My son had been in a state of slumber for around ten years."

"..."

Yura was dumbstruck at the revelation.

***

Yura En Adessa, a natural beauty in her early twenties, daughter of the Adessa Viscountess Household from the distant bloodline of the Great Emperor, was someone who had been subjected to the 'Calling' at the age of fifteen.

Even though the eligibility was seven years old, her family insisted that she should only undergo the process of awakening at the age of 'sixteen' years old, believing that the Seven Deities would bless their daughter at her coming of age.

But as she aged, Yura started to question the rationality behind such an unfounded belief, causing Yura's curiosity and insistence to overshadow her family's desire, disobediently taking and consuming the piece of Crystal of Heavens that her family stored as a gift for her sixteenth birthday, which at that time was only a month away. After all, her principle remained the same, which she stubbornly reminded her family most of the time.

— "Mother, Father! You know the earlier I awaken, the more time I would have to hone the strength that the labyrinths would bestow me!"

On that same day, Yura's body was found lying in the treasure vault of the Adessa Main House. Even though her case wasn't a bit similar to Zero, she was in a state of slumber for a considerable amount of time, exceeding the standard of seventy-seven weeks and receiving the stigma of being an Irregular; one that was abandoned by the Seven Deities.

After consuming the Crystal of Heavens at the age of fifteen, Yura opened her eyes around three years later and attended the Labyrinthos Academia at the age of eighteen after being recognized by the Seven Churches. She then graduated at the age of twenty-two after making a name for herself as one of the genius Explorers of the Mazendria Continent.

Through her Explorer's Contract, she then became a safe-keeper under Marquis Ariad's exclusive Explorer Force.

'I was asleep for around three years, at least in this world's time. But to think the General's son was asleep for that long. What the hell happened to him? Was he lost in the Abyss? Did he also meet the Great Minotaur?'

Yura's interest was undoubtedly piqued as she pondered before asking, "General, if it's possible, can I meet your son? Well, maybe he would need a company with similar circumstances that he went through."

General Aladan's brown eyes squinted, "Why? Are you interested in him?"

"I am interested in him and his condition. After all, we are Irregulars in the eyes of the Seven Churches. I may have been given a desirable freedom from the eyes of others, but in their mind, it's highly likely I'm still an outcast of society.

"Maybe, just maybe... We can be an acquaintance at some point."

A scrutinizing gaze pierced her before General Aladan let out an expressive sigh, "If that's what you wish, I'll consider it after asking him for permission. But first things first, accompany me to the Assanian Prison after I sort these documents."

"Ah, it's recruitment time, isn't it!?" Yura nodded in exhilaration; it was time to recruit several 'Irregulars' based on the documents she was asked to provide earlier.

Before Yura turned around, General Alandan asked casually, keeping the atmosphere natural:

"Ah, by the way, Yura... Have you heard of the word 'Fragmenta'"?

In less than a second, Yura shook her head, "I am afraid not, General."

"Is that so? Okay, I will call you when it's time to go."

***

Assanian Prison, Central Assania of Northern Endaira Empire, several kilometers away from the Radnan Fortress.

Under the intensity of the bluish moon's luminosity, way past the middle of the night emanating an echoing and deafening silence, General Aladan and his confidant, Yura, were greeted by the prison's warden, "I greet General Aladan and Commander Yura."

The use of a first name in a greeting after an individual's 'title' was an act of formality in the empire's military tradition. Hearing the prison's warden, General Aladan and Commander Yura nodded before they were led to the basement of the extremely secured prison, housing hundreds, if not thousands of Irregulars, all caught by the direct followers of the Seven Churches under the pretext of being a "rouge" Irregular Explorer.

Creak—

The sound of a metallic door pressing itself against the dust-filled ground opened, revealing a spacious corridor illuminated by warm lanterns that seemed endless similar to an ocean of darkness.

Entering the underground sector of the Assanian Prison, several discordial sounds were picked up by their ears; scratching, coughing, clinking, and such. The prisoners within these perimeters were alerted of the two new unfamiliar presences, instinctively raising their guard since it could mean their death if the visitor was a Priest or something akin to it from one of the Seven Churches.

"Yura, what does your guts tell you? Any prospect? Just remember that based on the empire military law, only two Irregulars can be recruited at this time. Also, remember that they won't be bound by Explorer's Contract."

The prison's warden only listened, knowing the purpose of the visit at this hour. After a few seconds of contemplation, Yura responded to General Aladan's query, "General, I can make suggestions but your words will bring the final judgment."

"I see. Alright, do tell me who's in your mind." Glancing at the prison's warden, General Aladan nodded. Knowing the reason for the subtle gaze in the midst of dimness, the prison's warden retrieved a set of prison keys from his planar pocket.

"Confined in the PoI. No. 665 and PoI. No. 667, Adania and Cedel respectively."

Hearing the declaration, the prison's warden's voice echoed, "General Aladan and Commander Yura, these are the keys for Prison of Irregular No. 665 and No. 667. About their location, please follow me."

Within the confines of these flickering lights, the three individuals traversed the depths of the dark underground prison.

***

Villa of Ariad, South Thread City, South Ariad Marquisate.

Eleven in the evening, several hours before the Patriarch of Ariad and Yura went to the Assanian Prison, in the backyard of the villa, as every other soundly fell asleep at this point in time, four maids were standing on the chilling ground filled with soft grass, their gazes fixated at their Young Master.

A moment or two later, Hanna, Skaya, Azel, and Olivia simultaneously lowered their heads; their voices echoed:

"Young Master, please train us!"