That night, the sky above Yotsuba Village stretched wide like a vast expanse of black velvet dusted with diamonds.
There was no city glow to interfere, no factory smoke to obstruct the view.
In this remote village, which served as the heart of the most feared clan’s power in Japan, nature seemed to have stopped turning, refusing to submit to the destruction ravaging every other nation.
Yuuta walked slowly along a path cutting through a field of cogon grass.
To his left and right, Maya and Miya walked with jaunty steps, occasionally taking small leaps over the ground still damp with night dew.
“Onii-sama, slow down a bit!
Look, the river is so calm tonight.” Maya pointed toward the stream beside them.
Yuuta paused for a moment, glancing at the clear river.
Under the moonlight, he could see the silhouettes of small fish and shrimp swimming freely among the rocks at the riverbed.
This sight was an anomaly.
Out there, in the ruined metropolises or the smoldering conflict zones, water was a scarce commodity, often toxic from the chemical waste of war and radiation.
“The air here is so different from school, isn’t it?” Miya took a deep breath, letting the pure oxygen fill her lungs.
“In the city, even though the air is filtered by the purification systems, it still feels…
heavy.
Like there’s a metallic taste left on your tongue.” Yuuta nodded slowly.
“That’s because Yotsuba Village is protected by incredibly strong magical and geographical barriers.
Pollution from the industrial zones cannot easily reach this valley.
But Miya, this peace didn’t come for free.” He gazed into the distance, toward the mountain ranges that fenced in their village.
“Every breath of fresh air we take here is paid for with the blood of our clan members fighting on the front lines.
Right now, two-thirds of the world’s population is gone.
World War III hasn’t ended; it’s just resting for a moment before it strikes again.” “Onii-sama is starting again!” Maya interrupted with a spoiled, protesting tone, tugging at the sleeve of Yuuta’s tracksuit.
“We brought Onii-sama here specifically so you’d stop thinking about those heavy things!
Stop being an ‘old man’ who enjoys prophesying the apocalypse in the library.
For once, look forward—not at a textbook!” Yuuta could only let out a resigned sigh.
It was true; ever since the incident in the school library and the grueling training with Tajima, nearly all his time had been consumed by research and magic development.
Maya and Miya had apparently been planning this “escape” since this afternoon.
◆━⊰✿✧✿⊱━◆ They continued walking until they reached a bend in the river where the current slowed, forming a sort of quiet natural pool.
There, thickets grew lush among the willow branches that drooped toward the water.
“We’re here!” Miya whispered conspiratorially.
She placed an index finger in front of her lips, signaling Yuuta to be silent.
Suddenly, from behind the thicket of grass, a single dot of pale green light appeared.
It drifted slowly, pulsing gently as if breathing.
Then another appeared, then ten, until dozens of tiny points of light began to dance over the water’s surface and among the tree branches.
“Fireflies…” Yuuta murmured.
His usually calm eyes softened slightly.
In the 21st century that had long since passed, these creatures might have been considered ordinary insects.
But in the year 2059, fireflies were an almost extinct species.
The ecosystem damage caused by large-scale magic use and conventional weapons had destroyed their habitats globally.
“Beautiful, isn’t it, Onii-sama?” Maya chased one of the lights with open hands, yet kept enough distance so as not to touch it.
“Miya and I found them last week.
We wanted to show them to you before the season changes and they disappear.” “They look like little fairies having a party.” Miya added while sitting on a large rock at the riverbank.
“I read in an old book that all of Japan used to be full of them.
It’s hard to imagine a world so beautiful could become what it is now.” Yuuta stood beside Miya, watching the dance of light.
His transmigrator mind began to link this phenomenon to information theory.
(These fireflies…
they are fragile entities.
If the Eidos structure of this environment changes even slightly, they will vanish.) “Beauty is always proportional to fragility, Miya.” Yuuta answered softly.
“The world that was full of fireflies was destroyed because humans chose power over balance.
And ironically, the only way to protect what remains of this beauty is to possess even greater power.” Maya stopped running and approached the two of them.
She looked at Yuuta seriously.
“Onii-sama, is that the reason you want to become a Strategic-Class Magician?
To protect these fireflies?” Yuuta fell silent for a moment.
Maya’s innocent question pierced right to the core of his ambition.
“Partially, perhaps yes.
If I have the power to destroy a fleet in an instant, then the enemy will think a thousand times before attacking this valley.
By becoming the most feared monster, I can guarantee this place remains a paradise for you…
and for these fireflies.” Miya held Yuuta’s hand, feeling her brother’s palm, which was rough from physical training.
“We know Onii-sama will be very great.
But promise me one thing…
don’t let that power make you lose the ability to enjoy nights like this.
Don’t let your heart become as rigid as the numbers in your head.” Yuuta looked at his two younger cousins.
The light of the fireflies reflected in his pupils.
“I won’t promise my heart will stay soft, but I promise this place will always be safe as long as I am still breathing.” “…” The atmosphere became quiet, save for the sound of the gurgling river and the rustle of willow leaves blowing in the wind.
This peace felt so real, as if the war that killed billions was happening in another dimension entirely.
However, Yuuta’s sharp senses caught something.
He didn’t turn around, but his consciousness began to scan the surrounding area.
It wasn’t a threat, but rather the presence of several Yotsuba Clan members hiding within the shadows of the trees, ensuring the safety of the Main Family was maintained.
(Tight security even within the village itself.
This clan really is as protective of their own as the Uchiha Clan.) “Onii-sama, look!” Maya exclaimed, breaking Yuuta’s reverie.
“One landed on your shoulder!” A tiny light perched right on the shoulder of Yuuta’s green tracksuit.
The small insect pulsed with a calm rhythm.
Yuuta lifted his hand, letting the firefly crawl onto his fingertip.
“You know, Maya, Miya…” Yuuta began while staring at the firefly on his finger.
“With Decomposition Magic, I can deconstruct anything.
I can destroy matter down to the molecular level.
But seeing a creature this small…
I realize that destroying is very easy.
What’s difficult is allowing something beautiful to remain in the midst of chaos.” “That’s why Onii-sama has to come out often!” Maya put her hands on her hips.
“If it’s only the library, Onii-sama will only learn how to destroy.
Here, Onii-sama learns how to appreciate.” Yuuta chuckled, a sound of laughter rarely heard from his lips.
“You two really are talkative sisters.” Miya smiled broadly.
“We just want Onii-sama to be happy.
Even though Onii-sama is a cousin, you are still our big brother.” They spent quite a long time at the riverbank.
Talking about trivial things—about annoying school teachers, about Nonoa who always clung to Yuuta, and about the food they wanted to eat tomorrow.
Yuuta listened to every word patiently, storing this memory in the safest corner of his brain.
He knew that in the future, when he stood on the battlefield as a Strategic-Class Magician, it was the memory of this firefly night that would prevent him from becoming a total demon.
As the clock neared midnight, the temperature began to drop.
Yuuta stood up and brushed the dust off his trousers.
“Let’s go back.
If we’re late, Uncle Genzou or Tajima will send a search party.” “Ehh, just a bit longer!” Maya complained, but she still stood up and followed Yuuta.
While walking home, Yuuta looked back one last time toward the river.
The light of the fireflies was still there, dancing in the silence.
He clenched his fist, strengthening his resolve.
With a steadier step, Yuuta led his two younger sisters back to the Main House, leaving the clear river and the near-extinct dance of light in the embrace of the Yotsuba Village night.
This brief peace had ended, and tomorrow, the forging of the Strategic-Class Magician would begin again, harder than ever before.
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