The underworld is a breeding ground for malice and desire.
Lately, one name has been dominating the shadows: "The Void¹." Rumor has it the organization was built by a mysterious man of the same name, and its influence is expanding at a terrifying rate. While their ultimate goals remain a mystery, they move under the cover of night, systematically dismantling branches of the Great Magic Cult.
"――Everyone, are you ready?"
Captain Sugar, a young woman with sharp eyes and medium-length blue hair - a frontline combatant for the Void - called out for confirmation.
"""Yes!"""
Her thirty subordinates responded in unison.
Their objective tonight: the East Branch of the Great Magic Cult in the Klein Kingdom. It was a small-scale hideout carved into the depths of a cave. Their mission was to rescue a girl who had manifested the Defiled Crest². According to the Void's intelligence, she was being held in a small chamber at the furthest reaches of the cave, serving as a test subject for the development of new magic.
Midnight struck. Under the descending veil of night, Sugar's strike team stormed the cult's hideout.
"What-!?"
"Gah!?"
"Argh...!"
The guards were neutralized in an instant as the team pressed the assault with relentless force.
"Are you bastards the 'Void' I've been hearing about!?"
"Think you can just walk in here? You'll pay for this!"
"I'll teach you a lesson you'll never forget!"
The cultists scrambled to form a defense, but it was futile. Sugar and her team were elite warriors who carried the blood of Heroes and hosted the Demon King's Factor, forged through grueling training. To them, these low-level thugs were beneath notice.
"Phew. I think that covers it," Sugar said.
Having seized the facility in record time, Sugar and her team found the target girl in the laboratory at the back of the cave.
"You're safe now. You did well to hold on," Sugar said.
"Huff... huff... Who... are you?" the girl asked.
"Rest easy. We're on your side," Sugar replied.
"On my... side?"
"Yes. We are those who bear the same Defiled Crest. It must have been hell for you. But the pain ends here. Our 'Great Master' will save you from this nightmare."
Just as they secured their objective, the atmosphere shifted.
"Sugar-sama! Reinforcements are coming from outside - Gyah!?"
One of the combatants was sent flying, crashing violently against the cave wall.
"What!?" Sugar shouted.
She rushed out of the lab, only to find a ferocious beastman of towering proportions standing in their way.
(Could it be... Gigin!?)
Gigin the Beastman. A warrior famous even within the Klein Kingdom, standing five meters tall with muscles like forged steel and a massive battle-axe in his right hand. He was a combat maniac who lived only for the thrill of the slaughter.
"Ho ho. So you lot are the 'Void' everyone's talking about?" Gigin asked.
"...Yes," Sugar replied.
She nodded, then voiced a blunt question. "Gigin, what is a big name like you doing in a backwater place like this?"
"Some group called the Great Magic Cult reached out to me a while back. They said if I staked out this hideout, I'd eventually get to fight Void. I've been waiting a long time." Gigin's eyes scanned the room restlessly. "So, which one is Void? Step forward and face me like a man!"
"I'm afraid he isn't here," Sugar said.
"Muu... Is that so? How disappointing..."
Gigin's shoulders slumped visibly, but then he clapped his hands together as if struck by a sudden realization.
"――Fine! Let's do this instead! I'll turn all of you into a blood sacrifice!"
"May I ask why?" Sugar asked.
"If his subordinates are slaughtered, the boss will have to come out! That's how a beastman would handle it! Humans should be the same, right?"
"I wouldn't be so sure. (This is the worst-case scenario...)"
Sugar's mind raced.
(There's only one exit, and Gigin is blocking it. If we all charge at once, maybe half... at worst, thirty percent of us could escape.)
But if they did that, they would have to leave the girl behind. It was impossible to protect a civilian while trying to break through a monster like Gigin.
(We have no choice...)
There was no way they could abandon a comrade - someone suffering from the same Defiled Crest. They all knew the hell that came with that mark. They all knew the salvation their Great Master had provided. And above all, the proud blood of the Hero flowing in their veins would never permit them to tuck tail and run while leaving one of their own behind.
"Everyone, you know what to do, right?" Sugar asked.
The unit nodded in silent agreement. Their hearts were as one.
"All units, prepare for battle! The target is Gigin! He's a monster who leveled an entire town by himself! Don't hold back - fight like your lives depend on it!"
"Gah-hah-hah! I've got nothing against you girls, but... you're the 'bait' to lure out Void!"
As the desperate struggle began, Toto - the unit's only non-combatant and designated messenger - was frantically trying to send a Call³ to their base at the abandoned church.
But it wouldn't connect. It was no surprise; the distance was far too great. Any psychic wave she sent would dissipate long before reaching the church. Only someone with God-like magic perception could possibly pick up such a faint signal.
(Ugh, it's no use...!)
Toto knew it was a fool's errand, but it was all she could do.
(Please, someone notice...! If this keeps up, Sugar-sama and the others will be slaughtered...!)
She poured every last drop of her mana into one final Call. Suddenly, a voice resonated in her head.
(What's up? Something happen?)
It was a relaxed, almost lazy voice - completely out of place in this life-or-death situation. The magical signature was definitely linked to the Void base. But Toto didn't recognize the voice at all. Still, there was no time to second-guess.
(Th-This is Toto from Sugar's squad! We are under attack by Gigin the Beastman during our mission in the East District! We are in combat! Please, put me through to Dia-sama...!)
(Ah... Dia's out right now. She'll probably be back soon, though.)
(I see...! Then please send reinforcements and a medical team immediately!)
(Is this, like, really urgent?)
(Yes! It's an absolute emergency!)
(Got it. In that case, I'll go.)
Before she could ask who "I" was, the Call cut off.
(I'll go...?)
Then it clicked. Dia was the First Seat and the second-in-command of the Void. There was only one person in the entire world who would call her by her name so casually.
"That voice... could it be...!"
As the realization hit Toto, a bone-shattering crash echoed through the cave. She turned to see Sugar's unit decimated.
"Gah-hah-hah-hah! Weak! Too weak! Is this really all the Void has to offer!?"
Gigin, completely unscathed, laughed as he hoisted the battered Sugar up by her leg.
"Kh... let... go..."
Sugar hung limply, her strength gone. She could do nothing but glare.
"Up you go!"
He tossed her into the air like a ragdoll.
"Now, let's see some fireworks!"
Gigin wound up his massive axe, preparing to cleave her in two.
(It's over...)
The massive slab of iron filled her vision. She knew that in a second, she would be nothing but a heap of meat. As certain death approached, Sugar closed her eyes tight.
(Void-sama, please forgive me...)
In the next heartbeat, Gigin's axe passed right through Sugar's body.
"Wh-!?"
Gigin stumbled, his momentum carrying him forward as he swung at nothing but air.
"...Eh...?"
Sugar landed softly on the ground, completely unharmed. It was a physical impossibility - unless one accounted for a certain Innate Magic that defied all laws of the world.
(Was that... Void Flow⁴?)
From the shadows, a figure in a black robe and a mask emerged.
"V-Void-sama...!?"
The masked man. The monster who wielded the Origin-Class Innate Magic, Void, the same tier as the Calamity, Xeno. The founder of the Void and the man who stood at the absolute pinnacle of their world.
"Sugar, are you okay?" Void asked.
"Y-Yes! I'm fine!" Sugar replied.
"Hold on, I'll fix you up."
"N-No! You shouldn't waste your precious mana on someone like -"
"Done."
"Eh?"
In an instant, her wounds were gone. The broken bones, the bruises, the cuts - it was as if she had never been in a fight at all.
(This is impossible...)
Healing others normally required intense focus, massive mana, and time. But Void wasn't bound by such logic. Through what he called "humble and steady effort," he had reached a point where he could fully restore someone from the brink of death in less than a tenth of a second. His mastery was, quite literally, divine.
"Ho ho! So you're the famous Void! I can smell it! You've got that dangerous scent all over you!" The beastman bared his teeth in a savage grin, raising his axe high. "I am Gigin Gorangon! Strongest warrior of the Gogon clan, and seeker of the strong!"
As Gigin radiated a terrifying killing intent, Void looked at Sugar with a calm, almost bored expression.
"What's the status?"
"Ah, err... we successfully rescued the target, but then Gigin attacked... and we were defeated," Sugar said.
"I see. That sounds rough. It's getting late, so let's wrap this up and go home."
Gigin let out a thunderous laugh. "Gah-hah-hah-hah! Ignoring me? How gutsy! I like it! This is going to be a glorious slaughter!"
Void slowly looked up and tilted his head. "Still... that's a very talkative head you've got."
In the next heartbeat...
"...Huh?"
Gigin's vision began to slide sideways.
"What... is... this...?"
No one saw a sword. No one saw a spell. Not even Gigin himself realized he had been struck.
"Ha... hah... You... monster..."
With those final words, the beastman's massive body slumped to the ground.
"...No way..."
Sugar knew her master was strong. But this...
(He's... on a different dimension.)
A wave of intense devotion washed over her.
(Ah, as expected of our Great Master... How blessed am I to serve such a being...!)
She suppressed her trembling heart and immediately dropped to one knee. The other combatants, despite their pain, forced themselves into a bow.
"Void-sama... the responsibility for this failure is mine alone. Please, grant me a fitting punishment," Sugar said.
"Failure? What failure?" Void asked.
"Because of my weakness, I allowed your precious property - our comrades - to be harmed."
"Was someone hurt?"
"...Eh?"
Sugar blinked. She looked back and gasped. The thirty warriors who had been mangled by Gigin were all standing up. Their wounds were gone. Even their torn clothes had been perfectly mended.
(He healed all thirty of us... simultaneously? In less than a blink...?)
The common sense Sugar had spent her life building was being systematically demolished.
"As far as I can see, everyone's fine. So, no punishment for Sugar," Void said.
"Thank you! Truly!"
"Well, it's almost time for the regular report, so I'm heading back to the church. You guys be careful on the way back."
With that, Void vanished into a swirl of black shadow.
"Void-sama... he's so kind..." Sugar whispered.
Her words set off a chain reaction among the unit.
"Dude, he's strong. Void-sama is freaking terrifying...!"
"That healing... not even the Six Legendary Heroes could pull that off."
"I love how soft his voice is... it just melts right into your soul."
"The kind version is great, but I'm all about that 'Absolute Monarch' vibe he has when he's serious. My heart is actually pounding right now."
"That voice... I wish he'd whisper to me like that twenty-four hours a day."
For a long time afterward, the warriors of the Void did nothing but gush about the infinite charms of their Great Master.
Summary:
Hollow, acting as 'Void', intervenes in a raid led by his subordinate Sugar to rescue a girl from the Great Magic Cult. They encounter the powerful beastman Gigin, who decimates Sugar's unit in hopes of luring Void into a fight. Void appears, effortlessly saves Sugar using his unique magic, and eliminates Gigin with a single, imperceptible strike before mass-healing his entire squad.
Trivia:
- Void's magic Tier: It is explicitly compared to the 'Calamity' Xeno, suggesting Hollow's power is on par with world-ending threats.
- The 'Defiled Crest': The resonance between Sugar's unit and the rescued girl implies a deeper shared trauma or biological factor used by the Cult.
- Void's casual tone: His lack of awareness regarding his own 'overwhelming' presence continues the theme of his 'humility' being perceived as terrifying majesty by others.
- The imperceptible strike: The fact that Gigin didn't even realize he was dead suggests Void's offensive capabilities are now in the realm of conceptual or absolute speed
Character Insight:
The devotion of the 'Void' members to Hollow has transitioned from mere loyalty to religious fervor. Sugar's willingness to die for a 'property' of Void (the rescued girl) shows the absolute authority Hollow holds. Hollow, however, remains detached, focusing on 'regular reports' and 'working hard,' unaware of the 'Absolute Monarch' aura his followers perceive.
Lore And Worldbuilding Context:
The existence of 'Origin Class' magic is clarified as the pinnacle of the power system. The Great Magic Cult is shown to be experimenting on 'Defiled Crest' bearers to develop new magic, suggesting the crests are a source of raw, albeit corrupt, power.
TL Notes:
The author uses the contrast between Hollow's internal 'soft' voice and his external 'Void' persona to drive the humor and tension. The name 'Void' (虚 - Utsuro) is a direct semantic link to the name 'Hollow,' which serves as a wink to the reader about the protagonist's identity.
TL Notes:
1 ↩ The organization 'Void' (Utsuro) shares the same Japanese kanji meaning as the protagonist's name, Hollow.
2 ↩ Defiled Crest (汚印 - Oin): A mark appearing on certain individuals, often leading to persecution or experimentation.
3 ↩ Call (交信 - Koushin): A magical communication method requiring mental focus and mana.
4 ↩ Void Flow (Void流し - Void Nagashi): A technique utilizing the properties of 'Void' to phase through physical attacks.
Notes:
• Sugar - A frontline combatant for the organization 'Void'. Characterized by blue medium-length hair and sharp, almond-shaped eyes. She carries the blood of a Hero and hosts the Demon King's Factor. Highly devoted to Hollow/Void.
• Toto - A non-combatant 'messenger' for the organization 'Void'. Responsible for magical communication. Possesses the ability to use 'Call' magic.
• Dia - Half‑elf descendant of the Hero who bore the Crest of Impurity, she sports ethereal silver hair, slender limbs and clear eyes. As First Seat of the Void and Hollow’s most loyal subordinate—No. 2 of the organization—she manages its practical affairs, speaking formally in public but casually with Hollow.
• Gigin Gorangon - A beastman warrior of the Gogon clan. Stands five meters tall with bulging, steel-like muscles. Carries a massive battle-axe in his right hand. A battle-crazed warrior famous in the Klein Kingdom.
• Hollow - 15‑year‑old heir of the Heisenberg ducal house, 170 cm tall, dark crimson medium‑length hair in a ribbon‑ponytail, crimson eyes, lean aristocratic build; wears a black school uniform with a navy jacket. Top‑ranked freshman at Redrick Academy, known as the Vile Aristocrat and founder of the organization ‘Void’ under the alias Void. He wields Origin‑Class innate magic ‘Void’ and Refraction, hides intense training behind a slothful façade, sits by the window, and plots ruthlessly as a transmigrated noble.