Ren wakes in a dimly lit wooden house. His wrists are bound by glowing, unnatural chains. Nearby, a girl sits on a bed, waiting. In the corner, someone is cooking.
Ren struggles.
Girl: "Oh, you're awake!"
Ren: "Who… who are you? Why am I chained?" (nervously stammering)
He notices he's still naked and quickly tries to cover himself.
Ren: "Please, c-c-could you give me some clothes first?"
Girl: "Wait."
She heads to the kitchen.
Girl (whispering): "Mom! He's awake."
Mom: "Get him some clothes. I'm almost done with lunch."
Kento(happy): He's awake?
Ren was surprised to hear kento's voice from kitchen
The girl brings back a set of clothes.
Girl: "Here."
Ren: "Can you open the chains?"
Girl: "Oh! My fault." (She unlocks them.)
Ren puts on the clothes and sits on the bed.
Girl: "Hey! Get off my bed!"
Ren: "S-s-sorry!" (moves quickly)
Girl: "It's fine, sit there instead."
Ren: "T-th-thanks."
Aratsu: "You fear girls? Hahaha!"
Ren: "Shut up!"
Girl: "Huh?"
Ren: "N-nothing! Um… can I get a s-s-shower?"
Girl: "Why are you stammering? Are you a stammerer?"
Ren: "No! I-I just never talked to anyone but my parents before…"
Girl: "Then think of me like your mom. Don't be scared. I won't bite."
She smiles.
Girl: "Let's go. I'll take you to the pond."
She asks her mom.
Girl: "Mom, should I take him to the spring?"
Mom: "Yes, and take Kento too."
They walk to a beautiful, steaming hot spring. Flowers bloom around it.
Girl: "Here you go. And take your sword." (She lifts Kento's hilt.)
She leaves.
Kento: "My friend! I missed you sooo much!"
Ren punches him.
Kento: "Aah! Why?!"
Ren: "Why didn't you tell me all of this? And how are you so friendly with them you knew them before?"
Kento: "They saved you. Nulls tried to kill you, but they created a protective barrier. I talked to them while you slept."
Ren sinks into the spring, the heat relaxing him.
Ren: "So, this forest… she created it?"
Kento: "Yes. You were outside her area. Nulls can't enter her zone."
From the house:
Lady: "Come home now! Meal is ready!"
Kento: "Coming!"
---
Later, Ren sits across from the mysterious lady. Only she and Ren remain.
Ren: "May I ask… who are you? And who is she?"
Lady: "I knew you'd ask. I'm Levina Elowen. That girl is my daughter, Jerry Elowen."
Ren: "Why did you save me?"
Levina: "You were lying outside my forest. I never had a son, and when I saw you, I decided you'd be one. I couldn't lift you—even with my Shisou—so I waited years until you woke. Now that you have… I want to train you. But what about your parents?"
Ren: "My parents… they're dead." (tears in eyes)
Levina: "I'm sorry. But don't worry
I will treat you as a son"
She hugs him gently.
Levina: "If you accept me as your mother—and do what I ask—I'll let you marry Jerry."
Ren: "W-w-what? I'm not here for that."
Levina: "You'll join the NHA—Null Hunter Association."
Ren: "What?"
Levina: "You'll train with Jerry. Then both of you will take the entrance exam together. Only 20 out of 100 pass."
Ren: "We'll go tomorrow!"
Levina: "You'll die in the first test. Rest for two days. Then… we begin."
Ren (thinking): I'll pass, with Aratsu's power…
Aratsu: "You're not even ready for 1% of my power. You needed 6 years to handle myself inside you"
Ren's face darkens.
Levina: "What happened?"
Ren: "N-nothing. Hehehe…"
Jerry steps back into the room.
As Ren looked up, their eyes met. Jerry gave him a long, unreadable glance—like she was searching for something in him. Then she smiled, a soft, mysterious smile that made Ren's heart skip a beat. In that small, silent moment, something unspoken passed between them—something that felt like a beginning.