Chapter 1
Chapter 1: The Midnight Awakening
Haru was sleeping peacefully in his room, dreaming about his best friend—the girl he secretly loved.
Suddenly, a strange sound echoed through the silent night.
It was a mixture of soft crying and unsettling laughter.
His eyes slowly opened.
The room was dark, illuminated only by the pale moonlight shining through the window.
As Haru looked outside, his heart nearly stopped.
Two pale female spirits floated in the air. Their long black hair covered most of their faces, while their glowing red eyes stared directly at him. Their unnaturally wide smiles sent chills down his spine.
Fear consumed him.
Without making a sound, Haru quickly hid beneath his blanket. His entire body trembled, and his heartbeat pounded so loudly that he thought the spirits could hear it.
"Am I... dreaming?" he whispered.
Just as he felt he was about to faint from fear, a gentle voice spoke beside him.
"My boy... what are you doing?"
Haru froze.
The voice sounded strangely familiar.
Slowly, he peeked out from under the blanket.
Standing beside his bed was the spirit of an elderly woman. Unlike the terrifying spirits outside, she had warm eyes and a gentle smile.
"My boy," she asked softly. "Are you afraid?"
Although Haru was still frightened, something about her voice made him feel safe.
"W-Who are you?" he asked.
The woman smiled.
"I am your grandmother."
Haru's eyes widened.
"My grandmother...? But... she died when I was only four years old."
"Yes," she replied gently. "You were too young to remember my face. But when you were a baby, I was the one who carried you, cared for you, and sang you to sleep."
Haru closed his eyes.
"...Your voice..."
"I've heard it before."
His grandmother nodded.
"Yes, my dear."
After a moment of silence, Haru pointed toward the window.
"W-Who are those creatures?"
Her warm expression disappeared.
"They are spirits."
"Most of them were betrayed and murdered by someone they trusted—a family member or a close friend. Their hatred trapped them in this world. Now they wander endlessly, seeking revenge against the living."
Haru swallowed nervously.
"Then... who killed you, Grandma?"
She looked away.
"You will learn the truth..."
"...when the right time comes."
Haru wanted to ask more questions, but she gently raised her hand.
"Listen carefully."
"If you wish to protect your family... and save this world..."
"...you must find the Demon Sword."
"It was forged long ago by your grandfather."
"It is the only weapon capable of destroying the strongest spirits."
Haru stared at her in disbelief.
"Then come with me! Please!"
A sad smile appeared on her face.
"I cannot."
Before Haru could ask why, her body slowly dissolved into countless glowing blue lights.
"I will see you again..."
"...when the time is right."
She vanished.
Silence filled the room once more.
Still shaken, Haru decided to check on his parents.
He slowly walked toward their bedroom.
The room was empty.
Confused, he looked toward the dining room.
His mother and father were sitting quietly at the dining table...
...in the middle of the night.
Neither of them moved.
"Mom...? Dad...?"
Slowly, they turned their heads toward him.
"We're fine," they answered together.
"Go back to sleep."
Something felt terribly wrong.
Their smiles looked unnatural.
Their voices sounded hollow.
And their eyes...
Their eyes were completely blank.
A cold chill ran down Haru's spine.
Without saying another word, he slowly walked back to his room and quietly locked the door.
He leaned against it, trying to calm his racing heart.
"This can't be real..." he whispered.
Then...
A faint whisper echoed through the hallway.
It wasn't loud.
It was barely audible.
"He can see us."
Haru's blood ran cold.
He slowly looked toward the door.
Footsteps echoed outside.
One...
Two...
Three...
They stopped directly outside his room.
Silence.
Then...
Knock.
Knock.
Knock.
His mother's voice came from the other side.
"Haru...
"Open the door."
His father's voice followed.
"We're worried about you."
Haru didn't move.
Because deep inside...
He knew.
Those voices no longer belonged to his parents.
