Fantasy ZERØ FOR CØNDUCT

[Arkangel]

ZERØ FOR CØNDUCT

Season 1・The Devil's Simulacrum・Arkangel & Lathyrus

 

[Arkangel]

Zero for Conduct⠀//⠀Season 1

Prologue: Death Sentence | Rooftop of Eunho High School, Nowon, Seoul

A sword bathed in blood and sweat remained steadfast in hand. The reflection of the blade painted a gruesome image of countless bodies lying in pools of blood, unified only by the wounds they had endured. The wielder of the sword, gasping for air without pause, felt his arm quiver as the surge of adrenaline no longer sustained his strength.

Though his wounds were minor in comparison to the victims of his wrath, his rain-soaked uniform gave him a sloven appearance. The loosened tie had finally fallen into the puddle beneath him, followed soon after by the unbuttoned school uniform slipping from his shoulders. His head held up high, his desperate gaze met with the stars above him, the calm scenery aiding in his recovery… until he was forced awake by the sounds of a familiar voice, booming into his ears.

The adolescent girl next to him laughed boisterously as the rush of excitement, of thrilling action, continued to course through her veins. “Woo~hoo!” she cheered, and heaved a contented sigh. “Man, it’s been a while since I felt so alive!” she chuckled between panting breaths as she raised her drenched sleeve to wipe off the blood that spilled from her battered lips. With slightly staggering footsteps, she approached her comrade to give him a hardy pat on the shoulder for their extraordinary teamwork. Though dozens of corpses were laid by their feet, she was only just warming up, despite her sluggish posture and bruised appendages.

“So where’s the rest of the party, huh?” she asked him rhetorically; the anticipation of having to fight another restless mob stimulated her senses once again. Not long after she had spoken, she would hear the sounds of shoes clacking against concrete stairs. Her heart pumped faster in response, eagerly awaiting a new arrival.

“Fuck the rest of the party,” the other responded, followed by the sound of his fist slamming the puddle. His knee had decided to rest on the pavement for the time being. “I—... I haven’t had to move like this in… years.” The boy struggled to mutter out his words, intercepted only by the involuntary movement of his lungs at a rapid pace. The absence of noise from the floors below had secured their victory. Rest assured that there was time for repose, he looked behind him to check up on his partner, whose choice of words greatly reflected their physical condition.

She was always stronger. Much more agile with higher levels of endurance. An athletic gift to the world whose prowess had made her a formidable foe against those looking to trample her from above. A thought that only occurred to him the moment he realized the amount of bodies that had been wasted before her, compared to the puny pile that he managed to amass with a good amount of luck. It almost made him crack up at the pitiful sight of his accomplishments. But nonetheless, he was glad that she was… mostly injured.

It was the moment he had thought about celebrating, the reality of the situation was about to worsen. An uninvited guest had managed to muffle his presence from the distance, their existence only made certain when the exit door swung wide open, snapping the deadbolt in half. As the sound of the metal piece skipping across the puddle alerted the two into their natural battle stance, the trespasser was slow to reveal his identity, waving only an arm to taunt the duo.

The boy knew better than to provoke their next opponent. Taking a moment to come to terms with the tiresome development, he mustered up the strength to return on his feet, and returned the firm grip he once had on his sword.

Then it happened. Perhaps their patience had run out, or trickery was not of his nature. The ridicule lasted merely a second before they had decided to unveil their appearance to the ones present on the rooftop. Caring not about the consequences of his actions, a familiar face had made its debut to the duo, confusing the boy who failed to recognize the rather… uncommon choice of fashion.

Unbeknownst to him, however, the ecstatic expression of his fellow partner had faded long ago, their eyes locked dead into the soul of the intruder, showing signs of past conflict.

“No man, no wraith, and no soul shall find themselves free of guilt at the hands of the Ecclesiarch.”

“The decree has been made, and your fate has been sealed. There sits only death on the road you face.”

“The Ecclesiarch has sentenced you to death.”

END OF PROLOGUE​

End of Post⠀//⠀Code by Arkangel

 

[Arkangel]

Zero for Conduct⠀//⠀Season 1

Yun Sung-Min

윤성민

Wraith // High School Student

Classroom 3-A of Eunho High School, Nowon, Seoul

The autumn wind had returned, its crisp breeze occasionally drifting into the classroom, carrying a subtle chill. This month was notably colder than the previous year, prompting students to layer warmer clothing over their required uniforms. Current fashion has suggested students beg their parents for more stylish winter clothes. As September rolled into his life, there was no doubt that Sung-Min also fell victim to the casual fashion of his school’s popularity. It was his way of fitting in with those unfamiliar with his origin. A secret that he desired to keep locked deep within his heart. An identity that he wanted no attention for, nor did he wish to seek out those similar, for he had given up that life years ago.

He had decided to enroll at this high school for a reason: void activity was low, incidents spiking only during the winter when the seals became weak. He had no issues occasionally living a double life to ensure the safety of others in the neighborhood. After all, they had treated him well. From the intermittent gifts of fermented vegetables to annual invitations to private functions, he was quick to forget about the days of the past, living the present with a satisfied heart, unbothered by the coziness of his current life.

Transferring students was unusual for this time of the year. It was only yesterday when the exam dates were announced, and clubs were required to boost their activities. With the season of competition approaching, rumors of new students arriving from overseas seemed almost unimaginable. Yet, upon hearing of the rare occurrence, Sung-Min’s ears perked with mild curiosity. It would have been a solemn lie to say that he cared little. It became evident when his eyes tracked the sliding door, revealing a figure of strange appearance—a girl whose casual demeanor was unsettling in its calmness.

Sung-Min had suppressed his senses for months without end, and thus he could not properly assess the situation at hand. But plentiful evidence had walked through that door to make him remember about his roots. First, it was the jacket—harboring symbols and design that was far too familiar, alongside the combination of colors that only brought him to a single conclusion: a yakuza involved with the occult. Which house she belonged to was another matter. The second was the rush of chills that ran through his spine as she stepped forward. It had forced him to reactivate his sixth sense, reminding him of the fact that he was a Wraith.

It would then be followed up by one of the worst introductions one could possibly mutter, earning the social disapproval of those unfortunate enough to have their hearing intact.

An inaudible sigh escaped his lips as her speech concluded. The Wraith society was no stranger to weirdos, as the development of children afflicted by the condition would often greatly hinder their growth, resulting in the birth of autism within their brains as time moved forward. It was a miracle that he had managed to dodge such a phenomenon. Although he had never considered himself normal, the observation of the fool before him had reassured him of his normality.

For now, it was best to keep quiet and allow the situation to brew - something that would come to an abrupt end when he witnessed her silently making her way towards the back exit, evading the attention of the professor…

End of Post⠀//⠀Code by Arkangel

 

[Arkangel]

Zero for Conduct⠀//⠀Season 1

Yun Sung-Min

윤성민

Wraith // High School Student

Eunho High School, Nowon, Seoul

She had taken this opportunity to permanently mark her absence for the rest of the day, causing only confusion in the classroom as the professor had dedicated some of his time to searching for the fresh delinquent. The short-lived situation reminded Sung-Min of his distant past, when he once partook in similar neglectful activities - skipping class and making use of his freedom, only to later reap his rewards by having to spend extra time at the detention center, closely monitored by adults who stared at him with disappointment.

Sung-Min quickly dismissed her as a nuisance and shifted his focus to more important matters as the day progressed. The absence of companionship made it easy. Having already accepted his solitude, he went about his routine as usual, engaging with classmates and teachers only when necessary for formal discussions. By the time night had fallen, he found himself standing beneath the entrance of his school, gazing up at the darkening sky.

The chilling breeze had sharpened, and the refreshing air had already begun to soothe his mind, for the day of hardship was finally over. His muscles were sore from the club activities that had concluded just an hour before, and the gentle wind brushing against his skin had made the experience therapeutic. It would have been a lie to say that he did not want this moment to end.

Content with the weather and the subtle noise of the city from a distance, the lack of students nearby had made his steps softer, wanting to briefly rest as he strolled. Anyone of his age would have been excited to return home, but Sung-Min had nothing that awaited him at home - he much preferred the social space that the school rewarded, and the lack of parental figures looking forward to his return was not anything he was particularly bothered by.

He had long come to appreciate the quiet serenity that solitude offered.

But there sat a girl, resting above the jungle gym belonging to the school’s property, her comfort only possible with the existence of a thin mattress on top of the highest peak of the structure. Even though he had managed to just briefly catch her during his gaze into the stars above, the absolute madness of the scenery had stunned his thoughts. He stood there, perplexed. The attention of the time was enough to make certain of the fact that it was late into the evening, and she was most certainly not anyone who frequently departed late.

Because the girl in question was none other than the transfer student from before.

“You are the strangest person I’ve met since coming here.”

These marked his first words to the girl who was about to change the trajectory of his life forever, either for the better or the worse.

End of Post⠀//⠀Code by Arkangel

 

[Arkangel]

Zero for Conduct⠀//⠀Season 1

Yun Sung-Min

윤성민

Wraith // High School Student

Eunho High School, Nowon, Seoul

If someone were to ask why he chose those particular words for his introduction, he would have no meaningful answer to offer. It was merely a matter of speaking his mind. Perhaps it would have been wiser to walk past the impending storm before him, but for reasons unknown, his words had already made this the new reality.

It did not take a genius to realize that this person cared not about the environment surrounding them - made obvious by the recently unfolded plastic wrappers scattered across the school front, the culprit as visible as the sun. Had it been at another time of day, she would have faced his full wrath for her indifferent attitude. However, the exhausting physical labor he had endured since the afternoon had dulled his emotions, leaving the culprit to receive nothing more than a weary sigh. Only after her outrageous request did Sung-Min decide to take matters into his own hands.

“First off, access to the gymnasium is prohibited after nine.” Sung-Min’s tone was noticeably harsher than before, his remarks about her careless use of the yoga mats being the source of his annoyance. He then continued, digressing to the more important matter at hand. “Before we’re forced into an assembly about the integrity of student responsibilities first thing in the morning tomorrow, do everyone a favor and pick that up.” He pointed at the clutter being gradually swept away by the soft wind.

End of Post⠀//⠀Code by Arkangel

 

[Arkangel]

Zero for Conduct⠀//⠀Season 1

Yun Sung-Min

윤성민

Wraith // High School Student

Eunho High School, Nowon, Seoul

The lackadaisical conduct of the schoolgirl was exhausting to watch at best, and downright painful at worst. Sung-Min had internally begun to question her authenticity - a thought that started long during her introduction from the morning, and the obviously gang-affiliated jacket that she had decided to sport during her first day. But that mattered little in the end. Despite her status as a fellow Wraith, a trait that required no conversation as the two shared a similar immaterial scent, he had a difficult time attempting to mind his own business.

He had questions. A tremendous amount, in fact. Never mind the jacket, how was she able to pass the entrance exam and earn enough credit to obtain admission? Eunho High School was ranked 7th among Korea's most prestigious academies last year, and she clearly wasn't wealthy enough to bribe officials—evident from how she treated him like a bank loan. That was the next cause of concern. Suspicions grew as Sung-Min had to wonder just which poor soul she managed to borrow that snack money from.

He purposefully ignored her senseless question. He couldn't care less whether or not she would nag him for change. Sung-Min maintained a budget, and the allowance he received from his aunt was most certainly not going to be found in her greasy palms. To bid her farewell, he shot her one last dirty look before resuming his commute, leaving the girl to her own devices.

End of Post⠀//⠀Code by Arkangel