【Synopsis】 On the eastern edge of the Kingdom of Calendia, in a region of sprawling wheat fields, monsters have been increasing for about a month, and several villages have been attacked. A single rumor has spread among the people: "A Demon is leading the monsters. A new Demon King has been born." A Demon King grows by feeding on human fear. The more the rumor spreads, the stronger the Demon King becomes.

Into this crisis comes the party celebrated throughout the kingdom: the "Party of the Torch." They are led by Lucia, the "Hero of the Dawn," who was imbued with the Hero's power a year ago. A Hero grows by receiving the hope of the people, and their white flame dispels fear.

A rumor of a Demon spreading fear, and a Hero's song lighting hope. Is the rumored Demon truly a Demon King? Will the dawn ever break over this region's night?

【You Are】 You can be a companion joining the party, someone met along the way, or the rumored Demon themselves. Race, appearance, strength, and purpose are free. No one in the party knows your true identity from the start.

• If joining the party: The party lacks a scout. Skills in traps or reconnaissance will be appreciated.
• If becoming the rumored Demon: You are free to claim the title of Demon King or not. A newly ascended Demon King (Calamity-class) would be a good match for the party. A Demon King grows stronger the more they are feared.
• You can also be anything else: a villager, a client, a passing Demon, etc. Unless you claim the title of Demon King, no Demon King will appear. If you are not the rumored Demon, the truth behind the rumors is just a regular Demon leading monsters, a massive outbreak, or a tall tale born of fear.

【How to Start】 The story begins in a village before dawn. Smoke is rising from the neighboring village, and the party is about to rush over.

【The Party of the Torch】 A close-knit, lively group of four. Lucia, the proud and stiff-necked Hero, is teased by Lyra the bard, worshipped by Julius the paladin, and treated like a child by Bernd the mercenary, leaving her blushing almost every day.

【About This World】 A continent of swords and magic. Monsters are born from the mana that fills the world and are inexhaustible no matter how many are defeated. Therefore, the work of adventurers never ends on this continent. Besides humans, there are "Demons" with intelligence and speech. It is said some, like vampires and succubi, mingle in towns in human form. Life is a mix of medieval to early modern technology supplemented by magic tools. Long-distance communication is handled by letters, messengers, and magic communication devices.

■ Races

• Humans: The most numerous. First gained mana 6,000 years ago through the blood of the Saint.
• Elves: Long-lived and excels in mana. Live in remote forests and the northern Empire.
• Dwarves: Craftsmanship-oriented, the heart of magic tool production. Live in the mountains of Granat.
• Beastmen: High physical ability. The core of the Empire's military.
• Dragonewts: Few in number and scattered. Distinct from the Progenitor Dragons.

■ History

• 15,000+ years ago: Ancient Civilization Era. Humanity, lacking mana, flourished through technology.
• 10,000 years ago: The ancient civilization collapsed. No one passed down what happened; only ruins remain.
• 10,000 to 6,000 years ago: The 4,000-year Void. Humanity, lacking mana, existed only to be preyed upon by Demons.
• 6,000 years ago: Saint Alicia shared her blood with humanity, giving them mana for the first time. The Holy Order, which enshrines the Saint, was founded.
• Approx. 400 years ago: King Solvein founded the Adventurer's Guild.

【Countries and Regions】 The Eisenland Empire rules the northern half of the continent, while the four Kingdoms rule the south. There are no wars between nations.

■ Eisenland Empire A northern military power. The state researches magic, and the capital, Eisenburg, houses the continent's largest Magic Academy. There is no Adventurer's Guild; the military slays monsters. A war with the northeastern Demon King, Granvel, has lasted for over a decade. Adventurers from the Empire are viewed with slight suspicion.

■ Kingdom of Calendia A breadbasket of great plains spanning the west to the center. In the middle of the plains lies the bottomless pit "Great Labyrinth Altum," where adventurers gather in the rim city of Limen.

■ Kingdom of Granat A nation of dwarves and craftsmen encompassing the Central Mountain Range. The home of weaponry and magic tools.

■ Kingdom of Solvein A southeastern nation of sea and trade. The capital, Solhaven, is the continent's largest port and headquarters of the Adventurer's Guild.

■ Kingdom of Lumiere A peninsula nation to the south. Home to the Holy City of Sangria, the headquarters of the Holy Order.

■ Frontiers The Silvarie Forest where elves live, the White Frostlands where Progenitor Dragons are said to dwell, and the Southern Volcanic Belt.

The royal families of the four Kingdoms rose to power through contributions to humanity rather than military might. They rely on each other for holy guidance, food, manpower, and weaponry.

【Adventurer's Guild】 Official name: Continental Adventurer Mutual Aid Organization. A neutral organization that takes no orders from any nation, with branches in the four Kingdoms. Approximately 80,000 registered members.

■ Ranks Six levels from S to E. Most peak at C-rank. There are only a few S-ranks on the continent.

■ Roles Frontline (Sword, Axe, Spear. Tanks and Skirmishers), Backline (Magic, Bow, Thrown), Support (Healing, Buffs, Magic Tools), Special (Trap Disarming, Scouting, Summoning, Appraisal). Even among porters, there are experts who choose that role.

■ Requests Subjugation, Escort, Exploration, Investigation, Collection, Odd Jobs. Posted on boards and open to anyone. Failure lowers guild trust.

■ Rewards Odd jobs start from a few copper coins; collection or small monster hunts earn a few silver; dangerous hunts or ruin explorations start from a few gold coins. Rewards are paid to the party and split among members.

【Tiers of Power】 Power in this world is divided into four categories: Skills, Secret Techniques, Talents, and Authorities. These are types of doors rather than just levels of strength; they can overlap. A master of Skills can be stronger than a novice of Secret Techniques.

■ Skills Can be acquired by anyone through training. Swordsmanship, Fire Magic, Compounding, Smithing, Trap Disarming, etc. The mainstay of soldiers and adventurers.

■ Secret Techniques Exceptional techniques reached only by those who meet certain conditions. About one in a thousand. Known by school or formula names; possessors are considered top-tier.

■ Talents (Unique Abilities) Unique, common-sense-defying powers. Only a few dozen on the continent. Always referred to as "The [Noun]er" (e.g., The Seer).

■ Authorities Top-tier powers that interfere with the laws of the world. Always referred to as "Principle of [Noun]." Those with Authorities are called King-class (about a dozen known). A newly ascended King-class is small and grows through the emotions directed at them; once fully grown, they rival a nation's military. The absolute peak is God-class, of which there are very few.

To reach an Authority, one needs a unique soul, accumulated training, and the emotions of others. Talent or effort alone is not enough. The Hero is the only exception, chosen by soul alone. Attacks simply do not reach opponents of a vastly higher tier.

【Magic】 ■ Attributes Six attributes: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Light, and Dark, plus the non-attributed Null. Affinity is innate; most have one, two is rare. Ice derives from Water, Lightning from Wind, Plants and Metal from Earth. Null (Physical Reinforcement, Space, Mind) can be used by anyone. ■ Mana Capacity Determined by innate talent; lineage doesn't matter. Great geniuses can suddenly appear from commoners. ■ Tiers Creating fire is a Skill; burning a mountain is a Secret Technique; ruling over flame itself is an Authority. ■ Incantation Not mandatory. The more skilled, the less they chant. ■ Space Magic Sub-dimensional storage is available as magic tools, commonly used by merchants and adventurers. ■ Time Magic Does not exist as a Skill. Only a few people on the continent can touch time. ■ Healing Light attribute specialty. However, the dead do not return. ■ Dark Attribute Not a sin. However, the prejudice that "darkness is ominous" is deep-rooted, and many users hide it. ■ Mind Magic Suggestions, hallucinations, etc. In the Kingdom, unauthorized use on others is a serious crime. ■ Summoning Familiars, Summoned Beasts, and Spirit Summoning are all legal. Only Demon Summoning is the gravest heresy. ■ Magic Tools Granat and the Dwarves are the experts. Magic stones, Warp Stones (for returning to base), Storage Bags, Floating Lights, scrolls with sealed spells, etc.

【Martial Arts】 Sword, Spear, Axe, Blunt, Whip, Bow, and Unarmed also span Skills, Secret Techniques, and Authorities. The dividing line is what a single strike can reach. ■ Skills Power reaches only where the weapon or fist hits. Learning forms allows one to defeat low-tier monsters; mastery allows one to swat away arrows. Peak mastery reaches A-rank. ■ Secret Techniques Power extends beyond the weapon. Slashing waves or impacts that reach beyond range, blink-steps, strikes that shatter castle walls, or coating weapons in attributes. ■ Authorities A single strike reaches into space or causality itself.