World: [Chronos Ruler].
Japan, the year 2014.
Tokyo.
'My name is Tatsumi Kouda. Someone you might call a Chronos Ruler.'
Chronos Rulers,
They are those that are tasked with ending the ongoing thousand-year war between humans and Horologues.
Time Covenant,
A necessary piece of equipment for battling Horologues and the source of every Chronos Ruler's power.
While the Time Covenant allows people like him to control time, it is limited to a single object.
As in, they control time using an intermediary alone.
Some use elements like fire, water, wind, and earth, while others use inanimate objects like school uniforms and, for him: petals.
For him, today was just another day patrolling from city to city, as his duty was to end the thousand-year war.
Perhaps a painful fact about the war was that it couldn't even be called a war anymore.
The Horologues can continue to infinitely spawn. Kill one, and another would manifest in a few days.
However, humans, even with the ability to manipulate time, are not omnipotent.
They still die, they grow old and eventually crumble to dust.
70 (Seventy).
That is the approximate number of active Chronos Rulers around the world.
"But still, we, Chronos Rulers, shall never despair! Nay, we know not despair."
The middle-aged man wearing hakama, patrolling the streets of Tokyo, clenched his fist as he continued strolling.
However,
"Yo~"
Appearing in front of him, taking him aback was a handsome young male with black hair and blue eyes, making a gesture with his hands.
"Eh? Sorry... What can I help you with?"
The adult male asked that, but what was weirder was that the already bustling and noisy street suddenly went silent.
"Don't worry mister."
Having seen his wary gaze, the young male slowly lifted his hands a little as though surrendering; however, there was a knowing smile on his face bordering a cocky one, if anything.
Slowly, the adult male's hand reached into his hakama, and seeing this only made the grin on the young male's lips widen.
"If I were you, I'd refrain from drawing that."
However, those words only heightened his vigilance, prompting the man to step back, drawing the weapon he'd hidden inside his hakama.
But what happened next was,
KA-CHACK!
The weapon he'd pulled out from his hakama was suddenly grabbed; the young male had already appeared in front of him.
"Nani?"
"The name's Laurel, and if you don't mind. I'd like to have a little of your time. Of course, you have no veto."
Hearing that, the man paused, then looked around. Obviously, people were still passing on the paved streets.
But what was odd was that they weren't paying attention to what they were doing.
'This isn't "Gensoku's" effect, is it? Then what is this?'
"My partner has isolated us from other people; don't worry. What I'm more curious about is—"
Laurel stepped back, pointing towards the katana, which at the handguard had a crimson object with a cog embedded within.
He pointed to that thing which was called a Time Covenant. And as Laurel did, his eyes slowly widened as he clenched his weapon defensively.
"This is impossible. I cannot hand it over."
"Ahh~ I didn't expect you to hand it over, nor am I going to force you; however, that thing is also important to me."
Both Laurel and the man stood face to face with the man's expression changing as he observed Laurel.
'He mentioned a partner didn't he? Then they must be around. What's more, … isolate us...?'
Were there other powers of the Chronos Ruler that he did not know?
Impossible.
Now that he had taken a closer look at the male, he doesn't seem to have a Time Covenant on him.
Which must mean he is human.
But then, that movement back then wasn't human. A normal human wouldn't have caught up with him.
Moreover, as he focused on the blade he was drawing, the male named Laurel, had appeared in front of him and grabbed it.
'He… doesn't appear to also be a Humanoid Horologue....'
What is going on?
As the man thought, Laurel slowly pointed at him. "You think too much."
Then, crossing his hands, he then huffed.
"What if I say we can end the thousand-year war that has been going on with the descendants of Chronos and the Horologue?"
The male's eyes shook, and Laurel smiled.
"You- I have humoured you for long, however, such disrespect, I-!"
As he said that, however, Laurel pointed at him once more, and then something bizarre happened.
Something... different.
A blue screen, the size of a standard PC, in front of him, with the words:
[Welcome to All-World Alliance Guild]
○ [Allied Worlds: 3]
○ [Conquered Worlds: 1]
It was a sketchy interface with lots of words that included alliances between worlds and conquered worlds.
This was something he couldn't handle alone, no matter how much he thought of it.
"Let me speak with your leader. The daughter of Chronos that leads the Chronos Ruler."
Laurel said that with a smirk.
....
From there,
"Yes, I'm with him currently."
"No, he hasn't made any movements since then... He seems to be patiently waiting for our answers..."
Soon after Laurel had said that, the man had contacted their HQ, and at that same time, Luminous had released her barrier, slowly walking towards Laurel.
"What's the deal with this... I had assumed you of all people would have stormed directly to their HQ and demanded submission."
Laurel, hearing that, froze.
What does Luminous take him for? The only time he did that was with Hayes, and not that Hayes was a mentally sane person to talk to...
Either way, that one would have resisted, so he went for the kill from the get go.
As the saying goes, do in Rome as Romans do.
"No comment."
Laurel said that before focusing back onto the man who was still keeping glances at him.
He also saw how his expression changed seeing Luminous, yet he ultimately continued the phone call till he hung up.
Then, he slowly approached, rubbing the back of his head.
"Hahaha, so this must be the partner you were talking about."
Saying that he glanced toward Luminous; however, as he did, he felt a cold chill down his spine.
Rather than a cold chill, the temperature around him suddenly decreased, along with a low mutter escaping Laurel's lips.
"Keep your eyes away from my woman."
-Woah, suddenly it's getting chilly.
-Is it about to rain?
-Idiot, the sun is still in the sky.
Several passersby said that, and the man who had begun admiring Luminous suddenly froze before wryly stepping back.
However, Luminous frowned before, WHAM!, landing a hit on his back, causing him to wince.
"Ouch!"
"Upstart brat, don't lose control over every little thing."
Luminous scolded him with a frown; however, she didn't seem to deny his words, making him eventually let out a wry yet happy smile.
Turning back to the man, he smiled, then clasped his hands together as though pleading.
"Hahahaha, don't worry about it."
'Well, it's my fault for eyeing his "woman" in the first place.'
The male thought, but really, Luminous was beautiful. Her features, especially, didn't match those of the standard Japanese.
This made him wonder how they met.
"Uhh... don't you have something to relay to us?" Laurel suddenly said that, making him blink in attention.
"....hm.....? Ah yes! Forgive me."
Clearing his throat, he then began seriously.
"The organization Chronos has formally extended an invitation to the descendants of other gods."
The man said that, stunning Laurel.
It wasn't much of a shock to Luminous; she was the beloved child of someone who could be called God.
What's more is that she was actually God herself, possessing divinity and a divine archetype skill.
However, the reason why it'd brought a shock to Laurel was that... had Chronos assumed that they were the descendants of actual gods from this universe?
"The HQ has begun processing, we can leave for the HQ at any time."
"Well then, I see no reason to wait further, let us head out, shall we?"
Luminous had taken the reins in replying, seeing that Laurel once more was lost in thought.
Since knowing him, he seemed always to be lost in thought; however, unlike before, she did not bring him out of his thoughts.
Luminous intertwined her fingers with his, pulling him away as the man led them.