In the endless deadly expanse of murky, dull grey-black fog, a tall red open arena stood at the centre of an old-looking city.

In a tall red building, a middle-aged man in his mid-thirties with a long black beard and crooked teeth walked confidently.

He stopped in front of the council members sitting on a high pedestal.

Sir Jaime, knight of the Atreus Clan, bowed slightly. "The resting place of Damon and his wife has been dismantled."

A round of applause echoed within the room as the members of the Atreus Clan cheered.

Not far from him, a young man who looked no older than eighteen stood speechlessly.

He was of average height, with messy blonde hair and sharp facial features.

His gaze remained fixed on Jaime, who had just announced the dismantling of his parents’ tomb.

’I just arrived here, goddammit!’

Edgar Atreus wasn’t from this world. He was from Earth, and he was just a normal college student.

He had drunk too much, stolen a truck, and gotten into an accident.

When Edgar opened his eyes again, he found himself standing in front of a council.

He had already assimilated the memories of this world’s Edgar and learned about his dire predicament.

"Edgar Atreus."

The head of the council and Clan Head called his name gruffly, snapping him out of his thoughts.

Albert Atreus stared at him with cold grey eyes.

He was a tall man with grey hair and a thick lush beard. His hands were as big as a bear’s.

"You have been found guilty of assaulting Lady Valda of the Freemane Clan."

At his words, Edgar turned to look at the young woman who sat on the side.

She looked fragile. Her hair was wine-red, and there was a small smile on her face.

’...This bitch.’

Edgar knew the woman. She was his fiancée and also his childhood friend.

Before his parents’ untimely demise during a joint attack by Nightmare monsters, she had always followed him like a shadow.

And now, she had falsely accused him of assault.

Albert Atreus leaned back and spoke in an authoritative tone.

"The council of elders has decided. From this day onwards, you will be disowned by the Atreus Clan and thrown out."

As his words resonated through the council hall, another wave of happiness coursed through everyone.

They were members of the Atreus Clan, and every one of them hated him.

Edgar quietly stood there without speaking.

’There is no point in defending myself. Everyone here wants me dead.’

Albert raised his hand, and slowly everyone quieted down.

"Lady Valda will receive everything you own as compensation."

His lips curled into a disdainful smile.

"And as additional compensation, I will let my son become her new fiancé!"

A broad-shouldered man stood up.

He had the same facial features as Albert but looked younger.

He walked towards Valda and wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her closer.

The lady blushed but didn’t stop him.

Jarl Atreus looked at his father and replied, "I will humbly accept your arrangements."

Saying so, he rubbed his hands around Valda’s waist as though he owned her.

’Ah, no wonder the previous Edgar committed suicide. He got green-hatted.’

Edgar felt pity for the poor boy whose body he had possessed.

Albert ordered his guards. "Throw him into the barren land this instant!"

Two guards wearing bronze armour quickly rushed in and dragged Edgar out.

Amid the celebration of the people, Edgar was thrown out of the Clan.

---

In this world, the concept of the ’Sun’ didn’t exist.

During the daytime, the sky was engulfed in a murky dull grey-black fog.

At night, countless bizarre monsters appeared to take lives.

They were called the "Nightmares from Hell" or simply "Nightmares" by the people of this world.

Only by being near an "Unbroken Fire" could one survive them.

Unbroken Fires were special flames obtained from Nightmares.

The places built around them were called fortresses.

But creating them was extremely difficult.

Their bases were heavy and impossible to move once placed.

Moreover, once the fire went out, the Nightmares attacked the place until no living being remained.

To keep an Unbroken Fire burning, one had to keep feeding it Nightmare Stones.

Many human settlements had created fortresses in different places.

The more fortresses they had, the stronger the clan became.

’And the Atreus Clan is one of the strongest in the area...’

Edgar fell silent after recalling the key information from his fragmented memories.

Right now, he stood at one of the abandoned fortresses once owned by the Atreus Clan.

The Clan had given him three Nightmare Stones to give him some hope, though it didn’t amount to much.

’This body of mine is just too weak. If only the previous Edgar had trained a little...’

"Young master."

As he was lamenting his poor luck, a voice made him look up.

An old man in his mid-sixties knelt in front of him.

His hair had turned white, and his back was slightly hunched.

He was Oswald, the butler of his late father.

Edgar let out a tired sigh. "You shouldn’t have come with me, Uncle Oswald."

Oswald looked up with teary eyes.

"...They have wronged you so much, young master." His voice broke as he spoke. "If Master Damon were alive, that bastard Albert would have grovelled at your feet."

Edgar sighed and examined the place around him.

"That’s how life is, uncle."

The place had a circular wall that was mostly broken, with three barely intact houses inside.

Butler Oswald had stopped crying.

He straightened his back and said, "No matter what, if you die, this old body will die with you."

’Don’t raise death flags, old man.’

Edgar grumbled inwardly and extended his hand.

"Please give me the Nightmare Stones so I can start the Unbroken Fire."

Oswald shook his head.

"You should rest, young master. Let this old body handle things for now."

Saying so, Oswald passed the other two Nightmare Stones to Edgar.

Ding!!

At that moment, Edgar heard a distinct sound in his mind.

Oswald walked towards the base of the old fortress while Edgar stood frozen in disbelief.

A screen appeared in front of his eyes.

[Condition Met: You have gathered two Nightmare Stones.]

[The Eternal Night System has been activated.]