“Hmph!” Kanami grunted as she carefully lifted the table in her living room, her muscles straining slightly under the weight. Once the table was out of the way, she crouched down and peeled back the thick carpet beneath it, revealing a small, concealed trapdoor carved seamlessly into the wooden floorboards.
She ran her fingers along the edges of the trapdoor, feeling for the latch. As soon as she found it, she hesitated for a moment, her gaze lingering on the dark outline. Why did she even bother? There was no need to think too hard about it.
Yet, she exhaled with a determined look and gripped the latch tightly, pulling with all of her strength. The trapdoor revealed a long box below.
With another moment of hesitation, she reached down and lifted the box out of the compartment, placing it carefully on the floor in front of her. There was no use in opening it now, she knew it was useless. But her mind wandered to the old days with her master, mixed with numerous questions she couldn’t answer by herself.
Exhaling quietly, she slid the wooden lid open, revealing the contents inside a sheathed blade, wrapped in faded cloth as well as a few carefully folded letters stained by time. The cloth wrapping the blade was worn filled with holes and scratches and the sheath wasn’t in a better state.
It was the Kogitsune-maru, the blade of Satô Ryuuji.
With a sudden, sharp motion, Kanami gripped the hilt of the Kogitsune-maru, the tension in her body betraying the weight of her thoughts. Memories of her master flooded her mind, the face of Satô Ryuuji vivid as if he were standing beside her once more.
She stared at it for a moment, her chest tightening. This was the sword of a man she now despised in spite of herself.
How many times had she tried to unsheathe it? How many times had she thought, This is it—that moment where she’d finally prove herself
She had lost count but the words of her master couldn’t leave her mind.
“The day you will unsheathe this sword will be when you have found something worth protecting. When you have found your true calling and made peace with your own nature.”
Her grip tightened, and her fingers trembled as she tried to pull the blade out of its sheath. But as quickly as she moved, her resolve wavered.
She had not found her true calling yet. And protecting what? Luka? That was it? Was her true calling just being at his side?
It made no sense. She liked him, that was certain, but there was no way in her mind that it was as simple as that. Her own nature wouldn’t allow it.
As her grip tightened further, she felt it. The gaze of the dragon deep within, as if mocking her for her own hesitation, its red eyes burning with disdain. His sudden presence made her grit her teeth in rage.
What did you do to find the true meaning of your life, huh?
That question didn’t come from the dragon, as it couldn’t speak directly to her, but from deep within herself. It was her own voice, demanding an answer, a truth she couldn’t bear to see.
The dragon’s red eyes glared at her as if judging her actions which only deepened her anger.
“Do you find that funny?” she spat through clenched teeth, glaring back at the dragon.
She found herself in a dark room, devoid of light. The first times, she thought she was dreaming, but after a while, she understood it was something akin to an inner world, a projection of her mind.
A place where only her and the dragon remained, his red eyes glowing in the darkness. It never spoke, it never moved, it never made a single sound.
Still as the void, as if it wasn’t there to begin with. Yet, she could feel it. The grasp he had on her heart, a moment of weakness and she could falter, becoming the same catastrophe that ravaged the continent three hundred years ago.
Every second spent in this suffocating silence felt like a trial, a test of her resolve. The dragon’s presence loomed over her, a constant reminder of her curse, her struggles, the life she couldn’t have.
“If only you could just disappear…” she spat, her voice fueled by anger. “Disappear! Just disappear forever!” she lashed out.
But as soon as she tried to reach it, the darkness disappeared. She was back in her own house, her reflection in the mirror facing her.
For a moment, she blinked in confusion, the remnants of the dragon’s presence still tingling at the edge of her consciousness. She took a shaky breath as she felt a tightening in her chest.
“Why…” she muttered to herself, but the words felt hollow. She had already questioned herself numerous times, but the world was silent, it was silent.
She studied her reflection, her dark eyes glinting from the tears locked inside, refusing to spill. She felt ugly. Perhaps everyone was right, she was a monster, a truly despicable creature.
“After all, I was just born that way,” she shrugged, smiling slightly with her eyes devoid of life. As if nothing happened, she crouched again to store the blade in its box carefully.
Closing the lid with a soft thud, she paused for a moment, feeling the emptiness of the room seep into her. The silence was almost deafening, too much so.
With a deep breath, she closed the trapdoor and stepped outside, the clack of her getas echoing against the wooden terrace. Her hands gripped tightly against the hilt of her dagger on her belt, she walked forward, deeper into the woods.
There was no sound in this early spring, in the middle of the day. Her expression had turned from pained to the eyes of a merciless killer in an instant, her breathing steady as she examined her surroundings.
The flow of the od had stopped as if to trick her. Someone or something had manipulated the area so that she could not tell what was going on. ‘They’—whoever they were—knew her and her abilities; that much was certain.
“Yo, Kanami!” A booming voice echoed against the tall pines, shattering the silence.
Her muscles tensed at the sound, instincts kicking in as she pivoted on her heel. She knew that voice, and its sound grated on her nerves. As soon as she pivoted, crackling sound echoed in the woods, until it suddenly was hurled towards her.
“There!” she turned around, facing the launched spear imbued with lightning heading her way.
With a swift movement, she drew the dagger from its sheath and struck the spear head-on while pivoting to the side, making it change its trajectory. It struck the ground with a thunderous impact, sending a spray of dirt and sparks in all directions.
Kanami leaped onto the branches of a nearby tree in a single bound, quickly retrieving a handful of sharp needles from her pocket. With a flick of her wrist, she hurled the needles toward the voice, each one aimed with deadly precision and launched at absurd speed.
But as soon as she released them, her heart dropped. There he was—Kenshin, clad in armor that crackled with electricity as he bounded toward her, effortlessly tanking the needles with no hesitation. With a feral grin that exuded bloodlust she had rarely witnessed before, he crashed into the tree she was perched on, splintering it in two upon impact. The force of the collision forced Kanami to jump onto another tree in a backflip.
“Come on! It’s been a while since I wanted to do this!” Kenshin roared as he placed his hand in the sky. Even with a clear sky, lighting came crashing down on his hand from it, revealing the spear he had launched just before.
His eyes gleamed in the dim woods, glaring at her with a manic grin. “Let’s dance!”
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“That damn Kenshin…” Safaran sighed, wiping his forehead with a napkin. “I told him to wait before attacking.”
“He only listens to the Emperor,” the assassin beside him remarked, his tone laced with irritation. The masked man methodically adjusted his mask, ensuring it fits snugly against his face while pulling on his gloves with meticulous care.
Safaran nodded. “I know. Which is why we must use him as a wild card.”
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
“True,” Julius agreed with a slight nod. “I can’t see him dying anyway. Let’s just hope he doesn’t end up betraying us.”
Safaran looked up at the sky amidst the leaves of the tall pines. They were supposed to stay here until the army attacked the city. As soon as the royal guard stepped out of the castle, Julius was to be sent out to capture the princess.
If everything went well, there would be a minority of casualties, and he would ascend to the throne as prefect of Sora. In the end, it would end up beneficial for Morgann, as the plan was to kill her if she were to ascend to the throne herself.
“Please, try your best not to hurt her,” Safaran repeated to his retainer.
“This is quite the odd request, considering you planned to murder her yesterday.”
“The situation has changed,” Safaran growled at his retainer’s lack of respect. “Do you truly believe I wanted to kill her? We had no choice back then.”
Julius crossed his arms, the single eye visible from his mask narrowing in contemplation. “I believe you had a choice from the start. But this is not my place to speak.”
Safaran clenched his fists. “Right. Now shut up.”
“As you wish, my lord,” Julius sighed, turning his back from him.
Silence fell between them. Safaran’s mind raced with the consequences of his actions. He couldn’t fail now, he had sacrificed too much…
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Luka pulled intently on the reins, his gaze fixated on the horizon. The stolen carriage creaked as it bounced along the uneven road. Inside, a single sheet draped over a form in the back. The silence weighed heavily, and Saki sat beside him, her eyes clouded with exhaustion and grief. It felt like they’d been gone for an eternity, though everything had unraveled so quickly.
Minutes passed in silence, the distance between them growing with each bump and jolt. Luka kept his eyes forward, jaw clenched, while Saki stared out at the passing scenery, struggling to process it all. She dared not look at him; she didn’t know if she could handle the sight of his face right now. Back there, it was as if a total stranger had taken over—a man capable of a violence she hadn’t thought him capable of, driven by a fierce determination that felt alien.
And yet, she knew it had still been Luka. Deep within her, she knew it was the same person as before.
Finally, Luka’s voice broke through the silence, his tone soft but distant. “We’re going to arrive soon,” he said, the words gentle in contrast to the cold resolve she’d witnessed.
But even after speaking, the quietness returned, deeper than before. The only sounds were the rhythmic clatter of the carriage wheels and the steady beat of the horses’ hooves against the dirt path. Saki's mind raced, replaying the recent events over and over, searching for some semblance of understanding.
She didn’t deserve to be saved. She could feel the shock, the blood of her friend on her hands as he put himself in the way just to save her. It happened so fast, so… fast. She clutched her chest, the oppressive feeling was not going away. Thanks to Luka’s help, her wound had now stopped bleeding without him having to give too much energy.
Finally, Luka broke the silence. “I’m sorry,” he murmured, his voice still carrying that quiet gentleness.
The words caught Saki off guard. Sorry? Sorry for what? Her brow furrowed as she turned to look at him, even though she didn’t know if she could face his gaze. He had saved her, risking everything to do so. What was there for him to apologize for?
“Don’t apologize,” she answered, her voice firmer than she felt. “You did nothing wrong.”
Luka’s eyes remained fixed on the road ahead. “I killed people,” he replied with a stern face.
“To protect me,” she countered.
Even if she tried to reason with him, in fact, she knew how he felt. Even if he had killed bad people, the fact remained that he had killed. Nothing or no one could change that now.
“Yes, but…” he said, his voice barely audible. The calmness he spoke with only seemed to deepen the darkness in his eyes. “I feel… Too calm.”
Saki’s face darkened, a chill crawling up her spine.
“I guess… I’m a bad person after all,” he finally said, his hand tensing as he gripped the reins. Like a confession, he was already convinced of in his very core. No one should feel calm after killing someone, he thought. He had just lost a friend and committed serial killings, and yet, his heart felt empty. He was afraid to die, afraid to even move back in that tavern. So what drove him to rush all of a sudden?
“No bad person would risk their lives to save another,” Saki answered, turning her head toward him, a faint smile tugging her lips. “I told you to run away but you saved me instead.”
That was true. In fact, something in his mind was telling him why he didn’t feel bad for killing them.
Sourlake, a small village amidst the forest, was wiped out in a mere second by an explosion. That, he felt like throwing up. It was because of his carelessness that they died.
“In that crater, back in Sourlake… There was my eternaüm,” he said, biting his lips.
Because of him, a whole village was wiped out. Children died, families gone in the blink of an eye, just to satisfy the curiosity of a certain woman. He didn’t even know why she did it in the first place. No, he did. It was obvious.
All of that was to deal a blow to Daji. A mere, insignificant blow at a goddess she probably deemed an enemy for some reason.
It was senseless, something he had seen back in his world numerous times. Wars were meaningless and slaughters too. The mere fact of people dying for nothing revulsed him to the core.
“Yours, huh…” Saki sighed. “You lost it during your trip to Ryuuji, right?”
“Yelena stole it from me,” he answered. Now that he had the pieces of the puzzle, it was easy to tie it all together. “She is the one who caused the explosion.”
This world, a garden that Luka thought was untouched by human atrocities was now scarred by something akin to a nuclear explosion, yet on a smaller scale.
Saki shook her head firmly, her voice steady as she spoke. “It’s not your fault, Luka. It wasn’t you who set off that explosion.”
“True,” Luka admitted easily. He couldn’t beat around the bush and try to take all the blame on himself, it would be too easy. “Still, I am a bad person.”
“If you are, then what am I?” Saki chuckled, the sound hollow and bitter. “I’m a bad person who lied to Viktor about my true nature all this time.”
Luka’s gaze flickered to her, his expression softening slightly. “You didn’t have a choice,” he replied. “You know how people react to demons.”
“Maybe,” she conceded, her smile fading. “But Viktor trusted me. I could’ve made an exception and perhaps…”
He wouldn’t have saved me.
The silence enveloped them once more.
“There’s no way you’re a bad person,” Luka said, his smile returning. “You helped a lot of people back in Eran, even the bartender,” he gazed at her softly. “You’re a good person. And I’m sure Viktor liked spending time with you. His choice was set in stone the moment he heard about you.”
“What do you mean?” she said, her green eyes glowing in confusion.
“When I met him for the first time,” Luka continued, “he told me how much he wanted to see you. He kept babbling about how you were singing so well and how beautiful you were.”
A faint blush crept across Saki's cheeks, a mix of embarrassment and warmth at the compliment. “I’m a succubus, it’s natural that he would think that,” she said sheepishly.
“Yeah,” Luka nodded. “But you know, he really loved you. And to be honest, I don’t think you used your powers on him.”
Her heart skipped a beat at his words. “You really think so?”
“Absolutely. I mean, I’ve seen how you interact with him. It’s genuine. He admires you for who you are, not just for what you are.”
Saki looked down, her fingers tracing the edge of the seat. “You’re right, I never even thought about using them on him.”
“So raise your head,” Luka grinned ear to ear, facing her. “Otherwise I will be mad in his place. Don’t you dare forget him, even in a million years you damn demon!” he said, his voice cracking slightly as he felt tears welling up in his eyes.
Saki met his gaze, surprised by the intensity of his emotions. “Luka…”
“Just promise me,” he insisted, his smile unwavering, even as his eyes shimmered. “Promise me that you’ll stay that person he liked so much. That fun-loving, stupid succubus with a lovely voice.”
Saki froze for a moment, not knowing how to process this. For the first time, she was seeing his vulnerable side. “I promise,” she nodded. “And you, promise me you’ll do your best to be a good person. Even if you think you aren’t.”
Luka recoiled for a moment, before sighing. “You’re asking too much, but fine. I’ll try.”
Saki gleefully smiled before hitting him on the head. “Great! Make Viktor proud, Luka!”
He sighed again. “Stop it, I’m telling you…”
The silence that followed felt lighter, as if they spoke their hearts out. The world outside the carriage continued to blur by, but at that moment, something united them.
As the sun rose higher on the horizon, casting a golden glow above them, Saki felt a flicker of hope ignite in her chest. She glanced at Luka, seeing not just a troubled companion anymore but a friend she could count on.
Still, deep inside her heart, she knew things weren’t going to be as simple as that.
After all… She had committed a grave sin a long time ago. A sin she was willing to repair, for both of them.
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“It’s time!” a voice resonated deep within the east plains of Sora. Aurelia , the retainer of the Emperor stood beside him, raising her staff in unison with the cries of the soldiers readying for battle.
“We shall take Sora today! Gyahaha!” Andreas’s laugh boomed in the air, rallying his troops to his command. He raised his hand in the air, the ring of the conqueror glittering in the sunlight.
Behind him, five hundred men. Far too few for what could be called an invasion, but more than enough to him. Without a doubt, they would trample Sora and add them to their unified cause against the looming threat of the demons.
“Today, we are not just fighting for the Empire! We are fighting for the future of Sora and its people!” Aurelia continued the speech, her staff high in the sky. “May our ancestors bless us today. Let their strength guide our blades and fill our hearts with courage and compassion!” she then slammed it on the ground, emitting a faint light beneath their feet.
The light then enveloped the soldiers, igniting their hearts with fierce combativity and strength.
“Onward!” Andreas bellowed, leading the charge as they surged forward, the ground trembling beneath their boots. The sound of clanking armor and roaring spirits filled the air, creating a symphony of war that echoed across the plains.
Just behind the hill, Andreas could see the outline of the fortified city on the horizon, its walls standing tall and mighty. He spotted the guards posted on the walls, their eyes wide with shock as they scrambled to ring the alarm, desperately trying to alert the townsfolk to the impending invasion.
“Aurelia!” he shouted, a manic grin stretching across his face, fueled by the excitement of the imminent assault.
“Yes, my liege!” she replied, her voice steady and resolute. She spun the staff in her hands, the jewel at its tip glowing with an intense orange light. “Drakin Barst!” she shouted, unleashing a powerful incantation that transformed mana into raw energy.
The spell surged forth like a comet, a brilliant ball of energy streaking toward the fortifications. The moment it struck the walls, a deafening explosion reverberated through the air. The force of the blast melted the stone, blasting open a gaping hole large enough to accommodate two buildings side by side, sending debris flying in every direction.
The soldiers behind Andreas roared with triumph as the path to the city lay open before them. “Gyahaha! That’s my girl! Now, charge!!!” he commanded, urging his men forward as they charged through the newly created breach, their adrenaline fueling their speed.
It was a scene straight from a horror book. The guards standing on the wall couldn’t believe their eyes as the foot soldiers behind the charging Emperor, clad in heavy armor, raced forward with an intensity that rivaled even the swiftest steeds.
“T-This is a nightmare!” one of the guards shouted, his voice trembling as he readied an arrow on his bow.
“Get a grip!” another guard yelled, panic bubbling in his chest. “We need to hold the line! Aim for their boss!”
As arrows flew from the walls, Aurelia chanted another spell before raising her staff once more. “Absolute barrier!” Once her incantation finished, her staff shone once more before leaving a thin layer of light above the head of the army, shielding them from the descending arrows.
Andreas laughed, a manic thrill coursing through him. “Gyahaha! Get fucked losers!” he raised his sword high before glancing at Aurelia.
“Blazing!” she chanted once more, the sword of her liege transforming into a shining blazing blade.
“Take that!” Andreas roared, urging his steed forward with a wild grin. He felt invincible, the heat of the magic coursing through him, and the thrill of battle igniting his spirit. Aurelia gripped his chest tightly, her heart pounding in sync with the rhythm of the charge.
As they crashed into the first line of the guards, Andreas swung his blazing sword with reckless abandon, the flames licking outwards as he cleaved through any resistance in his path. The guard faltered before the sheer force of the attack, their morale plummeting as they witnessed the unstoppable advance of their foes.
“Your Majesty, please wait a minute!” Aurelia pleaded, her voice strained as she noticed the encroaching guards surrounding them while the rest of their troops lagged far behind.
“Let these idiots take care of the idiots, we’re going straight for the princess, gyahaha!”
Aurelia sighed, her body trembling slightly as she felt a knot of fear in her stomach. “I knew it… You only care about the princess…” she murmured, her heart heavy with concern.
“Sit tight! We’re going straight to the castle!” he turned to her, his blue eyes shining with the prize already in sight.
“Straight to the castle?!” Aurelia shouted in panic, seeing the multiple lines of defense in their way. “W-Wait, Your Majesty, it’s—”
“Forward!! Gyahaha!!” Andreas shook the reins of his steed, making it go even faster as he swung his sword down multiple times on the guards blocking his path. “Get out of my way losers!”
“Your Majestyyy!”
With that, the unrelenting charge of the Empire had started. Luka and Saki arrived soon after, noticing the first explosion signaling the beginning of the battle.
The first fight for humanity had begun.