Tinoue traversed the halls, his voice echoing with desperation as he called out for Amane. Room after room yielded the same disappointment: his sister was nowhere to be found. Exhausted and defeated, he scoured every corner of Lyon Shore, from the boats to the shelters, but still, Amane eluded him. Finally, he sank to his knees in the courtyard, tears streaming down his face.
"Where are you, sister?" he cried out, his voice breaking. Despite seeing others reunite with their families, Amane remained absent. Kasaki, Yojiro, and Mikamoto approached, concern etched on their faces.
"What's troubling you, Tinoue?" Kasaki inquired.
"I can't find Amane, my sister," Tinoue replied, his anguish evident.
"Have you searched every inch of the building and its surroundings? The boats, everything?" Yojiro asked.
"Yes, sir. I've looked everywhere," Tinoue confirmed.
Kasaki's suspicions grew. "Tell me, Tinoue, how old is your sister?"
"She's only five," Tinoue responded.
Kasaki pondered for a moment, his brow furrowed in thought. "Master," he addressed Yojiro, "have you ever encountered spells as powerful as those of #BG lifepoints?"
Yojiro shook his head. "No, Kasaki. This is unprecedented. Why do you ask?"
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"Because when we witnessed Satan granting Misuki immortality, it was in exchange for a child's soul. It's possible that Misuki offered a soul to Satan to cast the #BG spell over the entire country," Kasaki explained, his words laden with concern.
Yojiro's expression mirrored Kasaki's apprehension. "It's a chilling possibility," he conceded.
Kishira sprinted over, her face beaming with joy as she enveloped Kasaki in a tight hug. "Kasaki, you did it. You defeated Misuki. There are no more guards or archers left. The samurai army finished off the rest."
Kasaki met her gaze, admiring the sparkle in her eyes and the softness of her touch. Amidst the chaos, he couldn't help but marvel at her presence, finding solace in her embrace. Why did life have to be so difficult? He had never experienced a normal existence, never known the bliss of a simple love story. Kishira brought a sense of home, a comfort he had longed for.
"It's not over yet, sweetheart," he said, his tone serious, breaking Kishira's reverie. Something else needed fixing, and the weight of it hung heavy in the air.
Kishira's heart sank as she sensed Kasaki's gravity. There was more to this violent conflict than she had realized, and fear gripped her. Yet, amidst the turmoil, Kasaki's endearment filled her with warmth, as if his words alone could make everything right.
"What's wrong now?" she asked, her concern evident.
"There are two issues," Kasaki began. "Misuki is immortal, and there are at least two missing children, one of whom we know is in Satan's clutches. Amane, Tinoue's sister, is also missing, but her whereabouts are unknown. And we still don't know how to undo the strange #BG life point spell keeping us alive. That's three things."
Kishira's sympathy deepened as she noticed Tinoue kneeling on the ground, his tears a silent testament to his anguish. Placing a comforting hand on his shoulder, she seethed with anger. "How despicable can that man be?" she exclaimed, her fury palpable.
"Impossible to say," Kasaki replied, gently squeezing Kishira's hand before moving forward. Among the rescued hostages, he spotted his mother waving at him. Problems seemed to never end.