Hataki stepped out of the bath, steam still clinging to his skin as he made his way back to the dining area for breakfast. Just as he settled into his seat, a sudden knock echoed through the house, sharp and urgent.
Souta, ever energetic, leaped up eagerly. "I'll see who it is!"
The moment he opened the door, however, his enthusiasm drained, leaving his face pale with shock. Standing before him were the guards of the village speaker.
A heavy silence hung in the air. The presence of the speaker's guards at their doorstep was an ill omen. Hataki immediately tensed, his body instinctively preparing for battle. His fingers curled into fists as he stepped forward, but before he could act, a firm hand caught his arm.
"Kaito, why are you stopping me?" he whispered, his voice laced with suppressed rage.
Kaito's grip didn't waver. "We don't know why they're here yet. Let's hear them out first. If anything goes wrong, you can go berserk then."
Hataki hesitated, his jaw tightening, but he gave a slow nod of reluctant agreement.
One of the guards stepped forward, his voice authoritative. "The village speaker has summoned all residents of this house. You are to come with us immediately."
Hena's voice wavered as she clutched Souta protectively in her arms. "Why does he want us? Did we… do something wrong?"
Her fear only seemed to provoke one of the guards, who took a step toward her, his expression darkening. "How dare you question the master's will? If I feel like it, I'll drag you to him myself."
He raised a hand, intending to seize her.
But before he could touch her, a powerful grip locked around his wrist. The air itself seemed to tighten with the sheer force of the hold.
Yoto's voice came in a low growl. "She just asked a question. We have no objections to going. But take your hands off her."
The guard's confidence wavered. He swallowed hard, feeling the pressure on his wrist before quickly withdrawing his hand. "T-there's no time for idle chatter. The speaker is waiting. Move!"
With that, the guards turned and led the way.
Yoto turned to Hena and Souta, his voice softer now. "Don't worry, Hena. Souta. I won't let them hurt you again. I promise. Someone is waiting for us let's go."
Though fear still lingered in Hena's heart, Yoto's words reassured her. She nodded, clutching Souta closer. "Thank you, Yoto."
They began their march toward the village speaker's house. The tension among them was palpable, everyone bracing for the worst. Hataki, Yoto, and the others were ready to fight at a moment's notice.
Kaito turned to Ginrou. "Do you know anything about this speaker?"
Ginrou smirked, his expression dark. "Sir Kaito, there's only one word to describe him A monster. I stayed in this nation for a year while on a mission. I had a friend here… the speaker had him killed. But I never saw what he looked like. Maybe today's the day I finally lay eyes on the bastard."
Kaito's heart sank. "I'm sorry, Ginrou. But why was your friend killed?"
"For helping someone who was about to be executed by the speaker's allies."
Hataki's anger surged at those words. His fists clenched as he said, "Ginrou, I'm sorry for your loss. But if anything goes wrong, I'm killing the speaker. I hope you'll back me up."
Ginrou's face was unreadable, but his words were resolute. "It will be my pleasure."
Kaito exhaled sharply. "Hataki, don't rush to conclusions. If we kill the speaker and the king himself gets involved, it'll be our loss. Worse, it could make our mission to rescue Hayato even harder."
Hataki scowled. "So what do you expect me to do? Just sit back and do nothing?"
"Doing nothing might actually help the villagers more than reckless action. A single mistake could make things worse. First, let's hear why he called us. If there's a real threat, then I won't stop you. But remember—Hayato is still waiting for us. Don't let rage cloud your judgment."
Hataki gritted his teeth but gave a curt nod. His eyes, however, remained sharp, watching for any sign of treachery.
Hena's trembling hadn't stopped. She clung tightly to Souta's hand, thoughts racing with fear. Why does this monster want us? Is he going to kill us? Yoto said he wouldn't let anyone hurt us, but… if anything happens, I'll shield Souta with my life.
Noticing her distress, Eiji gently grabbed Hena's arm. His voice was calm, reassuring. "There's no need to worry, Hena. We're all here for you. We won't let them hurt you or your brother. You trust Yoto, right?"
His words carried warmth, easing the terror in Hena's heart. She tightened her grip on Eiji's arm. "Thank you, Eiji."
A faint blush dusted Eiji's cheeks. But when he turned forward, he met Akemi's piercing stare. Her expression was unreadable, but there was something in her gaze that unsettled him. Still, he pushed the thought aside. His priority was Hena and Souta. Nothing else mattered.
Thanks to Eiji's presence, Hena stopped trembling, and Souta's nervousness lessened. Eiji kept speaking to them, making sure they felt safe.
Then, a guard's voice rang out. "We have arrived."
The village speaker's house loomed before them—a massive structure, heavily fortified. Guards lined the walls, eyes watchful.
As the heavy doors swung open, the sight that greeted them was horrifying.
People hung from their limbs, their bodies battered and bleeding. Guards wielded whips embedded with needles, lashing them without mercy. Some villagers had their hands submerged in boiling water, their screams piercing the air before they lost consciousness.
Hena gasped, eyes widening in terror. She clung tightly to Eiji, while Souta buried his face against her. Understanding their fear, Eiji pulled them close, shielding them from the horrifying scene.
Hataki and Yoto's fury burned hotter than ever. Kaito prepared himself—if Hataki lost control, he had to be ready to stop him.
A guard stepped forward, raising his voice. "The one born of the king's blood, the mighty warrior of Serocaan, stronger than an elephant, our—"
Before he could finish, a knife pierced his throat. Blood spurted as he collapsed to the ground.
Eiji reacted immediately, covering Souta's eyes and holding Hena closer.
Footsteps walking towards them. A man in luxurious clothing walked toward them, his expression twisted with amusement. An eerie, malicious laugh left his lips.
"You are so noisy, you lowlives. If they still don't know who I am after two years of ruling through fear, then my work has been in vain, don't you think?"
He sauntered to his throne, his presence suffocating. His gaze settled on them, full of arrogance.
"I assume introductions aren't necessary," he mused. "You already know who I am."
A single name slipped from Hena's trembling lips. "Kuroyami…"
Kuroyami chuckled darkly. "Right answer."