Village
Daichi wasn’t thinking.
He just attacked.
Like a storm.
Shadows stretched out with their movements.
Every step…
An impact.
Every attack…
Fatal.
But—
The body was failing.
Heavy breathing.
— Haa… haa…
— Time…
He felt it.
The limit.
Not yet.
More soldiers advanced.
— DON’T STOP!!
They shouted.
But they were already broken.
Mentally.
Daichi charged straight ahead.
He took a hit.
He ignored it.
Another.
He ignored it.
And he struck back.
One by one…
They fell.
Until only silence remained.
Bodies scattered.
Heavy breathing.
— …ha…
Footsteps.
Slow.
The nobleman.
But this time…
No smile.
— What… have you become…?
Daichi looked up.
His red eyes glowed.
— …your end.
The nobleman drew a hidden blade.
Desperate.
He lunged forward.
Quickly.
Daichi didn’t flinch.
The blade struck him.
But it didn’t go through.
— …?!
Daichi grabbed his arm.
He squeezed it.
— AAAAAH!!
The nobleman fell to his knees.
— You… did that…
Daichi’s voice came out low.
Heavy.
— With them.
The energy began to rise.
— With everyone.
The ground shook.
But then—
— …!!
Daichi's body froze.
His vision blurred.
— Time…!
The energy began to fluctuate.
— No… not now…
The nobleman took advantage of the situation.
He crawled backward.
Desperate.
— Guards!—!
Silence.
There was no one else there.
Daichi staggered.
The aura was fading.
— Damn…
He looked at the nobleman.
Anger.
But his body…
It wouldn’t obey anymore.
— This… isn’t over…
And then—
He vanished.
A black bolt of lightning split the sky.
And silence returned.
The black lightning disappeared.
Daichi fell.
His body hit the ground.
Heavy.
Powerless.
The energy… was gone.
He was back.
Weak.
Breathing with difficulty.
— Haa… haa…
Footsteps.
Slow.
The nobleman stood up.
Shaking.
Wounded.
But… alive.
His eyes met Daichi’s.
And then—
A smile.
— So… that was it.
He approached.
Dragging his leg.
— A monster… with limits.
Daichi tried to move.
He couldn’t.
— Damn…
The nobleman drew a blade.
— You almost made it…
He raised the weapon.
— But in the end…
He took another step.
— He’s still just a boy.
He raised the blade.
Ready to kill.
— Goodbye—
— NOW!
The voice echoed.
The nobleman froze.
— …?
A maid appeared behind him.
Her eyes were filled with hatred.
— This is for my sister!
She lunged forward.
The blow came.
The nobleman’s eyes widened.
— W—?!
Others appeared.
From all sides.
Maids.
Servants.
Cooks.
Years of fear.
Exploding.
— You bastard!
— Monster!
— You deserve this!
They advanced.
Without technique.
Without order.
But with fury.
The blade fell.
And then another.
And another.
The nobleman screamed.
But no one stopped.
For a long time…
Until—
Silence.
The body fell.
Lifeless.
Heavy.
The employees’ breathing was uneven.
Some were crying.
Others trembled.
But no one regretted it.
One of the women looked at Daichi.
— You… tried…
Her voice faltered.
— Thank you…
Daichi could barely keep his eyes open.
But he saw.
For the first time…
That place…
Free.
The waitresses approached.
Still trembling.
Carefully…
They lifted Daichi.
— Slowly…
He could barely stand.
They grabbed some bandages.
Makeshift cloths.
They began to wrap his body.
Arms.
Chest.
Back.
Blood was still seeping out in some places.
Soon…
More than half of his body was covered.
— Stay still…
— You’ll tear open the wounds…
Daichi was breathing with difficulty.
— Haa… haa…
He looked at them.
— What… are you going to do now…?
Silence.
One of them replied.
— Let’s go.
Another added.
— Far, far away from here.
Her eyes welled up.
— Only God knows what we’ve been through…
— We’re not staying here anymore.
Some were already starting to pack things up.
Quickly.
— We have to get out before someone comes…
Daichi looked down.
Thoughtful.
— Is there… someone else here?
Silence.
The women looked at each other.
One replied.
— There was.
His heart sank.
— A girl…
— In the basement.
— But…
She hesitated.
— She must be dead by now.
— It’s been a week…
— No food.
— No water.
Silence.
Daichi's eyes changed.
— …
He broke free.
— Hey—!
His body almost fell.
But he caught himself on the wall.
— You can’t walk!
He ignored it.
One step.
Another.
Dragging his feet.
— Daichi, wait!
He didn’t answer.
His mind…
It was already somewhere else.
The door.
That door.
In the basement.
— …
He started walking.
Staggering.
Every step heavy.
But determined.
— If there’s still anyone…
The voice came out low.
Almost a whisper.
— I won’t let them die.
Daichi walked with difficulty.
Every step felt heavy.
His vision was still blurry.
That was when one of the maids appeared in the hallway.
She stopped.
— You… shouldn’t be walking.
Daichi looked up.
— You’re from Miura Village… aren’t you?
She froze.
— …I am.
— But… I don’t remember you.
Daichi took a deep breath.
— I arrived that very day.
— I saw… what happened to you.
Silence.
Her expression hardened.
— I don’t want to talk about that.
She looked away.
— That pervert…
— He got what he deserved.
Silence.
Daichi nodded.
— I need your help.
— With what?
— The basement.
The air grew colder.
— There’s someone in there.
— Behind a door.
She hesitated.
— You shouldn’t go…
— It might be too late.
Daichi interrupted.
— But if there’s still someone alive…
— I can’t ignore it.
Silence.
— …Okay.
— I’ll take you.
He leaned on her.
— But if you pass out…
— I’ll leave you there.
— Fair enough.
They descended.
Into the darkness.
The steps creaked.
— What… is your name?
— Aira.
They reached the door.
Locked.
Aira broke the padlock.
CLANG!
CRACK!
The door opened.
The smell hit first.
Rotten. Damp.
— …is anyone there?
A faint sound.
— …there…
A silhouette.
Alive.
— There’s still time…
They approached.
Then—
— Himawari…?
Daichi froze.
— It can't be…
He dropped to his knees.
— Himawari!
She was alive.
— Why… are you here…?
— I won’t lose you…
— She needs to get out now.
They lifted her.
— Himawari… hang in there…
— …Da…
— …i…chi…
She recognized him.
— I’m here…
They climbed back up.
Loaded the cart.
And left.
— Hold on tight.
The cart moved.
— Hang in there…
The village of Miura began to appear…
