Ren sat quietly as Hayato's voice trembled, eyes shimmering with tears he could no longer hold back.
"I finally found someone beside my family who's like me…" Hayato whispered. "Someone who isn't affected by memory manipulation…"
Ren watched as Hayato's tears fell. The proud man quickly wiped them away, trying to keep his composure. "A king must not cry," he muttered to himself.
Ren asked Hayato,"But how? How are you immune too? I thought I was the only one who could recover memories…"
"There are only two reasons someone can resist memory manipulation," Hayato explained, voice steadying. "Either you come from a strong or noble bloodline… or your magic power is incredibly high. I'm immune because of my samurai bloodline. But you…"
He paused, narrowing his eyes. "You're strong, Ren. But not that strong. So… you must have noble blood too."
Ren blinked, confused. "But… my mom never told me anything like that."
"What about your father?" Hayato asked gently.
Ren's eyes clouded with distant thoughts. "She never talks about him… not even his name. I remember asking her once, but she just said, 'I forgot.' Like… she really couldn't remember. Not even his face."
Hayato looked serious. "Then maybe your bloodline is from your father's side. If your mother was affected by memory manipulation, she might've forgotten everything about him."
Ren stayed quiet.
"But let's not focus on that now," Hayato said. "You asked if there's a limit to this immunity. The answer is… yes and no."
Ren listened closely.
"Memory manipulation is more effective when it's targeted at a small number of people. But when it's used on the whole population, like now, its strength weakens. That's why it doesn't work well on those with noble blood or strong magic," Hayato explained.
"But," he added, "if someone with overwhelming power targets you directly, even you might not be safe unless you came from a very strong bloodline or your magic is very Powerful. I know I'm not."
Ren nodded slowly. "And… what about the curse of head explosion?"
Hayato sighed. "It activates when someone begins to realize their memories don't make sense. Even the smallest hint can trigger it. But if someone figures it out on their own, without any help… I don't know if that's enough to set it off."
He looked at Ren. "That curse exists because memory manipulation isn't perfect. It only changes memories, not actual events. There are cracks in the illusion."
Ren's expression darkened. "I lost five years of my life. I don't remember anything from that time…"
Hayato closed his eyes for a moment. "I understand your pain."
Ren looked at him. "But… why do you know so much about this?"
Hayato's eyes dimmed. "Because… I've suffered too."
He took a deep breath. "There was a time… when the memories of my entire village were altered. I didn't feel it at first. But my father and brothers… they knew. They said they'd never live under a fake king."
Ren leaned in as Hayato's voice softened, almost cracking.
"They protested… They were brave. And at the same time, I was about to marry someone… Miyako. She was everything to me—kind, strong, always encouraging me."
His fists clenched.
"One day, the king invited my family to the castle. They never came back. Weeks passed. I waited. Then a servant came and said, 'My lord, your wedding will proceed soon. You're to inherit the Crimson Village.' I was confused. That title… it was meant for my brother."
Hayato's voice grew shaky.
"I said, 'What about my brother?' And he looked at me like I was mad. He said, 'My lord, you have no brother. They died long ago.'"
Ren's eyes widened. "What…?"
"I rushed to Miyako. She was sitting quietly, gazing at the sky. I tried to tell her. I told her everything. She listened. She believed me. She wiped my tears with her hand and said, 'Don't cry, Hayato. I'm here for you.'"
Hayato's voice cracked.
"Then… her head exploded right in my arms."
Silence.
"I saw her eyes… wide with shock… and then… nothing. Just… Her blood. Her warmth… gone in a second."
Ren couldn't speak. Hayato's hands trembled.
"The servants came. One said, 'My lord, who is this woman? Did she threaten you ? That's why you killed her my lord?
Hayato's eyes were filled with pain. "They didn't remember her. Like she never existed. But I couldn't forget."
He wiped his eyes again, breaking down.
"I was supposed to live a happy life… But everything was stolen from me. That's why I'll never forgive the one behind this. I'll kill that king with my own hands."
His voice choked. "I'm sorry… A king shouldn't cry."
Ren stepped forward without a word and hugged him tightly.
"It's okay to cry, even for a king," he whispered. "You've suffered enough."
And for the first time in years, Hayato cried. Loudly. Freely.