'Ahhh… what the hell is this headache, even after dying…'
Kage's voice grumbled inwardly.
With that complaint, he rolled over, his body aching and exhausted.
However, he suddenly froze.
'What?'
Something didn't feel right.
'What's happening right now?'
His eyes snapped wide open, and immediately, blinding light from a lavishly decorated room flooded his vision.
He bolted upright, feeling the plush, enveloping softness of the bed beneath him.
'What?! I'm alive?! Didn't I…'
A small frown creased his brow as he raised his hands and stared at them. Something was definitely wrong.
'Why are my hands so small? Heavens!'
He touched his face, his skin—everything was flawless and smooth, as if he hadn't endured life's harshness or aged into the rough, weathered thirty-five-year-old he'd become.
'I feel like I'm trapped in a child's body.'
Tearing his gaze from his hands, he began examining the room, his eyes slowly widening.
'H–How did I get here?'
The faint scent of cider and aged tatami lingered in the air, mingling with the room's golden warmth that resembled dusk's final embrace when sunlight spills its last rays across the world. Except this atmosphere was created by the massive golden lantern suspended from the ceiling and the paper lantern casting cascading light from the corner shelf.
The room was exactly as he remembered. In recent years it had grown shabby—the lantern chandelier broken with no Taro or Shinro to repair it, the paper lanterns following suit, the polished brown wood quickly wearing away.
But right now, everything was pristine… just like when he was small.
'It can't be…'
He lurched to his feet, rushing to the mirror on his bed's right side.
And there he stood…
Inky black hair fell just above his eyes, parting in the middle. Bright eyes brimmed with hope, shining like twin radiant violet stars.
Ivory skin, flawless and smooth, clothed in a plain white shirt and shorts that stopped above his knees, long white socks now dirty—if he weren't on his bed, he'd be wearing boots.
He slowly raised his hand, staring with bewildered eyes as he touched his cheek.
"May the good lord suck my dick—it really is me!"
A frown quickly carved across his brow.
"Hey! This could be a trick!"
He scanned the room with a dark expression. Just then, a knock echoed from the door, making him flinch.
The door opened, and someone slowly entered, his laid-back, casual voice preceding him.
"Excuse me, I'll be letting myself in, young master."
As the boy with short blonde hair entered—his height but more frail—Kage froze, his eyes widening and trembling as the servant carried a tray with a white porcelain bowl.
"Young master, I came with—"
He didn't finish. Something crashed into him, sending the bowl and tray flying through the air before shattering on the ground. He wanted to save it, but he was trapped in a crushing hug.
He wanted to struggle, but something warm and passionate about the embrace made him simply sigh.
"Young master?"
Kage finally pulled away, gripping the boy by his shoulders.
"Taro! My days! I'm so happy to see you! I thought you were…"
He froze mid-sentence.
Meanwhile, Taro, the servant, studied him with a strange, dubious expression.
He squinted.
"Young master, what are you scheming this time? You're not going to tell Ser Shinro that I shattered the plate and tried to slice you with the shards because I crave your blood, right?"
Kage flinched.
"What?! Why would I do such a despicable thing to you, Taro!"
Taro winced slightly. He wanted to speak but suddenly seemed exhausted.
"Young master, you're certainly energetic today after fainting during training. Please let me clean this mess."
Kage stared at him, then belatedly responded.
"Ah, right."
He stepped aside, watching as the servant boy slowly knelt and gathered the broken bowl pieces onto the tray.
'That's right… now that I think about it, I did so many terrible things to him. I used to push our games too far. I never considered how he felt then, but now that I'm reliving this moment… he seems so tired and fed up with me…'
Kage sighed and watched the servant boy for several seconds before hesitantly calling.
"Taro."
The servant boy stood and turned to him, answering with a detached tone.
"Yes, young master."
Kage looked down slightly, scratching his cheek.
"I just wanted to apologize… I always pushed things too far… I'm sorry. It was childish of me—I should have known better and treated you with respect."
Taro studied him with half-closed lids.
"How?"
"Huh?"
The servant boy casually walked past Kage but paused.
"How would you have known, young master? You are childish, and that's what we're supposed to be. Why is that a problem?"
He sighed and continued walking.
"Young master, you really must be in a splendid mood today. You must have devised another recipe for tormenting me in this dark, hopeless fortress."
The boy glanced back at Kage.
"I'll return with another bowl of water. Please, young master, try not to embrace me this time or you will make me truly despise hugging."
He left and gently closed the door behind him, leaving Kage smiling to himself.
'Wow… Taro is alive. I get to see Taro again.'
Suddenly his eyes widened.
'If Taro is alive, and Mister Shinro… then, my mother—'
He didn't let his thoughts finish before he burst into a sprint, slamming out of his room and racing down the dark hall lit with golden paper lanterns.
'Mother, mother, mother!'
He knew where to find her—there was only one place she'd be besides her room. So he didn't check the room first.
Instead, he reached the hallway's end and thundered down the stairs like a madman, all the way to the first level—a network of hallways leading to various sections where scraps and junk were stored. He turned sharply and raced toward the back, bursting into the yard.
Then he skidded to an abrupt halt at the entrance.
There she was…
Deep violet hair pinned in a loose bun that framed her face in soft waves, while escaped strands brushed her cheek with tender grace.
She wore a modest teal dress, its folds flowing naturally with her movements, hands folded in calm patience. Her striking, radiant violet eyes—warm and steady—carried the weight of experience and the softness of someone who had weathered storms without losing her kindness.
She wore gloves as she tended to the leafless tree's roots, watering it and adding fertilizer.
Kage's lips trembled.
She really was there…
'Mother…'
His mother was alive.
Which meant, he really was back to the past. He had been given another chance.
She finally paused and noticed his presence, then tilted her head and smiled—that smile unleashing a world of beautiful purple butterflies that swarmed the air, fluttering everywhere.
"Ardyn? You're awake…"
She slowly stood, gesturing with her hands.
"Come…"
He hesitated but took one step forward, then another, and another, until he stood before her, suppressing the tears welling inside him.
She noticed and asked with concern.
"My baby, are you alright?"
He raised his hand to wipe his eyes and the snot running from his nose as his sobs became harder to control, answering with a muffled, shaking voice.
"Yes, mother, yes I am. I'm just happy—overjoyed."
She looked at him, still surprised and worried, her slanted eyes watching carefully. Then she pulled off her gloves and gently drew him into her embrace, resting his head against her breast and stroking his black hair with a somber expression on her own face.
Kage wanted to wrap his arms around her at first. His heart constricted—it was agonizing not to think about the image of his dead mother, sprawled on the ground, her blood used to draw a ritual circle.
It was torturous not to think about those pale, vacant eyes that stared at him when she wouldn't respond. Kage was elated, but tremendously terrified.
If he truly was back in the past, that meant the assassination would happen again. His mother, Taro, and everyone would die.
He clenched his fist, his eyes sharpening with resolve.
'I will protect them… if I have to burn down the clan to do it. Or if I have to become the Patriarch, I will protect them at any cost.'
With resolve hardening his gaze, he finally embraced her tightly.
[The Heretic Inquisitor of Eternal Truth smiles warmly at your moment of reunion]
Kage raised his brows.
'Huh?'
[The Wolf of the North laughs outrageously—he respects your resolve to protect your family]
[The Oathbreaker sighs deeply]