Kado's eyes opened slowly.
Silence.
Then—laughter. Children's voices drifted in from outside, light and careless.
He frowned, sitting up slowly, hand pressing against his chest. "Still… hurts…" he muttered.
He looked around, eyes narrowing. "This place… this isn't my kingdom…"
He swung his legs off the bed and stood, unsteady. "Damn it… where did they bring me…"
Step by step, he made his way outside.
The field stretched before him—open, bright, unfamiliar. Children ran past, laughing, shouting. Kado stopped, staring.
"…What is this place…" he murmured.
Then the laughter faded.
Whispers replaced it.
"That's him…"
"The boy from yesterday…"
"…the cursed one…"
Kado's head snapped toward them. "What did you just say?"
The villagers backed away, some gripping hoes and sticks again.
"I'm talking to you!" Kado snapped, voice rising. "What do you mean cursed?!"
No one answered. They only stared—fear, suspicion, distance.
"I'm not cursed!" he barked, stepping forward. "Do I look like some—"
A firm hand grabbed his arm, stopping him.
"Enough."
Kado turned sharply. Akira's father stood beside him, grip steady. "You'll only make it worse," he said quietly.
Kado yanked his arm slightly, glaring. "Let go."
"They're afraid," the man said. "Shouting won't help you."
Kado's eyes darkened. "I didn't ask you to protect me."
The words hung heavy.
For a moment, neither moved.
The man's grip tightened just slightly—not forceful, but unyielding. "Whether you asked or not… you're under my roof."
Kado scoffed, clutching his chest again as pain flickered through him. "Then maybe you should've left me there."
The villagers murmured louder now, keeping their distance.
"He's dangerous…"
"I told you…"
Kado's jaw clenched. His gaze swept over them, anger rising again—but this time, something colder sat beneath it.
"…I'm not the one you should be afraid of," he muttered.
"Come on, lad. Let's go."
Kado stiffened at the word. His eyes narrowed.
"…Lad?"
He pulled his arm back slightly, voice cold despite the tremor in his chest.
"My name isn't 'lad'."
The man paused.
Kado straightened, forcing himself through the pain, chin lifting with pride.
"It's Kado," he said firmly. "Kado Hoshiro."
Silence.
For a brief second, Kado watched him closely—waiting. Recognition. Shock. Respect.
Anything.
The man only let out a quiet sigh, turning slightly.
"…Kado, then," he said simply. "Let's go."
Kado froze.
That was it?
No reaction. No change. No recognition.
His brows furrowed, confusion flickering through his anger. Hoshiro… and he doesn't know?
"…You don't know it?" Kado asked, voice lower now, uncertain.
The man glanced back at him, unimpressed. "Should I?"
Kado's chest tightened—not from pain this time. Something else.
His gaze slowly swept over the field, the villagers, the unfamiliar land.
No banners. No guards. No palace.
Nothing.
"…What kind of place is this…?" he muttered under his breath.
They walked further into the field.
A twisted carcass lay across their path.
Kado froze. "…What… animal wandered off the forest?"
Akira's father let out a short, dry laugh. "That's no animal. Those are demon beasts. They survive by feeding on humans."
Kado ground his teeth. Just like the death curse from our family…
He opened his mouth, ready to ask more—but the man's voice cut him off sharply.
"That's enough. Don't say another word about it."
The silence lingered as they moved forward.
Ahead, Akira waved, carrying a bucket of water. Her small face looked pale and tired.
The man's tone was firm.
"Do not mention a word about what you saw here. That… took her mother's life three days ago."
Kado's chest tightened as he glanced at the girl. Mourning clung to her every movement.
He swallowed, remembering the weight of his own survival, and said nothing.
Akira set the plate down in front of him, smiling faintly. "Here… finish it. It'll help you heal quickly," she said, lifting her gaze. "I'm Akira."
Kado glanced at her, nodded slightly, and took a spoon. They ate quietly at first, the silence stretching comfortably… until curiosity got the better of him.
"…Where does the demon beast come from?" he asked, voice low but tense. "Why does it attack humans?"
Akira's spoon froze mid-air. Her eyes widened. She bit her lip, the smile fading.
Without a word, she dropped the spoon and bolted from the house, sobbing.
Her father jumped to his feet, calling after her. "Akira! Wait! It's dangerous out there!"
He shot a sharp glance at Kado. "…This is your fault!"
Kado blinked, stunned. The last thing he expected was blame. Then he moved, heart pounding. "Stop! It's not safe to run out there without thinking!"
He dashed after her, ignoring the ache in his chest, his mind recalling the dead demon beast they had passed.
She ran deeper into the field, crying, her small frame trembling with every step.
Finally, Kado caught up and grabbed her shoulders, steadying her. "Stop! Listen to me! It's not safe!"
Akira shook, sobbing, and for a moment, she looked up—
Something was rising behind him.
Massive. Dark. Terrifying.
A demon beast, alive. Its eyes glowed faintly, hunger written in every line of its twisted body.
Akira froze, unable to scream.
Kado spun around, jaw dropping. The creature loomed closer, fast.
It could have struck—but instinct saved him. Akira shoved him hard into the thick bushes beside them. They hit the ground hard, hidden just enough as the demon beast sniffed the air and moved past, its shadow stretching across the field.
Both of them held their breath, hearts hammering, eyes locked on the monster, frozen in fear and disbelief.
The demon beast's shadow stretched over them. Its ragged breath cut through the air, each exhale hot and fetid.
Kado grabbed Akira's trembling hands.
"Run! Now!" His voice was sharp, raw, pain lancing through his chest as he pressed his fingers against his ribs.
"I… I'll go… call for help!" she stammered.
"No time!" Kado snapped. "It's too close! We don't survive if we wait!"
The monster's guttural roar echoed across the field, shaking the grass. Its claws tore through the earth with a deafening crack.
Ahead, the glimmer of a river caught Kado's eye.
"Jump in! Now!"
"I… I can't!" Akira gasped.
"Then I'll take you!" he growled, ignoring the burning pain in his chest. Without hesitation, he dove, pulling her down with him.
Cold water surged around them, swallowing them in a choking, violent current.
The demon beast reached the riverbank, eyes glowing with fury, but then it paused—sniffed the air—and turned away, frustrated.
Kado struggled against the river, muscles straining, lungs screaming. He kicked, pulling Akira's small frame behind him, fighting the current.
Then—suddenly—he froze.
Her hands weren't in his.
"Akira!" he screamed, panic tearing through him, every heartbeat pounding like a drum of war.
The current tossed him violently, and his chest burned like fire. "Where… where are you?!"
All he could see was the roiling water and the shadowed bank. His throat tightened, fear clawing at him worse than the demon ever could.
"Akira!" he shouted again, louder this time, voice raw with terror and desperation, the world narrowing down to just her.