Kairo remained where he stood for a moment, his eyes lingering on the spot where Hikari had disappeared into the trees.
The forest had swallowed him.
Only the steady rhythm of the waves remained.
He let out a slow breath before turning toward Morri.
One careful step after another, he crossed the sand.
Morri was still seated where he had fallen, his back supported by the frightened girl. Blood continued to seep from the deep cut across his shoulder, staining the torn fabric of his shirt.
The moment he saw Kairo approaching, relief washed over his face.
"K-Kairooo..."
Then his expression suddenly changed.
His eyes dropped.
"...Your leg!"
Kairo stopped.
Morri raised a trembling hand, pointing toward him.
"Y-You're bleeding..."
Only then did Kairo lower his gaze.
The white bandages wrapped around his left calf had turned crimson, fresh blood slowly soaking through the cloth before dripping onto the pale sand below.
For a heartbeat...
He simply stared at it.
Then, almost as though his body had been waiting until the fight was over...
The pain came rushing back.
A sharp, burning ache surged through his calf.
"...Ah."
His knee weakened slightly beneath him.
So that's why...
He had ignored it completely while fighting Hikari.
Now that the adrenaline had faded, every step reminded him of the injury he'd been forcing himself to forget.
Kairo let out a quiet sigh before looking back at Morri.
A small smile appeared on his face.
"...well, you look worse yourself."
Morri blinked.
Then, despite the pain in his shoulder, he couldn't help smiling back.
"...Mhm..."
Before either of them could say another word.
"Kairo!"
A familiar voice called out from behind.
Tera came rushing down the bluff, nearly slipping across the sand in her haste. She hurried straight toward him, stopping only when she noticed the blood soaking through his bandages.
Her amber eyes widened.
"Kairo!"
She pointed accusingly at his leg.
"You're bleeding again!"
He looked at her, genuinely puzzled.
"...I am?"
"You are!"
She folded her arms, clearly upset.
"I told you not to push yourself!"
"You went and fought someone with a knife!"
"What were you thinking?!'
Kairo tilted his head slightly, as though he couldn't understand why she was making such a fuss.
His eyes shifted toward Morri and the girl.
"...they would've gotten hurt even more."
Tera opened her mouth to argue.
Then...
She quietly closed it again.
The girl supporting Morri with the short black hair adjusted the slightly crooked glasses on her nose before carefully helping Morri sit a little straighter. When she finally looked up at Kairo, her eyes were still red from crying, the fear of what had almost happened lingering behind her quiet expression, "...Thank you."
She lowered her head deeply.
"Thank you for saving us."
He scratched the side of his cheek awkwardly.
"...It's alright."
He gave her a small, reassuring nod.
"I'm just glad you're both okay."
Tera watched him for a moment before shaking her head in surprise.
"...I didn't know you could fight."
"...Fight?"
He glanced toward the trees where Hikari had disappeared.
"...That?"
He rubbed the back of his neck.
"It wasn't anything special."
"I've seen worse." His voice grew quieter.
For a brief moment, his thoughts drifted back to Black Capital; the violence there, the cruelty, the people who smiled while hurting others.
Compared to what he had witnessed there... Hikari was just another bully.
"...."
The memory lingered only briefly before Kairo pushed it aside.
Tera followed his gaze for a moment, sensing something unspoken behind his calm expression.
Before she could ask...
Her eyes landed on Morri's shoulder.
"...Oh!"
She immediately dropped to one knee beside her backpack.
"I almost forgot!" As she unfastened the straps and pulled it open, rummaging through the supplies inside.
"I still have medical supplies."
She looked up at the group.
"Both of you need treatment."
Carefully pulling out a small first-aid pouch, she stood again and looked around the beach.
"We shouldn't stay out here."
"We need to find some shade."
"The sooner we clean those wounds..."
"...the better."
......
Few minutes later...
The shade of an ancient tree offered a welcome escape from the relentless heat.
Sunlight filtered through the dense canopy overhead, scattering patches of golden light across the forest floor. The distant sound of waves drifted through the trees, accompanied by the steady chorus of insects hidden among the undergrowth.
Morri leaned comfortably against the broad trunk, his injured shoulder now wrapped in fresh, clean bandages. Though his face still carried traces of exhaustion, the pain had eased enough for him to breathe without wincing.
Beside him, Tera knelt in front of Kairo, tightening the final knot around the bandage on his left calf.
"...Hold still."
Kairo did as he was told, she carefully adjusted the cloth one last time before pressing gently against the wound to make sure it was secure.
"...Ngh."
A sharp sting shot through Kairo's leg.
His brow twitched.
Tera looked up immediately.
"There."
She sat back with a satisfied nod.
"That should keep it from opening again."
Then her expression hardened.
"But honestly..."
She folded her arms.
"You need to be more careful next time."
"But I was careful."
Tera stared at him.
She sighed deeply, pinching the bridge of her nose, "You're hopeless."
Her tone carried the weary exasperation of a mother scolding an adventurous child who had narrowly escaped disaster.
Across from them, Morri let out a quiet laugh.
The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"...Hehehe."
Everyone looked toward him.
He smiled sheepishly.
"You know, I was just thinking..."
He rubbed the back of his neck with his uninjured hand.
"...You've saved me twice now."
His smile turned awkward.
"First at the academy..."
"...and now here."
Kairo gave a small shake of his head.
"I just happened to be nearby."
Morri chuckled.
"...yeah, I guess you're right."
A comfortable silence settled over the group.
Not far away, the girl with round glasses stood quietly brushing dried mud from her clothes.
After a brief hesitation, she slowly walked over before lowering herself onto the grass beside Morri.
Kairo's eyes drifted toward her; he studied her thoughtfully.
The girl noticed almost immediately.
"..."
Her shoulders stiffened.
A faint blush crept across her cheeks as she lowered her eyes, suddenly becoming very interested in the grass beneath her shoes.
Beside Kairo...
Tera noticed everything.
Without warning...
Thump.
She lightly bumped his arm with her elbow.
Kairo looked at her.
"...What?"
Tera gave him an unmistakable look.
"Silly."
She tilted her head toward the girl.
"You're making her uncomfortable."
"...I am?"
He looked back at the girl.
"...Sorry."
Morri burst into laughter.
"Seriously, Kairo... you don't recognize her?"
Kairo frowned.
He looked at the girl once more.
"...Her face looks familiar..."
He rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"...But I can't remember where we've met."
The girl's blush deepened.
After gathering a little courage, she adjusted her glasses and spoke softly.
"...M-My name is Yomi."
She offered a small, nervous smile.
"We were in the same class during the Academy Certification Programme."
Recognition slowly dawned across Kairo's face, "...Oh."
Morri laughed even harder.
"You're unbelievable."
"How do you forget someone you spent an entire programme with?"
He scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"...I'm sorry."
Yomi shook her head almost immediately.
"It's alright."
She smiled shyly.
"...It's not like I talked to anyone."
"I mostly kept to myself during the programme."
"...Really?"
There wasn't any judgment in his voice.
Only genuine confusion.
Yomi nodded with an embarrassed laugh.
"...I'm not very good at talking to people."
"...So I usually stay quiet."
He tilted his head slightly.
"...Huh."
To him, it sounded perfectly ordinary.
Tera couldn't help smiling at the exchange.
For someone who barely spoke himself...
Kairo somehow always seemed surprised whenever he met someone equally quiet.
After allowing the conversation to settle, Tera rose to her feet and looked around at the group, making sure everyone had finally caught their breath, "We should get moving..."
Everyone looked up.
She adjusted the strap of her backpack before pointing deeper into the forest, where towering trees disappeared into a sea of emerald shadows.
"We've all had a chance to rest."
"My teammates are probably searching for me by now."
A determined look settled on her face.
"We'll be much safer once we find them."
"There are several of us, and we'll have a much better chance of surviving together."
Her eyes returned to the forest ahead.
"So..."
She smiled at the group.
"...we'd better start walking."
Her expression became more determined.
Somewhere around the west territory
Somewhere within the Western Territory, far from the coastline and hidden beneath the endless canopy of the Dead Forest, an ancient monument lay buried beneath centuries of moss and tangled roots.
From above, it appeared to be nothing more than another weathered hill swallowed by the wilderness.
But beneath it...
A forgotten sanctuary endured.
Massive stone pillars lined a cavern carved by hands long lost to history. Ancient symbols stretched across the walls, their meanings long erased by time. Along either side of the chamber stood rows of enormous stone doors, each engraved with faded markings.
Behind every door rested supplies prepared by the Missionary Order.
Crates of preserved food.
Bundles of clothing.
Medical kits.
Water containers.
Ropes.
Camping equipment.
Weapons intended solely for survival.
Everything a territory owner would need to endure the seven-day examination.
At the center of the sanctuary stood an elevated stone seat carved directly from the cavern floor.
Upon it sat Harumachi.
One leg rested casually over the other as he leaned against the ancient throne, his expression calm... almost bored.
Below him, more than a dozen recruits moved throughout the chamber.
Some organized supplies.
Others sharpened tools or sorted provisions into neat stacks.
No one spoke louder than necessary.
An invisible order governed the monument.
This was no longer a gathering of examinees.
It was Harumachi's territory.
And everyone inside understood who ruled it.
Footsteps echoed from the entrance.
Several heads turned.
Hikari stumbled into the chamber, breathing heavily.
The moment Harumachi's eyes settled on him, the faint smile on his face disappeared.
"...You're back."
Hikari lowered his head.
"...Yes."
Harumachi's gaze swept over him.
The dirt covering his clothes.
The bruises forming across his face.
The way he unconsciously favored one shoulder.
His eyes narrowed.
"...Care to explain yourself?"
Silence lingered.
Then Hikari spoke.
"...It was him."
His voice wavered.
"...Kairo."
The name drifted through the monument like a ripple across still water.
Everything changed.
A pulse of Seikon surged through Harumachi's body.
Pale green veins slowly spread beneath the skin of both arms, glowing faintly as his Seikon Flow coursed through him.
The air itself seemed to grow heavier.
Several nearby recruits instinctively stepped backward.
Harumachi slowly lowered his head.
"...So..."
A smile slowly returned to his face.
"...He's finally here."
For weeks, he had waited.
Ever since the Academy Certification Programme, he had wanted another chance to repay the humiliation Kairo had dealt him.
Now...
Fate had finally delivered it.
His smile widened.
"...Tell me everything."
Hikari swallowed before recounting everything that had happened on the shoreline.
The confrontation.
The fight.
His defeat.
His humiliation.
When he finished...
Silence settled over the monument once again.
Harumachi rested his chin upon his fist.
"...Did he leave you with anything else?"
Hikari hesitated before lowering his gaze.
"...He did."
Harumachi looked at him.
"...Well?"
Hikari inhaled slowly.
"He said..."
"...that he'd find you..."
"...before you found him."
Silence.
Then...
Harumachi laughed.
Not loudly.
Not wildly.
Just a quiet laugh filled with anticipation.
"...Interesting."
His fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of the throne.
"And here I was preparing to hunt him..."
"...yet he intends to save me the trouble."
His eyes gleamed with excitement.
"...Good."
"I prefer prey that walks willingly into my jaws."
The chamber fell silent once more.
Harumachi slowly turned toward the left side of the monument.
Against one of the ancient pillars sat another young man.
Unlike everyone else, he paid no attention to the conversation.
His arms remained folded across his chest, his head resting lightly against the stone as though asleep.
He had not spoken once.
He had not moved.
Yet no one in the sanctuary dared disturb him.
Harumachi's smile deepened.
"...Looks like it's your turn."
The young man didn't answer.
Several long seconds passed.
Then, without opening his eyes, he spoke.
"...Troublesome."
His voice was quiet.
Flat.
Almost emotionless.
Harumachi chuckled.
"Hikari."
He gestured toward the silent youth.
"Take him with you."
His smile turned cold.
"...Bring Kairo here."
A subtle unease spread through the chamber.
Hikari slowly turned toward the motionless boy.
The instant his eyes settled on him, a chill crept down his spine.
Everyone inside the monument understood.
If Harumachi was the one who built the pack...
Then this boy was the one who tore apart anyone who stood against it.
Hikari swallowed hard.
"...Y-Yes."
The silent youth slowly pushed himself away from the pillar.
Without another word...
He walked toward the cave entrance.
Hikari hurried after him, careful to keep several steps behind.
Before long...
The two figures disappeared into the darkness beyond the ancient monument.
Harumachi watched them leave, the smile never fading from his face.
"...Come, Kairo."
The glowing green veins beneath his skin slowly faded.
"...I'll be waiting."
To be continue....