A pleasant spring afternoon lay across the farmland of Ren's family.
Ren was lying down in the fields, staring at the sky.
"Ren!!"
His mother's sweet voice called out to him.
He opened his eyes with a smile and quickly got up, running toward her.
He hugged her tightly.
It was a warm, happy moment between them.
They walked back home together, where his father was waiting, busy with work in the dairy farm.
"Finally home, Ren," his father said.
Ren ran and hugged him as well.
"Yes, Dad! And you know what? I ran faster than yesterday!"
"Really? That's my proud child," his father said with a smile.
Then he looked at Ren's mother.
"Tenji, is lunch ready?"
"Almost. Just a little work left," she replied.
"Alright. I'll finish my dairy work, and then after lunch… we'll go to the market."
Ren's eyes lit up.
"Yay!!"
---
After lunch, Ren and his father headed toward the market.
Ren was a 10-year-old boy. His father was both a farmer and a dairy seller, while his mother managed the home.
"Dad, we'll return before dark, right?" Ren asked.
His father adjusted the bag filled with milk cans on his shoulder.
"Don't worry. We will."
"Then let's race till the village! Winner gets a chocolate!"
His father chuckled. "Alright."
"1… 2… 3… GO!"
Ren dashed forward with all his energy. His father followed, but more steadily due to the weight he carried.
Ren reached the village first.
"Yay!! I won!!"
His father arrived shortly after, smiling.
"Alright, after work, I'll buy you a chocolate."
---
As they walked through the village, Ren noticed something.
People were using Shishou.
Shishou was a special power that everyone possessed, but only some could use. In villages, those who could use it often became guards or teachers.
Teachers trained students to unlock their Shishou, which was usually sealed at birth by doctors—because it could be dangerous to both the child and others.
But Ren didn't care about any of that.
He just wanted to live a simple, happy life with his family.
---
"Dad?"
"Yes?"
"You don't have Shishou, right?"
His father smiled softly. "No, I don't."
"Then why are you happy without it?"
His father placed a hand on his head.
"My son, it doesn't matter whether I have Shishou or not. What matters is seeing you and your mother happy… and protecting that happiness."
Ren looked at him with admiration.
"That's why I want to be like you."
---
After finishing their work, they stopped at a candy shop.
"One chocolate, please," his father said.
"Sure," the shopkeeper replied.
At that moment, a muscular man walked in and stood nearby.
A strange feeling filled the air.
He stared at Ren and his father… with a cold, unsettling gaze.
"Please be quick," Ren's father said.
The shopkeeper handed over the chocolate, and his father paid.
Ren glanced at the man, feeling uneasy.
"Let's go, Ren. It's getting late."
They left.
The shopkeeper turned to the man.
"Sir… why were you staring at them like that?"
But the man didn't respond. He continued looking in their direction… before slowly walking away.
---
Night had fallen as Ren and his father walked home.
"Dad… will the Nulls atta—"
His father quickly covered his mouth.
"Don't speak. Just keep walking," he whispered.
They moved forward in silence.
Then—
A terrifying roar echoed through the darkness.
Ren froze.
His heart started pounding.
Suddenly, a Null appeared in front of them.
"AAAA!!" Ren screamed.
His father immediately stepped in front of him.
The Null attacked.
His father pushed Ren aside and took the hit himself.
A deep wound opened on his left chest.
Blood began to flow.
"Ren! Get my axe from the bag!"
The Null attacked again, but his father barely dodged.
Ren grabbed the axe and threw it toward him.
The moment his father caught it—
He vanished.
The Null looked around, confused.
Then it turned toward Ren.
Ren stood frozen.
His hands trembled. His legs refused to move.
No… I can't run… Dad is still here…
The Null raised its hand to strike—
But suddenly—
Its arm was sliced off.
Then its leg.
Then—
Its head fell to the ground.
Silence.
Ren's father reappeared.
Ren ran toward him and hugged him tightly.
Tears streamed down his face.
"You were brave, my son," his father said softly. "Don't cry… or more Nulls might come."
Ren wiped his tears.
"Climb on my back. We need to get home quickly."
Ren nodded.
They rushed back home together.