Yui's voice was sharp.
"What is this now?"
Takumi responded—surprisingly gentle.
"Renji said this pairing is only for tonight."
Yui narrowed her eyes.
"Then why didn't he tell us in advance?"
"Because the northern lords are tearing each other apart over territory.
Renji plans to sow the seeds of civil war among them."
His voice softened, almost as if he became someone else around her.
Did Yui notice the softness coming from his voice?
She pressed her lips together.
"Why split us into pairs?"
"Probably something quiet," I said. "Assassination. Espionage. Sabotage. Ten preselected targets, most likely."
Takumi cut in quickly.
"Exactly, one-eye."
His old insult—muted when Yui was near.
She shut him down instantly:
"Stop calling him 'one-eye.' "
Just then, Kana arrived.
"Hayato. Let's go."
---
[On the Road – Kana & Hayato]
The forest was quiet.
The moon hung like a thin blade above the trees.
Kana walked ahead—back straight, silent.
But her silence spoke louder than anything she could say.
Every step measured. Intentional.
"If Renji assigned this to just the two of us," I said, "it's probably dangerous."
She nodded.
""A warehouse, Hayato. Lord Okabe's munitions stockpile. Three lords draw their supplies from it."
"If we burn it—"
"A civil war begins," she finished.
Her voice didn't waver.
She said it like she was commenting on the weather.
"I envy how calm you can be," I muttered.
She didn't slow.
"My fire burned out the day I beat you. After that day, nothing in me burns the same," she said with a small smile.
"You are talking like you won fair and square," I said.
We walked in silence.
She turned her head to me:
"Hayato… promise me you won't do anything reckless."
I nodded slowly.
But inside me… something else stirred.
---
[Night – Campgrounds]
Kana was asleep. Facing me. Breathing steady.
I was on watch.
But my eyes stayed fixed on her face.
A strand of hair had fallen across her cheek. Soft. Out of place.
I leaned closer and brushed it back behind her ear.
Her eyelids didn't move. Still asleep.
The firelight traced her features gently.
Delicate.
Still.
I… I wanted her safe.
But maybe the only way to keep her safe
was to disappear alone.
I stood.
Took my sword.
Slung it over my shoulder.
Looked at her one last time.
"Please… don't wake up tonight."
Then I stepped into the dark.
The silence of the night was unsettling.
This wasn't the silence of nature.
This… was the kind of silence that felt like a trap.
Too much training.
Too much waiting.
But now — unlike a proper ambush, there's a real chance of being exposed.
This plan doesn't make sense.
A few of the ten teams could easily fail.
It would've been better to simply observe, gather intelligence, and create enough chaos for the Emperor's loyal bloodlines to act.
The warehouse was surrounded by stone walls.
Before we set out, Renji had given instructions.
He'd been watching the place for a while.
There was a side entrance.
Narrow.
Like an air vent.
This was my only shot at slipping in.
My palms were sweating.
Stay calm.
I had to move slowly through the dark.
But the inside wasn't empty.
A guard.
He wasn't asleep.
He was walking slowly… on patrol.
I was in the shadows, but I couldn't stay long.
I timed my steps with his.
One.
Two.
Three — he turned the corner.
I jumped shadows and froze.
I bought myself just three breaths of time.
The storage space wasn't huge, but it was packed.
Arrows.
Weapons.
Armor.
I slowly started preparing the fire.
Then — a soft sound.
Another guard.
I crouched down.
Held my breath.
If he saw me...
I'd have to kill him.
My dagger was already waiting in hand.
But the man just yawned.
Walked right past me.
And I set the warehouse on fire.
Before I reached the ridge, a pillar of flame rose behind me.
A blaze tearing through the night.
And with it came a scream.
But I was already deep within the forest.