Everyone is so dazzling!

'what is your name?'

ugh... this question was inevitable. should I just say my real name and get away with it? I mean, what's the worst that could happen?

'My name is...kaage'

'Hmm, don't you have a surname?

'ohhh you're asking in the clan sense.'

'I mean, yes, which clan do you belong to or which family do you come from?'

'My surname is yamada, but I don't know if my surname belongs to a clan.'

The person in front of me stopped and turned to me. He seemed surprised to hear my last name.

'You really...you really don't know your own lineage?'

I gave a short and clear answer 'yes'

He turns his back to me again and we continue walking, but more slowly. He seems confused by something.

He suddenly turns back to me but I felt like my heart was going to come out from the sudden movement.

In a cheerful tone, 'I found the meaning of your name'

'ohh I'm listening.'

"Now listen to me carefully. Kaage means darkness. The surname Yamada comes from Yama, meaning death, and the literal meaning of your name is dark death. Did your family choose the name Kaage on purpose?"

Is that what my name means? Well... it suits me, doesn't it?

'Why are you worried about this?'

'ahhh just your name your family and you caught my attention a little. and your name and you fit perfectly.'

Even though hearing all these things makes me feel uneasy, what makes me feel really uneasy is that this man says all these things with a smile and with pleasure.

Not talking is the best option. I won't open my mouth. This man is dangerous.

time to think... why does this man make me so nervous? is it because of the power he radiates? is it because of his personality and the way he talks about me?

I don't know, haah, it really pisses me off but there's nothing I can do. This guy is strong, very strong.

But his voice sounds familiar from somewhere, hmmm, where could it be from?

fuck fuck fuck I'm ruined

How did I manage to forget? Where was my mind, I gave up my caution, this man came in the middle of a conversation while I was listening to someone in the forest and fucked up the place.

I'm walking with the person who scares everyone with his sarcastic tone and I got his attention, I'm seriously fucked.

Ok, I have to calm down, I have to act calm as always. If he is interested in me, it will be enough for me to act like an idiot as he wants. Or maybe not, this man is both strong and intelligent, I should think of something else.

My head's starting to hurt. Uh- what? Wait, are we arrive?

The person next to me nudged me with his arm and said, "raise your head kaage and watch."

I just looked at him and nodded my head yes.

Everyone around seems to be silently waiting for someone to speak.

As everyone began to mumble, someone slowly and uprightly appeared at the speaking stand.

He read a piece of parchment-like paper in his hand. 'We apologize for keeping you waiting for so long, new citizens. However, your wait will not be in vain. Master Hatamoto will be making an announcement before you now.'

It looks like the announcement is about to begin, but will the Hatamoto clan head give the speech? Or will someone else read it instead? I wonder.

Ahh! It's okay, it's none of my business, stop thinking and just wait for the conversation to start, that's what I have to do.

While Kaage was concentrating on not thinking about anything, the person who was going to give the speech finally arrived.

The humming noises started again as soon as the speaker arrived. Kaage hadn't even looked up the entire time, but curiosity finally got the better of him and he looked up.

When Kaage raised his head, he was shocked because he didn't know what to think when he saw that the person who was going to speak was very, very old.

Is the person who should be giving this speech really that old? Or is this guy really the leader of this dynasty?

Okay, let's not question it based on appearance, right, but maybe he is very strong and doesn't show it in front of people so that they won't be afraid.

hmm... eyes... very interesting, this is the first time I've seen such a shining eye. An eye that is golden and shines as much as gold is so interesting and striking.

While he was deep in thought about the old man, two more people came from behind him.

The people around me started talking louder this time, so I could hear what they were saying. 'The lord and his heir', 'The whole family is here'. Of course I was surprised when I heard these. This old man really was the leader of the dynasty.

But the person who really caught my attention was the person they called the 'heir apparent' who had just set foot here. This boy was really striking, His short light brown hair and golden eyes were so bright that I felt like my eyes were burning.. His father was next to him, only his hair looked similar, but it was obvious that he was his father.

Ah! Fuck, I looked very carefully, I hope I didn't catch your attention.

My eyes shifted to the man next to me and our eyes met. Huh? Was he spying on me? Was he observing my reactions? And I noticed something. I didn't ask this man his name, should I ask him now? The master of this place doesn't seem like he's going to talk much. They seem to be discussing something. 

quietly 'hey sorry I'm a little late but what's your name?'

The white and long-haired man said again in a mocking tone. 'yoko.'

Hmm, that name sounds familiar, where does it come from? ah- I remember my mother telling me a story about a monster. She said that it tricked people and took on human form, she had said that its name was Yoko.

yoko, 'Do you think I am who I am because that's what it means or am I who I am because that's who I am?'

'I can't answer that... sorry.'

'This is a normal reaction, it's too early for you.'

while saying this he looked at me, for the first time I see his eyes so clearly, the same tone that suits his white hair, the diamond-like eyes are interesting, I guess he gets his charisma from everywhere.

anyway, let's get back to the topic, why is it early?

hmm ah I guess there's no time to think about what's too early, the conversation seems to finally be starting.

...

Mr. Hatamoto, 'I sincerely thank every new citizen and soldier who is waiting for me. I would also like to thank the people of this place for surrendering directly without fighting. I don't know what you have heard about our dynasty, but erase those things from your mind and open a new page for us.'

'You were once independent but now you will be ruled by the Hatamato clan. Don't worry, we are not a clan that mistreats its citizens. Our people are more important than anything else. In short, we protected you from that greedy leader of the West. Maybe some of you have seen him because he is not afraid to show himself.'

'There may be a war between the West and the North. The West is threatening us but we don't want to fight, they killed some of my soldiers a few days ago and sent their bodies to me. This is a declaration of war. That's why we took this place. We acted before the West. Don't worry, you won't be in danger, there will be high-ranking soldiers and a few wizards to protect you, the ones who are blessed by god as you call them, are on our side.'

'Please remember that we are the military source of this country. So do not worry about yourselves and the north.'

The people were no longer worried. They understood the situation and were siding with the north.

'so does anyone have any questions?'

A young man with long white hair raised his hand. 'Sir, who is protecting the capital of the north?'

'Ah- yoko... don't worry that, my brother and my most loyal soldiers are looking after the north right now.'

There was a short silence in the environment. After this question, Mr. Hatamoto's compassionate eyes suddenly turned cold, the shine of those golden eyes suddenly cooled, he was examining the people in front of him one by one. There was not a single trace of emotion in his eyes.

At last he stopped looking, closed his eyes, and breathed a very hearty sigh.

'That's all I'm going to say, but there is one more very important matter.'

Mr. Hatamoto turned around and nodded to his grandson Hayato. As if waiting for this sign, his grandson Hayato nodded his head directly in response. He quickly and seriously stepped forward and began to speak.

Hayato began to speak in a serious but loving voice, 'Listen to me citizens of place, just ahead of here was a small and independent village just like yours. In the forest of that village, there was a family who lived a little far from that village.'

'We saw smoke starting to rise from the side of that house. If it was a normal fire, it wouldn't have risen that high. So I took a shortcut with my unit to investigate. But when we got there, all we saw was a burnt-out house and a pool of blood in front of it. The front of the house was full of corpses.'

'The issue that concerns you here is that the house burned down and who killed those people. Those who burned that house did not burn it with normal fire, they used magic. The bodies in front of the house were done by someone else. The biggest suspect is the youngest child of the family whose house burned down, he is the same age as me. We don't know his name, but we know his appearance. And we guess that child will come to this village. If you see that child, don't kill him, just bring him to us. If we find him dead, consider yourself dead.'

His last sentences sounded so cold and threatening that some people flinched and started to sweat.

"So, what does it look like?" someone from the crowd asked.

Hayato stared at the crowd, scanning the people.

And finally he noticed the boy standing next to Yoko, where he had last looked, with his head bowed, and he stared at him. He began to examine every part of the boy.

Hayato, hmm this kid looks like he's about my height. If I remember correctly my grandfather said his hair reached his neck and it was black. I have to make him lift his head.

'An exact replica of that kid.'

...

While I was listening to the conversation silently, how did the topic suddenly come to me? I was surprised when Yoko started talking. Why did Mr. Hatamoto get angry when he saw him?

I guess now is not the time to question these things. The real issue is how will I get rid of them. Maybe Yoko can help? Ahh, I don't think so.

Without lifting my head, I said, "Me, sir?"

'Yes, you can you lift your head? I need to look into your eyes.'

Will they recognize me when I raise my head? There's a chance they will. Hah, I guess I have no choice.

The moment I raised my head, Hayato had a big smile of triumph on his face, and his eyes were shining as if he had won.

I think... I messed up.

'Yeah- you definitely look like him,'

didn't he understand?

ohhhh no no no he understood.

Hayato quickly went to his grandfather and whispered in his ear. Whatever he whispered, his face turned directly to me and he came towards me.

Mr. Hatamoto, 'The speech is over, everyone disperse. And you come with me.'

'wha-'

Everyone started muttering and looking at me because the conversation ended abruptly.

I just looked at Yoko and he had a smile on his face as if he knew everything was going to happen.

yoko, 'ahh good luck, I go.'

ahaha you bastard

Let's just stay calm, okay? Should I run away?

Hayato suddenly appeared next to me and said, "Don't try to escape." He grabbed my arm and started dragging me inside.

Ah- how is this kid so strong!

I'm finished!