In the Darkova marketplace, where laughter and whispers still echoed, the fight between Akio and Akira was still the talk of the crowd. But amid the chaos and laughter, eyes began to turn once again toward Ken, who had been quietly watching everything.
A woman from the crowd (shouting): "Hey, you all! Did you just forget about Yukaji Ken and start laughing at this nonsense?! Don't forget that he killed my husband!!"
As soon as she shouted this, all eyes turned back to Ken. He was leaning against a wall, staring at the ground and smoking his cigarette. The people around him slowly began to gather, their eyes now filled with hatred. The angry woman stepped forward, her face full of tears and spite.
Woman: "How can you stand there so calmly? You really are a heartless monster!"
Ken remained silent, unmoving. Some of the people behind the woman stepped forward, holding simple weapons—sticks and stones—while others raised their fists in the air.
Ken now found himself in a very difficult position. He closed his eyes for a long moment, feeling something strange rising in his chest—something like guilt… and pain. But he kept his face emotionless. One of the men in the crowd, older and with a violent expression, stepped in front of Ken and started shouting.
Man: "You killed more than 500 innocent soldiers! That's why you must pay the price now! There's no place here for scum like you!"
The crowd began to chant and shout, as if they had all suddenly agreed that Ken was their common enemy. It was as if years of accumulated hatred had just exploded.
Akio, watching from a distance, felt uneasy as he saw the immense pressure now surrounding Ken. But he wasn't sure what to do—after all, Ken had done something wrong.
Then, the scene shifted to Ken's memories…
⸻
Flashback:
A dark night, the moon the only source of light. Ken, age thirteen, walked slowly through the roads leading to one of Cirrus's military outposts. His steps were steady, his face like stone, bearing no expression but pure rage. In his left hand, he held his flaming red sword—burning with his own hatred.
Ken stormed into the large courtyard where soldiers were gathered, roasting meat, laughing and chatting. They had no idea that death itself had arrived.
Soldier 1: "Huh? What's this?"
Soldier 2: "A kid…?"
Soldier 3 (laughing): "Is he lost? Or looking for his mommy and daddy?"
But before they could finish their mockery, it happened.
In less than a second, laughter turned into screams.
Ken vanished in a blink, lunged into the group, sword raised. Blood erupted in every direction. Limbs were severed before the soldiers even realized they were dying.
Soldier: "Aaaaagh!!" He collapsed, clutching his severed arm… which wasn't just cut—it was burning from the inside.
Others:
"The fire! It's inside me!"
"My body—my body is on fire!!"
Their bodies convulsed in agony. Ken's sword didn't just cut—it consumed. Flames from the blade devoured their insides like a slow hell.
The remaining soldiers froze, unable to believe what they were witnessing. How could a kid kill dozens of trained soldiers in seconds?
But Ken gave them no time to wonder. As soon as he saw them, he charged like a storm—screams, fire, limbs flying everywhere. He cut them down one by one without hesitation or mercy. They didn't die instantly—they burned alive, their skin melting, their organs igniting, their hearts stopping only after unimaginable pain.
Soldier: "Impossible…! He's not human!!"
Another: "He's a demon!!"
Some ran. Ken didn't let them escape. He swung his sword and unleashed a fiery wave that swept across the area, incinerating everything in its path.
In the middle of the corpses, Ken spotted one man crawling away… his face strangely familiar.
Ken stopped in his tracks. His pulse spiked. His eyes widened.
A memory opened—
A gunshot. A muffled scream.
Dan's head exploding in front of him.
Time froze. His breath stopped.
His hands trembled.
That man… he was the soldier who killed Dan!
The man looked up, saw Ken's face—and recognized him. He gasped and tried to crawl away.
Soldier (pleading): "Wait… I-I have a family…! I didn't mean to kill anyone…!"
Ken stepped forward slowly, his sword dripping with blood and still ablaze. His eyes were filled with pain and fury.
Ken (coldly): "Family…? Did you think about my family when you blew my brother's head off right in front of me? Was killing children just another mission for you?"
The soldier's eyes widened, his body trembling. He couldn't move from fear. Then Ken vanished—
The man looked down—his hands were gone.
Too stunned to scream.
Then—his legs were gone, too.
He collapsed to the ground, watching as Ken stood over him, staring down with a cold, deadly smile.
Ken: "It wouldn't be fair if you died quickly."
Slowly, Ken stabbed his sword into the soldier's chest. The fire invaded every cell in the man's body.
He screamed—a long, agonized cry—then silence.
Ken stood alone amidst the corpses, the chaos, the hell he had created. He looked at his bloodstained hands… and without realizing it, started laughing—a terrifying, unhinged laugh.
⸻
Back to the present:
Ken snapped out of the memory. People were throwing stones at him now. He slowly raised his head, finding himself standing alone before a sea of rage. Yet, there was no fear in his expression.
His cold gray eyes showed no trace of panic or regret. It was as if he were observing a chessboard.
(An angry mob in front of me… No one here will listen… Justifying myself is a waste of time… Random force will only worsen things… So then?)
Quick analysis. Conclusion. Decision.
All within a fraction of a second.
Instead of retreating, Ken stepped forward.
That one step made everyone freeze. Even the woman at the front flinched, but she quickly regained her composure, gritting her teeth as she raised her wooden stick.
Woman: "It's time to pay! Don't think you'll get away with this!"
Ken didn't speak. No reaction.
He simply raised his left hand—and caught the stick mid-air before it hit him.
Ken: "If you think I'll let you beat me like a stray dog… you're a fool."
Ken pressed the stick lightly—and in a blink, it cracked under his fingers and snapped in half. The woman gasped and stepped back, while the crowd began to hesitate. They hadn't expected such a calm reaction. They were anticipating an explosion, a fight, a massacre—but what Ken did was… shocking.
Before things could escalate, Ann stepped in quickly and stomped her foot on the ground.
Ann: "That's enough! Have you all lost your minds? You're a bunch of adults attacking a teenager who was nothing more than a victim of Cirrus's actions!"
Woman: "Hah?! You're defending a killer? Do you know how many families he's destroyed?!"
Ann: "And you? Do you know how many people your husband killed in the wars?! Were you there when he took the lives of the innocent?!"
Woman (nervously): "T-That's not the same…"
Ann (angrily): "It is the same!"
Before anyone could speak again, Akio intervened.
Akio (angrily): "You're all attacking him like he's a monster, but did any of you stop to ask why he became this way?! Did anyone ask what his life was like before he was a killer?! Did anyone ask how he lost everyone he loved?!"
Ken, who had been watching in silence, let out a faint sigh.
Ken: "I didn't ask for your help."
Ann (seriously): "Oh yeah? So what—were you just going to let yourself get killed here? Keep pretending you're all alone in the world?"
Ken didn't reply. He simply turned his face away… He knew she was right. But he didn't want to admit it.
The crowd gradually began to disperse, realizing that fighting wasn't going to lead to anything. Then Ann looked at Ken and felt a wave of sadness for him. She stepped forward boldly, suddenly grabbed his hand—and pulled it forcefully toward her.
Ann (in a quiet but firm voice, cheeks blushing): "Ken-san, don't worry… let's go now."
The shock was clear in his eyes, but he couldn't react—because Ann started walking quickly, gripping his hand tightly.
Akira, who was still standing just a few steps away, watched the two of them walk off. His face was a strange mix of surprise and deep thought. For a moment, he felt that he and Ken shared a painful childhood, but each had gone a different path.
Akira (whispering): "He's also… like me."
Ken and Ann started walking away from the market. Ann was still holding his hand, trying to comfort him, her heart full of sorrow. She didn't know much about his past—but she could feel he had endured things no child ever should.
Ken (in a quiet tone, glancing sideways at her): "How long are you going to keep holding my hand?"
The words were unexpected, but Ann smiled anyway. She hadn't expected anything different from Ken. Her cheeks turned even redder, and her eyes sparkled.
Ann (thinking excitedly): "I can't believe it! I'm holding Ken-san's hand again! It's so soft! I wish I could hold it forever!"
She stared at Ken's hand, making sure he wasn't trying to pull away, savoring every second of contact.
Ann (out loud, emotionally): "I can't believe this! Am I dreaming?!"
Ken looked at her, but didn't seem to care what she was saying. He kept walking as if nothing weird was happening. Ann, meanwhile, felt a mix of embarrassment and joy—her mind filled with comedic daydreams.
Then, as she noticed Ken growing slightly annoyed, she quickly let go of his hand, blushing.
Ann (softly, trying to hide her embarrassment): "I guess… it's time to let go of your hand… But it's just… really comfortable!"
Ken (with cold sarcasm): "Good. I'm free now."
Finally, Akio and Akira showed up from behind, catching up with them.
Akio (enjoying the moment): "Did you see that, Akira? Ann held Ken's hand like it was a romantic movie!"
Akira (grinning mischievously, blushing): "Looks like Ann needs someone who understands her better than Ken does."
They got closer, and now the four of them were walking the same path.
Ken (sarcastically, still walking calmly): "How long are you going to keep following me? Am I your engagement ring or something?"
Ann (deeply embarrassed, but smiling inside): "You just don't get it! It's not what you think!"
Akira (mocking grin, moving closer to Ann): "I think I'm the perfect guy for this job. Ken doesn't know how to deal with girls, but me? I know how to be romantic… especially when it comes to you, Ann-chan."
Suddenly, Akira smoothly reached out and grabbed Ann's hand, his gaze full of admiration and a seductive grin on his face.
Akira (with flair): "I think your hand belongs in mine more than his. Don't you agree?"
Without warning, Ann's face turned cartoonishly furious—and she punched Akira hard in the face, knocking him down!
Ann (shouting): "Let go of me, you pervert! What do you think you're doing?!"
Akira (touching his bruised cheek, laughing quietly while grinning): "Oh, I wasn't expecting that reaction! You really are strong—and I love that kind of strength in a woman."
Akio (bursting into laughter, tears in his eyes): "Akira, you idiot! Did you really think Ann would dump Ken for you?!"
Akira (cockily): "Hey, I know I'm hard to resist… but if you ever change your mind, Ann, I'm right here! I'm not just handsome—I'm brave enough to take a punch!"
Ann turned sharply and stormed off toward Ken again.
Ann (face red, speaking stubbornly): "Shut up, you arrogant, perverted wolf! Ken-san is mine, and I belong to Ken-san! End of story!!"
Akira (laughing): "Relax, I was just joking, Ken-fangirl! You're so touchy!"
Ann (comically furious): "Touchy?! You grabbed my hand and flirted with me like a creep—and I just met you today, you maniac!!"
Akira (smugly closing his eyes and placing his hands behind his head): "Alright, alright, Ann-chan. Have it your way!"
To be continued…