Yuhida slowly lowered her eyes, then raised her head with an expression Juty had never seen on her before.
Her voice barely trembled, but each word vibrated with icy determination:
— If... if you've only ever had me to serve you... then that's fine.
I'm tired of this role.
A brutal silence fell.
Juty stared at her, incredulous.
— Huh? What's wrong with you, Yuhida?
She took a deep breath, searching for her words.
— What's wrong with me? What's wrong is that I finally had time to think. While I was alone... I reviewed everything in my head. Everything. And I understood.
I understood that I am not your sister. Nor your friend. I was just... a tool. A means to divert attention.
Juty straightened up, frowning.
— Come on, you're exaggerating. That's how we've always worked. We help each other, everyone has their role. Why are you talking about this now?
— Because I'm tired, Juty! she burst out, tears already welling in her eyes.
Tired of being the one sent outside while you hide behind the walls!
Tired that a single mistake makes me treated like a stranger!
I have done everything for you, always... and yet the slightest fault earned me contempt, coldness, silence!
Juty pressed her lips together, looking annoyed.
— If it's just you making a big deal out of it... I'm sorry, okay? Let's forget it. You come with us, we start over. It's fine now.
But Yuhida shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.
— No... it's not fine.
Even if you apologize, I see the charade, Juty. I see it clearly now...
I always believed we were a family. That you took me in because you cared about me.
Her voice broke.
She placed a hand on her chest, as if trying to hold back something threatening to explode.
— I really believed it...
Juty looked away, visibly uncomfortable.
But Yuhida continued, in a softer, more fragile voice:
— Listen, if you really care about me... then stop all this.
Stop the robberies, the thefts, the escapes.
We could... start over elsewhere. Live like a real family. Work honestly, rebuild. It's not impossible, Juty... not if we really want it.
Silence fell.
Then Juty looked up at her—and a grimace stretched his lips.
A laugh, low at first, rose until it became almost insane.
— Hah... hahahah!
He straightened, placing his hands on his knees.
— A real family? Starting over? Living honestly?
But Yuhida, are you listening to what you're saying?! We've never lived like that!
It's not in our blood, it's not in our world!
Where have you been hanging around to have your head filled with that kind of idea?
The two men behind him burst out laughing too, half mocking.
— Yeah, you heard her? Living like good citizens, huh?
But Yuhida did not laugh.
She watched them, her face wet with tears, heart heavy but words certain:
— Exactly... that's the problem.
This "world" you're talking about... it leads nowhere, Juty.
It promises nothing.
Only death... or prison.
And I don't want to end up like that anymore.
Juty stood abruptly, his tone sharper:
— Are you serious? You want to ditch us? After everything we've given you?
— You used me, Juty! she replied, lifting her head.
Everything you "gave" me was so I would serve your plans!
Juty's gaze hardened. He stepped toward her, voice deeper, almost threatening:
— Now is not the time for your feelings. Pack your things, we're leaving.
But Yuhida stepped back, refusing.
— No. As long as you don't promise to stop all this... I'm not moving from here.
— What?!
— I'm not moving. Not as long as you continue this life.
A long silence.
Juty stared at her, his eyes filling with restrained anger.
The other men exchanged nervous glances.
— You know, Yuhida... you're playing with fire here, he whispered in a low voice.
But she did not look down.
For the first time, she stood up to him.
— Then burn me, if you must. But I will no longer walk in your shadow.
Juty remained silent for a moment, his gaze fixed on Yuhida's.
Then he slowly nodded, his features frozen.
— Very well... then you've made your choice.
His voice, at first calm, now vibrated with restrained anger.
He took a step... then another.
Yuhida instinctively backed away.
— Juty... wait...
But before she could say another word, he raised his hand, ready to strike.
It was at that moment that the air changed.
Space seemed to twist slightly, and a shadow rose from the ground, gripping Juty's arm with a single sharp movement.
A dull sound echoed—click—as if the matter itself had just frozen.
Then a black, translucent hand materialized, firmly holding Juty's wrist, paralyzing him on the spot.
The three men jumped.
Even Yuhida stepped back, eyes wide.
— Ba... Bakuzan?!
Heart pounding, she immediately recognized that familiar energy.
And as the shadow slowly dissipated, Bakuzan's silhouette appeared behind her, outlined by the rain still falling through the broken window.
Juty trembled, unable to move his imprisoned arm.
— Who's this guy...? A sorcerer?!
Bakuzan stepped forward, his gaze resting on Yuhida with an almost calming calmness.
— I hope you're all right, Yuhida.
She nodded, tears still in her eyes, a faint smile crossing her tired face.
— I'm fine... thank you.
Juty struggled violently, but it was useless: the spectral arm held him as if trapped in living stone.
— Let me go, damn it!
In a desperate gesture, he turned toward his two accomplices:
— Hey, you two! Attack him!
Yuhida immediately yelled, her voice loaded with panicked fear:
— Don't you dare do that!
Everyone stopped, stunned by the panic in her tone.
She continued, softer, almost pleading:
— You don't know... who this man is.
So for your own good... leave. Leave now and never come back.
Juty looked at her, eyes bloodshot with rage.
— What did you just say?
Tears began running down Yuhida's face again.
— You tried to hit me, Juty... just because I wanted to take my own path?
— Your own path?! he repeated, voice rumbling.
What the hell are you talking about?!
You've always been ours, Yuhida! That's how we've always worked!
He suddenly turned his head toward Bakuzan, finally recognizing him.
A twisted smile appeared on his lips.
— Oh... yeah. I remember you. The wounded one Yuhida had picked up.
Haha... I see now.
Instead of quietly dying in your corner, you brainwashed her, huh?
You planted ideas of rebellion in her head!
He cast a contemptuous glance at Yuhida.
— You swore to me he was gone for good... well, looks like you lied.
Yuhida lowered her head, trembling, unable to answer.
She was still in shock: seeing Juty raise his hand against her had shattered her.
Bakuzan, meanwhile, remained impassive.
His voice came out cold and clear:
— I believe she asked you to leave.
— Well go ahead, sneered Juty, make us leave, idiot!
Bakuzan looked at him without emotion.
— That's not a problem.
Suddenly, the house began to vibrate.
The walls creaked, the floor cracked, and black smoke escaped from the planks' gaps, undulating like a tide of shadow.
A acrid smell of burnt earth filled the room.
Then, one by one, shapes emerged from the mist: outlines of broken armor, empty skulls, jawbones open without flesh.
The undead took shape in the house, their bones cracking, their armor clinking under the weight of mana.
— But... what is that?! one of the men shouted.
Terrified, Yuhida backed against the wall.
— Those are... undead?
Juty's two men didn't wait any longer.
Seized by animal fear, they fled screaming, overturning the table on their way.
Juty, pale, tried to follow, pulling on his arm still held by the shadowy hand.
— Let me go! Let me go, damn it!
Bakuzan looked at him for a moment, then let his spectral hand dissipate.
— Go away, before my servants change their minds.
Juty fell heavily to the ground, then half rose, eyes filled with terror.
Without looking back, he ran for the exit, disappearing.
The door slammed violently.
The house fell back into total silence, broken only by the sound of rain and the distant cracking of the dissolving creatures' bones.
Yuhida remained there, trembling, hands over her mouth, unable to believe what she had just experienced.
Bakuzan slowly approached, placed a hand on her shoulder and whispered:
— It's over, Yuhida. They won't come back.
She looked up at him, seeking to understand whether he had really just saved her... or if he had just shown her for the first time what he really was.