"At the Table"
The clatter of dishes slowed, the warmth of stew fading into heavy silence. Everyone's stomachs were full, but their hearts remained weighed down.
Mori finally broke the stillness, his voice low.
"That man… the one who fought with us. The one who…" He hesitated, throat tight. "…Who gave everything. What was his name?"
All eyes turned to "Emi Kurogane". Her fingers clenched against the table, knuckles pale. For a moment, she said nothing, lips pressed into a thin line. Then her voice came, quiet but steady.
"…His name was "Raiden Shuurin". One of the top three warriors of Tsukigakure. A man even our strongest feared… but also respected."
The group froze. Haruka whispered, "One of the top three…?"
Kaida's brow furrowed, awe flickering in his eyes.
"So… that's the level he was fighting at."
Mori swallowed hard.
"He fought until the end. For us. And I didn't even know his name until now…"
Emi's gaze darkened, but she said no more, turning her face away.
---
"The Rank-Up News"
It was Saki who forced the next subject, her tone trying to ease the tension.
"Mori… there's something else. You should know. When the system window appeared…" She trailed off, glancing at the others.
Haruka continued, "Your rank… it jumped. From E-rank… to B."
Mori's eyes widened.
"B…? That's impossible."
"It's true," Miya said bluntly, sparks flickering faintly across her fingers. "The system recognized the kill. That serpent… it was yours."
"I don't even remember doing it," Mori muttered, clenching his fists. "How can I be rewarded for something I can't even control?!"
Saki reached out, gripping his hand tightly.
"Because without you, we wouldn't be here. Whether you believe it or not… you saved us."
But her reassurance only deepened the storm in Mori's chest.
---
"Takuro's Absence"
After a long silence, Mori finally asked what had been gnawing at him since he sat down.
"…Where's Takuro?"
The group exchanged glances.
Saki answered softly, "…He's up at the mountain peak. He's been there since… since the battle ended."
"Alone?" Mori pressed.
"Yes. And… he's not talking to anyone. Not even to me."
Kaida frowned. "Doesn't look good. He's… keeping something from us."
Mori stood, determination sharpening his expression.
"Then I'll go to him."
Saki's eyes widened.
"Mori, wait—"
"I need to. We can't keep drifting apart."
Without another word, he stepped out, leaving the warmth of the restaurant behind.
---
"Life in Tsukigakure"
The streets were busier now than before. Lanterns glowed brighter as evening descended, casting an otherworldly glow across the village.
Mori slowed as he walked, his eyes widening at the sight of children chasing each other with sticks, laughing freely. Two girls sat weaving cloth, humming an unfamiliar tune. An elder sharpened a blade, pausing to give Mori a suspicious glance.
'They're… living. Like us. Families, children, laughter… in this cursed world.'
For the first time, Mori realized how little he knew. This world wasn't just shadows and monsters. People had roots here. A home.
His gaze caught something massive near the center of the village.
---
"The Headless Statue"
A towering stone sculpture loomed above, easily three times his height. Its body was broad, muscles carved with painstaking detail — but the head was gone, shattered long ago.
Mori stopped, staring up at it.
"…Who were you?"
The figure stood with one fist clenched, the other hand stretched outward as if to shield something. Though faceless, its presence carried weight, a defiance against time.
A passerby muttered under their breath, not realizing Mori overheard:
"The Guardian of Tsukigakure… forgotten, erased."
Mori frowned, curiosity biting deeper. 'A guardian…? Then why is its head missing?'
But there were no answers here, only silence.
---
"The Summit"
By the time he reached the foot of the mountain path, the air had cooled. The climb was long, winding past jagged rocks and cliffs that overlooked the glowing lanterns of Tsukigakure far below.
His legs ached from weakness, but his will drove him upward. Each step brought him closer to Takuro, closer to the answers.
Finally, he reached the summit.
The moon above cast pale light across the cliff, where one lone figure sat at the edge — "Takuro Hoshigami". His back was to Mori, his silhouette sharp against the horizon.
Mori froze, his breath catching.
"Takuro…" he whispered.
And with that single word, the chapter closed.
---