Kashime and Akarum headed outside the village. She wore her "HEAD" coat.
She adjusted her coat carefully before moving forward, and Akarum kept pace with her. She walked fast enough that only he could stay beside her without falling behind.
They ran at their pace. Trees disappeared in a blur.
"But why do I need to be adopted? Can't I just stay normally?" he asked.
"Because of the Law of Disguise back then, when Darkens used to haunt excessively," Kashime said, taking a long breath.
"This was created so that any person under sixteen with no guardians would be sent to Darkens as a deal," she added.
"Why?" Curiosity flashed on his face.
"So they won't hunt for a few days or weeks." She sprinted, her pace increasing rapidly.
"Why is it still present? I mean, the law," he asked.
"So the balance stays maintained, and no wars are caused." Her voice was measured. "Even though there are barely any supplies, it still works."
"Oh." A slight gasp escaped his lips.
They ran, their figures disappearing among the trees. The sun was at its peak, shining through the blue sky.
To the Heavenly Kaatoumo.
Someone was cooking on a gas stove. The flame flickered loudly with every heartbeat.
"Here we go," Asami said as she poured the last ingredient into her soup.
She went outside, holding a bowl of soup, steam wafting from it constantly. The spoon in her fingers swung quietly.
She blew on the steam, the air escaping her lips pushing it forward.
She moved to her room while sipping the soup from the spoon.
When She finished the soup. She placed the bowl on the table beside a book named Messy Humans.
She took the book and headed toward the courtyard, then sat on a chair.
She opened the last page.
"Today it ends," she said with satisfaction.
They built a law today, Priority Law. where governments and rulers would satisfy people's needs, including clothes and everything else. Normal people wouldn't use currency unless they worked for it or owned a business.
Her eyes scanned the paragraph carefully as she continued.
But they handed half of the population to Liyoku, including my family.
The lights were never kind. My eyes lost tears, my brain refused to write, but I need future generations to know that governments and rulers are evil in disguise. They don't care about us.
She paused. Her thoughts raced at the statement.
"That's not true," she denied without a second thought.
Every village has been destroyed by Darkens except the Village of Queens. All the remaining population lives there. But I don't have the courage to live anymore. They took my child, my husband. So…
She finished the last page. There was no word like End, just the "so" holding everything.
Asami closed the book.
"It depends on perspective," she added.
"Some believe it was logical for balance. Some say it was cruelty."
"I wonder when Flint will be coming back." She looked at the left wall. A single spot on it seemed separate, as if it had just been repaired.
"It feels like this place is eating me when I'm alone." A tiny smile appeared, not from joy, but from something deeper.
Her gaze circled the courtyard, her mind picturing Noyu and Flint running after each other, with Nayako cheering them on.
A single tear slipped from her eye.
"It feels like Noyu and Nayako are still here." She wiped the tear.
"Like Noyu will just come here and ask for his food." Her eyes filled with tears. She couldn't hold them anymore.
She ran inside, her eyes watery.
Somewhere else.
Liyoku stepped out of the trees, holding Kiyota by the collar. He was still unconscious.
He lifted his head. A massive skeletal structure touched the sky, built from black metal plates anchored to the ground. They curled at the peak but never met.
A large number of Lightrozers stood atop metal plates. Two stars on their outfits marked them as Lightrozers.
A table stood in the center of the area. Several leaders sat there.
When they noticed Liyoku, their bodies tensed. They gripped their swords tightly, ready to strike at any moment.
"It's the Darkens Lord," one of them said.
"Why is he here?"
Then Denu arrived, dragging Real's unconscious body.
"Cool," Denu waved.
"My Ruler?" They stood abruptly.
"We caught some criminals," Denu said.
Liyoku and Denu stepped forward.
"Greetings, my Ruler."
All five leaders placed their hands on their chests and lowered their heads in sync.
Liyoku shook hands with them.
"Real and Kiyota had captured Rot-Humans inside Beauty in Hollow," Liyoku said.
"So we will decide their end. Shall we begin?"
Denu sat down on a chair. Liyoku and the others followed his lead.
"There's nothing to discuss, my Ruler," a leader beside Liyoku said, his Divine Scar glowing faintly on his index finger with a cosmic-colored outline.
"We can just give them life imprisonment," another leader with a Divine Scar on his forehead with a pink outline said.
"That's not a bad idea," Liyoku considered the suggestion.
"We can do that, but who will replace them as leaders of the cities?" Denu asked.
"It would be better if one is from Liyoku's side and one from Light's side," a leader beside Denu said. His Divine Scar wasn't visible.
"It will balance both sides, without giving either us or the Darkens control over cities," he added, his voice controlled and respectful.
"Then we will meet here again after a few days with candidates." Denu's gaze scanned every single person there.
"As you wish," Liyoku said.
They all stood and shook hands.
Back to Akarum and Kashime.
Three massive buildings rose, touching each other. Inside the right-side structure, kids wore matching dress codes, polished and structured. Its name was written on top: "Light's Future."
"We have to go to the General Center," Kashime said, stepping toward the middle structure.