Three months later.
The trio wandered down a narrow dirt lane, their sandals crunching against the gravel.
Kasumi led the way this time so he wouldn't be left behind.
Miyuki narrowed her eyes. "You sure you're not going to disappear again, Matsunaga-kun?"
Kasumi smirked. "I've evolved, Miyuki-san. Don't worry about me."
Ren, walking behind them with quiet grace, replied without looking up. "You said the same thing before you fell into that well."
"That was one time!" Kasumi shot back.
"Twice," Miyuki corrected.
Kasumi sighed. "Alright..."
After a few more steps, Kasumi stopped abruptly. "Uh… Hajime-san? There's a dead end."
They reached the cliff's edge. And the moment they looked down, the world opened up before them.
A breathtaking vista spread across the valley below. The village lay nestled among endless green hills, glistening beneath the sunlight. Wooden houses with curved roofs shimmered like polished amber, surrounded by blooming plum trees and scarlet maples. A silver river wound through the center, feeding a crystalline lake that reflected the clouds like a living mirror. Tiny wooden bridges arched gracefully over streams where koi fish darted beneath lilies.
Wind chimes rang softly in the breeze. The air carried the scent of fresh rain and warm earth. Even the sound of cicadas felt melodic here… like the village itself was alive and welcoming them.
For a moment, even Miyuki forgot to speak.
"This… doesn't look like a village," she whispered.
Ren's expression didn't change, though his eyes flickered faintly. "Indeed. This is probably the most beautiful village I've ever seen…"
Then, as she turned around —
"…Hajime-sama, where's Matsunaga-kun?"
Ren didn't even glance up. "He's almost there."
"Almost where—?"
She looked down — and sure enough, Kasumi was halfway down the hill, heading straight toward the village, hands behind his head, humming like nothing in the world could go wrong.
Miyuki's jaw dropped. "It's been a minute… I swear, he's cursed!"
Without hesitation, she hurled her spear — it whistled through the air, landing perfectly in front of Kasumi with a loud THUD! that kicked up a puff of dirt.
Kasumi blinked at it, unfazed. "Oh. Someone dropped a spear."
A sudden flash—
whoosh!
And Miyuki appeared in front of him, gripping the spear tightly.
She sighed deeply, pressing a hand to her forehead. "You were literally about to get lost again."
Ren's voice drifted down from above, calm as ever. "At least he's consistent."
In an instant, Ren appeared beside them, silent as wind. He says in a calm, almost detached tone.
"I think we should leave this place on its own…"
Kasumi blinked. "Eh? Why? We haven't even discovered it yet!"
Miyuki nodded eagerly. "That's right, Hajime-sama. We haven't saved this place yet. And besides—" her voice softened, eyes reflecting the sunlight — "shouldn't we visit this beautiful village at least once?"
Ren's gaze lingered on the quiet rooftops shimmering. "It's true… but this place doesn't need us to protect it. Unlike every ruin, town, or village we've crossed — this one looks untouched. It's as if demons haven't set foot here for over a century."
Kasumi crossed his arms. "Then that's exactly why we should visit it. Maybe we'll find out what keeps demons away!"
Miyuki stepped forward, hands clasped together in a pleading gesture. "Please, Hajime-sama. Just this once?"
Ren sighed softly — a rare thing. "Alright. If you both insist."
They enter the village.
The air was fresh and clean, filled with the smell of woodsmoke and blooming lotus. Villagers greeted each other warmly; children chased paper rings down the cobblestone paths, laughing. A blacksmith hammered at his forge, the rhythmic clanging echoing through the air. Elderly women sold fruit and herbs under a blossoming cherry tree.
Even the wind here felt gentle, carrying traces of laughter and incense.
Ren's thoughts drifted quietly:
This is the kind of place I've always wanted… peaceful, yet alive.
Kasumi walked beside him, looking left and right in amazement. "This village is even better than a city! Why isn't it one already?"
Miyuki chuckled lightly. "Maybe it isn't large enough to be called a city."
"Whatever."
A few moments later.
They came upon a small shrine on the eastern side of the village. The air grew quiet and serene, the scent of sandalwood rising as they stepped closer. They offered prayers before the idols — statues of familiar gods and Buddhas carved with delicate craftsmanship.
Just as they turned to leave, Kasumi frowned. "Wait… what's that?"
Opposite the main shrine stood another, smaller one. Its roof was newer, its decorations different — elegant, almost too refined for the village's simplicity.
They walked toward it, their sandals brushing softly against the gravel. The silence grew heavier with each step.
Inside, the dim light revealed a statue —
an idol of Eliza.
Her figure was carved in white stone — long flowing hair, adorned in celestial ornaments, a serene expression upon her face. She looked divine… almost too divine.
Kasumi's eyes widened. "W-What?! T-They worship this demon!?"
"Don't say it aloud," Miyuki whispered, glancing around nervously.
Kasumi's hand reached instinctively for his sword. But Ren's hand was already on his shoulder, firm but calm.
"Matsunaga-kun," Ren said quietly, "you shouldn't lose your temper right now."
"B-But Hajime-san! Have these villagers gone insane? She's a demon disguised as a goddess!"
Miyuki exhaled slowly, her tone patient. "Don't be mad, Matsunaga-kun. We don't know the truth yet. Maybe they don't either. And… they also worship the other gods, remember?"
Kasumi's shoulders slumped as he sighed. "I'm sorry… I lost control again. But I'll find out the truth. It's not the first time we've seen shrines of her… and it's definitely not the last."
They stepped out of the shrine.
They drifted into the village square where the sunlight fell like honey across the timbers and rooftops. Most faces were aged and lined—grandmothers sweeping porches, old men mending nets—yet each greeted the strangers with easy smiles and a courtesy that felt practised over generations.
Kasumi's gaze took them in. "These people are so polite… kinder than any village I've seen."
An old woman with a shawl the color of faded indigo smiled at them and beckoned them closer. Her hands were knotted with years, but they moved with a deliberate care. "You look lost, dearies. Sit a while."
Kasumi hurried forward. "We saw an idol at the other shrine… of a girl we've never seen. Who is she?"
The old woman smiles. "Oh, that lady? Looks like you kids are curious about her. She's a goddess who was born in this village around two centuries ago. Her name is Sayo. She still shows her mercy towards this village… even till now."
"Is she still alive?"
The woman nodded slowly. "Yes, Sayo is immortal. She is a goddess. Few of us have ever seen her, but those who did… they never forgot."
Kasumi taps his chin. "But how do you know she's a goddess?"
The old lady pauses, then she says.
"Since she was born in this village, she has shown multiple miracles to our ancestors. Since her childhood, she was as wise as a saint, as beautiful as a heavenly goddess. Even the greatest leaders would fall to their knees when she glanced at them.
But one day, our ancestors made her upset and she left the village. But before leaving, she blessed this village with harmony and prosperity. No one has fallen ill, and even if they're injured, they heal quickly in this village."
Kasumi thinks. "I'm not surprised at all… But they need to understand that they're worshipping a demon since her birth, not a goddess."
He looks at his wounded hand. "That's right, I'm feeling more energetic and better than ever… So this is her healing power…"
Kasumi asks. "I wonder why are there mostly old people?"
She smiles. "Our kids have shifted to Tokyo or other countries. They got everything here, but who lives in a village when they've got everything? But we decided to live here in our goddess's grace."
Kasumi felt a sudden heat at the base of his throat. He dug into his pocket and took out a broken sapphire—edges dulled, a sliver of blue still catching the light.
"Do you remember this?"
The woman's hand flew to her mouth. "H-How did you get this…?"
"Huh? I… I don't know. I just found it," he lied.
The old woman's voice trembled like a reed. "That is the gem from her lace choker. I remember—" She swallowed. "I was a child then."
She narrates her story—
Many decades ago when I was a child.
I was lost at the seashore. The sun had set, but no one was there to save me.
I wanted to go home. I was crying. Terrified.
But then—
She comes.
Eliza.
Her anklets chimed in the eerie silence. When I looked at her, I was paralyzed.
Her ethereal long, black hair touched her feet, her skin was shining like a moonlight. She had worn a long white, beautiful dress, and a white veil on her head. I was captivated by her otherworldly, azure eyes.
The sunset, the ocean and the night at the same time felt otherworldly, but even more beautiful than them was Sayo.
And she had worn this blue gem in her lace choker.
For a moment, it felt like a dream. Then, her angelic voice came, as if the world listened to her. "Don't worry, poor girl… You'll be safe in my presence."
I stammered. "W-Who are you… miss?"
Eliza says calmly, softly. "I am Sayo."
And the next moment, I lost my memories and found myself around my parents hugging me.
At that moment, I met the legend of this village… Sayo.
Miyuki's eyes were distant, reverent. Ren listened without interrupting, his face unreadable. Kasumi's fingers curled around the sapphire until it bit his palm.
When the old woman finished, she patted Kasumi's hand and rose with the slow dignity of age. "Be careful of what you carry, young one."
Then, they walked on. Kasumi's mind reels with thoughts.
"I'm sorry villagers… but I'll kill your so-called goddess…"
Miyuki glanced at the broken sapphire in Kasumi's palm and asked softly, "How did you get that?"
"She gave it to me… to keep. But I broke it in anger."
Ren watched him for a breath, then said, measured, "Matsunaga-kun… we've heard the stories. But she isn't necessarily what you make her out to be. Is there another reason you hate her?"
A pause, then he says. "Hajime-San, I don't want to hate her… But she loves the person whom I hate the most in this world… That's it. No matter who she is, if she is something to him, I can kill her without any mercy."
They moved on, and the path led them past a wattle-and-daub house where a man stood at the gate, shoulders hunched, eyes hollow with a private shame.
Kasumi approached him. "What happened to you, sir?"
"I'm sorry—truly sorry," he blurted. "I angered my goddess Sayo. I didn't mean—"
Miyuki stepped closer. "Why are you apologizing?" she asked, quietly.
The man's hands trembled as he clasped them together.
"A few weeks ago, I was lost in a jungle.
Then, a demon attacked me. I was about to die. But then—
She comes.
The demon fell down to her feet. She told me directions to get out of the forest. But I was so mesmerized by her beauty that I couldn't control myself and…
I tried to do something that I shouldn't have done. But suddenly, I fell unconscious and found myself in this village.
Everyday, I visit her shrine and apologize with all my heart. She helped me but I tried to use her. Even though anyone would do the same, she was more beautiful than anything in the world. But I made my goddess upset and… I'll always have this regret..."
Kasumi thinks. "I can't blame him… I also feel urges around her… to kill her."
At last, they arrived at the village head's home — a large, timeworn wooden house standing beneath a massive cherry tree whose petals shimmered faintly even in the evening light. Lanterns hung from the eaves, their soft glow flickering like golden fireflies.
The village head himself was an old man, yet his eyes were warm, steady.
He smiled as they entered. "You kids wish to know about Sayo? I'm surprised travelers like you would care about her story…"
Kasumi tilted his head. "You're the first one who didn't call her a goddess, but by her name."
The old man chuckled quietly, the sound like gentle rain. "That's because I don't worship her. I admire her… as one admires the sun or the ocean. To me, she is divine… perhaps even angelic… but not a god. And I think that's why she came to me."
Ren and Miyuki exchanged curious glances as he began to tell his tale.
"Ever since I was young," he said, "I tried to live kindly… to help, to listen, to forgive.
But everyone around me told me to pray to Sayo, to beg for blessings. I refused. I said to them: 'If she truly exists, she doesn't need my prayers to know my heart.'"
He leaned back, eyes drifting toward the glowing lanterns.
"Then one night, I dreamt of a world made entirely of white. There was no sky, no earth, just light. I thought I had died.
But then she came…
She wasn't walking, she was the light itself.
Her glow was soft but endless, and her scent… it wasn't of flowers, but something beyond this world.
I was afraid… until she spoke. Her voice… no, it wasn't human. It felt as though the wind, the stars, and the moon spoke together through her. She said:
'Kazuo… you did not believe in me as a goddess, but as a being. That is why I am proud of you. You saw truth beyond faith. I am not God… but your heart has seen the divine. My blessings shall follow you, always.'"
Then, I immediately woke up.
Since that dream, my thoughts about her have completely changed.
He sighed, gaze turning wistful. "Since then, I've told everyone she's not God. But they still pray, still cling to their hopes. They call her goddess, when she herself never asked for worship. She is no god… she is a messiah."
Ren leaned forward, intrigued. "That's interesting. But why do people still treat her as divine, even after what you told them?"
The old man gave a tired smile. "Because people need something to bow to, not something to understand. Faith is easier than truth."
Kasumi said quietly, "You're the only one who's told us about her true self… Everyone else clings to illusion. But she really does sound like a messiah…"
Kasumi paused. I hate to admit it… but it's true…"
As they stood to leave, Ren asked softly, "Excuse me, sir. May we stay for the night?"
The old man smiled gently. "Of course, young man. You're welcome here."
As he prepared the room for them, his gaze lingered on Ren.
"This boy…" he thought. "That calmness… that quiet radiance… I've felt this before. Just once, long ago… from her. Sayo. Could it be… that he, too, is a messiah?"
As night fell, the village sank into serene silence. Crickets sang softly outside, and the wind rustled through the cherry blossoms.
Inside the great wooden house, the faint glow of the hearth dimmed, leaving behind the scent of warm tea and cedar.
Ren lay beneath the woven blankets, breathing steadily. His expression was peaceful, unreadable, as always.
Then, without warning, the world around him dissolved.
He opened his eyes.
Everything was white — vast, endless, and still. The air itself seemed weightless, and his footsteps made no sound.
Ren looked around, but no one was there.
So this is my dream…
Then came a voice — soft, celestial, yet echoing from nowhere and everywhere at once.
"I was waiting for you… Yoriichi Tsugikuni…"
Ren turned toward the light.
Out of the radiance, a silhouette emerged — graceful, luminous. Her steps were soundless upon the white plane.
Eliza appeared before him. Her presence shimmered like moonlight on still water.
Her long black hair flowed like liquid light, her crystal-blue eyes reflected eternity. Even Ren found himself still for a brief moment, not out of awe but recognition.
Then, as always, he regained his calm and drew his sword slightly from its sheath.
Eliza stopped a few steps away, her voice serene, almost musical.
"I'm not here to fight you. I know… I am nothing before you."
She held her skirt lightly and bowed in a delicate curtsy, the faintest smile on her crimson lips.
"I'm here to welcome you. I never thought you would visit my birthplace."
Ren quietly sheathed his blade. He remembered their first encounter — the moment their eyes met.
His gaze softened. "So this is what pain looks like… when it learns to smile?"
Eliza froze. Her eyes widened. For the first time, her composure wavered. She looked at him, and for a moment, the goddess felt bare, fragile, and seen.
Then, slowly, a smile bloomed — not divine, but warm and alive.
"I'm really glad… that you understand me."
She stepped closer, her light brushing against him like a gentle breeze.
"You're the second person who ever did. Yoriichi… or should I say, Ren Hajime?"
Her eyes lifted to his. "It feels beautiful when someone as great as you acknowledges my existence…"
Ren's voice was calm but low, almost like a sigh. "You're exaggerating me. I'm not great. I'm just a wanderer… lost like the rest..."
Eliza chuckled softly. "You're exactly like me. Pretending to be nothing, while being everything to others."
She turned away, her back glowing faintly against the white void.
"I know you'll try to find me one day. And when that happens… you'll kill me. Instantly. But..."
She looked over her shoulder. This time, her smile was warm — radiant like sunlight.
"If you ever encounter me, will you please kill me without inflicting so much pain…?"
Ren's eyes widened slightly. Her words struck something quiet within him.
He didn't reply.
Eliza began to walk away, her form slowly dissolving into the white horizon.
"Also," she said softly, "Don't tell anyone about this meeting. Let Matsunaga-Kun hate me… because this hatred is what makes him grow stronger."
Ren stood motionless, his expression calm, but his silence carried understanding deeper than words.
The white world began to fade, replaced by the gentle light of dawn spilling through the window.
Ren awoke.
Outside, the cherry blossoms fell like snow, as if the dream had followed him back into the waking world.
The next morning.
The trio left the village head's house, bowing their heads to him. "Thank you for your kindness," Ren said quietly.
The old man smiles. "You're welcome… You can visit anytime you want."
They know they won't come back again.
They left before the sun climbed too high.
For a long time the three of them simply walked, steps falling into the grass as if they were afraid to break the silence.
At last, Kasumi cracked it. "Hajime-san, Miyuki-san… I don't know, but demons keep changing. They're getting worse. Faster. Stronger."
Miyuki glanced at the horizon, the flat line of fields and distant trees.
"Weird mutations, new breeds, attacks in places that were safe. Nations fall, armies vanish… This isn't random. Something's pushing it."
"Yeah. Two names come to mind…"
We already know whom he's referring to.
Ren stays silent, recalling what happened in his dream last night.
Kasumi declares. "Whatever… I'm gonna destroy every demon, and most importantly… I'll kill him."
Miyuki says softly. "I hope you'll succeed… even if the chances are infinitesimally small."
Kasumi stares at the horizon, his eyes almost lifeless. His tone was quiet, defeated but honest.
"I don't know… it's hard to say whether we will win or not. We are not weak, but our opponents are too strong. We can't let Hajime-San carry out the entire burden, but we can't do anything for now… I can't even take that devil's name. This alone proves our power gap."