With the break of dawn, Dairo was searching every corner of the house, his face etched with worry.
Dairo (Visible anxiety):
"Nakazouma, can you not recall where you placed my personal weapon?"
Nakazouma (Composed calmness):
"If I knew, I would not let you exert yourself searching in vain."
At that moment, the wireless phone rang. Dairo seized it, put it to his ear, and received grim news.
Dairo (Serious concern):
"Understood. Do not touch anything until I arrive."
He hung up and rushed out of the house with a gravity his wife rarely witnessed.
Inside the house, Jin was eating a morning sweet, his eyes relaxed.
Jin (Eyes closed):
"What happened? Did a major incident occur?"
Nakazouma:
"I am not certain, but he seemed distressed. Perhaps a new crime has taken place."
Jin (Calmly):
"Is there any news of my uncle?"
Nakazouma:
"Since he left, he has not returned. It seems he chose isolation."
Then Nakazouma went to the room of her son, Kazuma. Noticing the blanket was suspiciously puffed up, she approached and called out to him in anger.
Nakazouma (The anger of a mother who knows her son's idleness):
"Get up, you lazy boy! You are always late!"
She lifted the blanket, but found only two pillows.
Nakazouma (A high-pitched voice breaking the morning calm):
"Jin! Jin! Come quickly!"
Jin rushed in.
Jin (Feigned concern):
"What is the matter, Mother? Has something happened to Kazuma?"
Nakazouma:
"Did Kazuma not sleep here last night?"
Jin (With a calmness that arouses suspicion):
"I have not seen him at all since the murder of 'Nitch'."
Nakazouma (Suspiciously):
"Since 'Nitch's' death, he has been acting with an unbearable strangeness."
Jin (Internal anger hardening his voice):
"His attachment to that child was too strong. He should not have allowed himself to become so emotionally entangled."
🩸 The Confession of Blood and Shinrato
Elsewhere in the city, the police were stationed around the crime scene, where a man lay stained with blood, the earth covering his painful wounds. The officers were on high alert, awaiting orders.
Police Officer:
"Welcome, Mr. Dairo."
Dairo:
"Is there any evidence yet?"
The Officer:
"There is no conclusive evidence yet."
At that moment, Kazuma was perched on the roof of a distant building, observing the details from above. His clothes and face were stained with blood—the blood of guilt or sacrifice. The wind played with his silver hair, as he gazed at the horizon.
Kazuma (Muttering to himself bitterly):
"When I saw the corpse, I felt as if an arrow pierced my heart. My life was destroyed by a gunshot—a bullet fired by my own hand. What curse is this?"
On the ground floor, the police were moving the body. Dairo managed to spot an old handgun, so he put on gloves and reached for it. He found it lying close to the scene.
Dairo (Raising his right eyebrow, signs of doubt appearing):
"It resembles my weapon exactly!"
Dairo (Standing motionless, lost in thought):
"I did not find my handgun this morning, and this one is identical. There is only one theory: one of my sons committed this heinous crime. Has sin begun to be passed down through the bloodline?"
He heard a voice calling him.
Policeman:
"Sir! Sir!"
Dairo (Turning):
"What? Did you find another piece of evidence?"
One of the Police:
"We found his wallet."
Dairo began carefully sifting through the wallet. They found the victim's ID card and a picture of him with his daughter. The latter was also found in a small memory case used to conceal evidence. When Dairo searched the victim's pocket, he found his phone. He quickly checked it, reviewing the latest calls to notify the victim's family of the tragic death.
Dairo (Lowering his voice, his eyes narrowing with empathy):
"Hello, Madam, are you from the 'Blarren' family?"
[An elderly woman's voice is heard over the phone.]
The Woman:
"Yes, I am his mother."
Dairo (With hesitation and sorrow):
"I have news, but please try to steady yourself. Your son has died and passed away."
[Silence reigns for a moment, with no reaction from the other end.]
Dairo:
"I realize the truth is painful, and I know you need some time to absorb it."
👁️🗨️ The Eye of Shinrato
On the roof of one of the houses, Kazuma still sat. His tears had dried, but they left an unforgettable trace.
Kazuma quickly turned to see Jin touching his back with an extremely cold gaze.
Kazuma (Startled tension):
"Brother... You frightened me! How did you get here?"
Jin (Calm and unwavering stability):
"I know you did it. Do not attempt to deny it."
Kazuma (Trying to weakly defend himself):
"What did I do? I was just here, I never left this spot!"
Jin (A low but sharp voice, like the edge of a sword):
"The proof of my words... the blood staining your clothes is clear as the sun. Do you think darkness conceals everything?"
[Kazuma remains silent, his eyes trembling, failing to conceal the bitter truth.]
Jin:
"By your felony, you have implicated our father in this trouble. Was this the price of your revenge?"
Kazuma (A broken tone reflecting disappointment):
"I did not intend to kill him, Brother... I thought he was the kidnapper of 'Nitch'. It was merely a tragic mistake."
Jin (Angrily raising his voice):
"Be silent immediately!"
[A thick, dark aura surrounds Jin's body.]
Jin (A calm voice, reflecting absolute control):
"Control is the art of Shinato. It grants me vision."
[We see his aura forming a circle around the buildings, though short-ranged.]
Jin (Calmly):
"Do you see this thing surrounding us?"
Kazuma (Feeling strange, denying what he cannot see):
"No... I see nothing, Brother. Perhaps you are imagining things!"
The Narrator (Explaining):
"Jin used the principle of Shinato, one of the principles of physical and spiritual control. This art enables him to sense individuals passing through his circle. There are two hypotheses: If someone enters this range without being protected by their own 'Shin', they will be instantly burned."
Jin (A low but thoughtful voice):
"This 'Shin' aura is massive! Its source is not natural."
The presence of a little girl appears next to an elderly woman and another in middle age. The girl is the same one in the picture of the murdered man.
Jin (His eyes widening in shock and surprise):
"She possesses a high 'Shin' power. If she discovers Kazuma's deed, she will certainly kill him."
[Jin moves toward Kazuma with a serious and calculated gaze.]
Jin:
"She will definitely reach you, Kazuma! Fate will not let this go."
[The girl, drowning in tears, was crying bitterly while clinging to her mother and grandmother's hands.]
The Girl (A voice choked with sadness):
"Daddy is dead... They killed my Daddy!"
[The police escort the girl from the gruesome crime scene, moving her away from the area.]
Dairo (A voice filled with sorrow):
"I apologize... but we will catch the perpetrator and exact justice."
The Girl (Screaming with a mix of anger and regret):
"You are always too late! Justice fails us!"
[The girl's mother, whose eyes had turned red from excessive crying, patted her daughter consolingly.]
The Mother:
"Do not cry, my dear. Your father was a good man, and the killer will inevitably be punished by God's decree."
The Girl:
"I will find my father's killer myself and I will kill him! I will not leave the matter to the absent justice system."
[The blind grandmother, leaning on her cane, extended her hand to comfort her granddaughter, but the girl ran off.]
The Girl (Running and screaming):
"I will find you and kill you, even if it costs me my life!"
But Kazuma and Jin, who had already departed, did not hear this vow, nor was it meant for them to hear.
🥀 Isolation of Repentance and the Goal of Vengeance
Kazuma was isolated in his room, immersed in his grief, tears streaming from his eyes. He sat hugging his knees to his chest.
Kazuma:
"I feel nothing. I feel worthless in this world."
Kazuma (Tears flowing):
"Nitch, I am sorry. I do not deserve your friendship, nor anything good in my life."
At this moment, Jin was standing by Kazuma's room door. There were dark circles etched on his face and lines of exhaustion on his cheeks.
Jin:
"Kazuma, I need to speak to you seriously."
Inside the room, Kazuma's scream cut through the air:
"Nitch is dead! I have no friends left, Brother! Leave me alone!"
Jin (Trying to soothe him with a hoarse voice):
"Nitch was going to die anyway, that is certain. But he died a hideous, undeserved death."
A long moment of silence passed, then Jin spoke with deep sadness:
"Nitch's illness was not a natural sickness... it was the result of a certain experiment, but I am sorry, I will not tell you about it now."
After hesitation, Jin added:
"In short, his death was a mercy. But there is something you need to know."
Before he could finish, he suddenly stopped and fell silent, then began muttering to himself after realizing:
"What am I doing? If I tell him the truth now, things might get worse, and I will lose control over him."
The image of the lost Nitch whirled in Kazuma's mind like a storm. He whispered loudly:
"Nitch was my other half... lost to me forever."
Jin (Warning, trying to assert control):
"But if you decide to hunt down the true killer, you will die! And that is not what I wish for."
Kazuma (Replying with strange strength, the power of resolve):
"Brother, let me tell you... Death is welcome if its price is vengeance for 'Nitch'. Instead of living in meaningless repentance, death is my only guarantee... because everything will end with it."
Then he added with greater passion, revealing his dark intention:
"I declare it plainly... If I love achieving my goal, the means do not matter to me. I will do whatever it takes, whether it is ugly or immoral, for the sake of revenge."
Then Kazuma raised his voice with strange calmness:
"If you do not achieve your purpose in life, do not consider yourself alive at all."
Jin froze in his place, motionless, and so did Kazuma, until the room was engulfed in a heavy silence.
Jin (Replied loudly despite the tension, announcing his philosophy):
"I despise people who hide their true nature behind false goodness. Be a genuine monster or die in peace."
Then he gave a dubious smile and said:
"Do not worry... The older individual will take care of the matter now."
He rose and left, leaving Kazuma alone with his unbearable pain. Days passed relentlessly. ?
One day, a police officer burst into Dairo's office, his tone urgent and eager.
Dairo:
"What happened? Speak clearly!"
The officer placed a sealed letter on Dairo's desk and said excitedly:
"We received a message that points to conclusive evidence linking us to the crime!"
Dairo (Dry excitement):
"What does the message say? Did it reveal the culprit?"
The letter was opened and read aloud:
"I am Glame. I will turn myself in at precisely ten o'clock tonight. I will arrive at the police station in person."
Dairo's face was guarded; he did not trust the ease of the situation.
Dairo:
"But why would he surrender himself so easily? I have deep suspicions about this. Nonetheless, we must prepare—we won't let this opportunity pass."
Dairo returned home exhausted and weary, the first thing he did was remove his shoes.
Jin (With a sweet, welcoming voice that concealed malice):
"Welcome home, Father. You must have missed the house."
Dairo (Smiling affectionately):
"Hello, Jin. How are you?"
Jin (Smiling with artificial innocence):
"Father, have you noticed the absence of anything? Perhaps you have been away from the house too much lately."
A strange silence ensued for a moment, and Dairo did not speak a word, his mind preoccupied with the missing weapon. Meanwhile, Kazuma was lying on the sofa, lost in his dark thoughts.
Dairo (Looking around):
"Nakazouma, where is Kazuma?"
Nakazouma (Visibly worried):
"He is isolating himself... I am very concerned about his psychological state."
Dairo:
"I will go and talk to him. Perhaps I can comfort him."
He headed to Kazuma's room, knocked quietly on the door, and called his name.
Kazuma (A low, polite voice):
"Please, Father, come in."
Dairo sat next to Kazuma and tried to grasp the details of his profound grief.
Dairo:
"I heard you are going through a harsh period of sorrow... What weighs so heavily on your soul, my son? Talk to me."
Kazuma remained sorrowful, lowering his head slightly toward the ground, fleeing his father's gaze.
Kazuma:
"Nothing, Father... just thoughts. Do not worry about them."
Dairo (With paternal firmness and tenderness):
"I will not leave this place until you tell me everything that burdens you. I am not here to judge you, but to protect you."
Dairo placed his hands on Kazuma, trying to create a safe space for him.
Dairo (With a hint of emotion):
"If you have made a mistake, you have the right to confess it to me. No human is infallible."
Suddenly, Kazuma's tears flowed like an uncontrollable waterfall. He had been seeking this paternal containment for a long time.
Dairo:
"Tell me, what hurts you, my boy?"
Dairo paused and sighed deeply before saying:
"Listen to me, my son... we all commit grave mistakes for one reason or another. In the end, we are human, and this is our inherent nature of imperfection."
Kazuma (A broken voice):
"But... my mistakes are not... simple. They are not like any other mistake."
Dairo (Calmly and philosophically):
"This world is truly strange, my son. You must be adaptable and resilient to live in it. The past cannot be undone."
Then Dairo wiped Kazuma's tears with an encouraging smile and said:
"Wash your heart clean of regret, because it will not bring back anything that is gone. You must learn how to carry your burdens and move forward."
Dairo (With a slight laugh to lighten the gravity of the moment):
"I will tell you an old story; perhaps you will find comfort or amusement in it."
Dairo began to recount his adventures with enthusiasm, while Kazuma regained some composure and wiped the remnants of his tears.
Dairo (Smiling):
"I once had a friend named Tom, my dearest friend. He and I were in a very large forest, characterized by strange herbs and peculiar animals that no eye has ever seen."
Dairo (Smiling gently):
"There is also a small, dangerous island there. Can you believe it contains a giant maze from which you can never escape?"
Dairo pulled a small, white notebook from his pocket and placed it near Kazuma.
Dairo:
"Keep this small book... it might be a beautiful memory you can carry through difficult times. Perhaps it will inspire you."
Kazuma took the notebook with great care to examine it.
Dairo:
"We found this notebook in that vast forest. This forest is very dangerous, but it holds treasures."
Kazuma (In amazement):
"Where exactly is this forest located?"
Dairo:
"It is located on the summit of a mountain called Mount Morais, the highest mountain, so much so that its peak can touch the clouds."
Kazuma:
"Wow! I will go there someday. Maybe I will find an answer in that forest."
Since Jin was clearly eavesdropping on their conversation from a distance, he smiled a broad, cunning smile.
Jin (Muttering to himself):
"This will be the last time they meet with such tranquility... As for Father, I at least gave him a final gift before I let the crime pursue him. But as for Kazuma, I will do nothing similar; instead, I will drive him to hell myself."
Jin (Raising his hands and fingers, his eyes gleaming with wicked plans):
"I will test my brother's savagery for a while. I will see what the latent monster looks like, especially after he finds the killer of 'Nitch'. I will see how his hidden beast, concealed behind his hatred and dark philosophy, fully manifests."