The instant Ren and the others stepped past the entrance path and into the long, torch-lit hallway, the atmosphere exploded with life. Children from every corner of the three clans raced across the polished wooden floor, their laughter echoing like bells through the old, sacred home. Their small feet pattered hurriedly as they rushed toward Ren, Yume, and the rest of the group. Tiny hands reached out to shake Ren's hand, tug at his coat, and hold onto Yume's sleeves. Some even jumped while chanting his name with pure, unfiltered excitement—as if welcoming a mythical figure brought to life.
Elders stepped forward next, their movements slow but full of warmth. They carried garlands of fresh flowers and gently placed them around Ren and Yume's necks, one by one, murmuring blessings and ancestral words preserved through generations.
Ren stood still, overwhelmed.
This place… this feeling… this warmth.
It was a softness he hadn't tasted since childhood—something he almost believed he would never experience again.
Yume, her eyes already bright with emotion, rushed ahead as soon as she spotted her parents. "Mother. Father. It's been so long."
Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around them, her grip desperate, almost trembling. Her mother choked back a sob as she held her daughter, while her father placed his large hand on her head, gently smoothing her hair the way he did when she was a child. Ren watched the scene quietly, a faint smile forming on his face. It was a scene he knew Yume had been yearning for deep inside.
When Ren approached them, Yume's parents shifted their attention to him. For just a moment, their expressions blanked before recognition—divine, shocking recognition—flooded their eyes. They immediately bowed deeply, their voices steady but filled with awe.
"Ninth King… the one spoken of only in legends… stands before us. It is an honor beyond words."
Ren maintained a composed smile. "Mr. Kazuki, Mrs. Kazuki… it has been a while, hasn't it?"
They lifted their heads, staring at him in confusion. "Have we… ever met before, Great King?"
Yume stepped between them with a proud posture, her hands resting on both their shoulders. "Mom. Dad. The Ninth King you're bowing to… is Ren Akatsuki—the same Ren who lived with us when he was five."
Their faces drained of color.
That fragile child—thin, lonely, hopeless, unable to protect even himself—stood before them now as a force capable of changing the world.
Yume's mother covered her mouth. "Yume… did Kuro know?"
"Yes," she answered solemnly. "He knew everything. Even I couldn't understand Ren's power. It was too complex, too vast… something beyond anything we had ever learned."
"That's enough, Yume," Ren interrupted softly. "I think that's more than enough truth for them today."
The group moved inside. Every clan member suddenly crowded around Ren the moment he stepped through the doorway. Dozens of hands touched his shoulders, patting him, shaking his hand, tugging at his cloak. Their voices layered on top of each other—questions about his past, about his power, about the journey he walked alone.
It was overwhelming.
He had never, not once, been surrounded by this many people who genuinely wished to speak with him. Not as the Ninth King. Not as a symbol. But as Ren—the one they wanted to welcome.
Only a handful in his life—Kuro, Daiki, Haru, Yume—ever stayed beside him willingly. This was new, unfamiliar… and strangely comforting.
He answered quietly where he could, offering small nods here and there. His pulse quickened from the sheer attention, but beneath it, he felt something warm begin to settle inside his chest.
Then the crowd parted abruptly.
Kuro stood there. "Ren."
Ren stepped toward him immediately. "Yes, Master? Is something wrong?"
"No," Kuro replied. "There are people waiting to see you."
Ren blinked, confused, but followed him. They moved past the crowd, away from the noise, into a quieter corridor illuminated by lanterns.
When they reached an open space, Kuro raised his hand as if presenting something sacred.
Standing before Ren…
was his family.
His real family.
His father. His mother. His younger siblings.
Ren froze. His throat tightened.
"Ren…" His father's voice wavered. "You never came back. I told you to come home."
"Big brother!" his siblings cheered together.
Ren didn't think. He didn't hesitate. His feet moved before his mind caught up. He ran—full speed—and threw himself into his parents' embrace. They clutched him tightly, not letting go. Ren buried his face into his father's shoulder, holding on with a grip full of eighteen years of unspoken longing.
For a long moment, he did not move.
His parents felt it—the weight of everything Ren had endured alone.
A trace of the Ren they once knew, the sweet and gentle boy, emerged in his trembling voice. "Thank you all… for coming."
"Big brother, we're right here too!" his siblings protested dramatically. "Don't forget us!"
Ren pulled away slightly and looked at each of them. "Takuma… Tatsuya… Reiha. How are you all?"
"We're fine! But…" Takuma leaned forward, smirking. "Your appearance changed so much. And the fancy outfit? Let us guess—she's the reason, right?"
Ren's face flushed deep red. He looked down immediately, ears burning.
"You three… will make a mess," he muttered. "Mother, Father—please keep their mouths shut. Don't say anything about Yume. No one knows. If you do… I will punish you."
"We'll keep quiet, big brother," they chimed innocently—but their mischievous grins betrayed them. "But in exchange… you owe us something."
"Huh!? I'll think about it later. For now, come inside."
He leaned toward Kuro, whispering, "Master… if they do anything stupid, send Althric after them. Alone."
His siblings paused. "Who's Althric…?"
"You'll find out," Ren replied calmly, giving them a smile that sent a visible shiver down their spines. "If you misbehave."
Soon, the entire gathering moved to a large ceremonial hall. Torches lined the walls, forming a circle around a raised wooden platform. The elders of all three clans sat in front, dignified in their formal attire. Yume, Daiki, Haru, and the rest took seats near the front.
Kuro stood and raised his hand.
"Everyone," he began, his voice deep and commanding. "Today, we gather to welcome the arrival of the Ninth King. But in addition, as the wielder of the power and shadow of the Fourth General… I, Kuro Daizen, will now pass this power to its next wielder."
The hall erupted with murmurs.
"Our clan shares a direct bond with the Eight Kings," Kuro continued. "Years ago, they gave me an order… long before the arrival of the Ninth King."
A man rose from the crowd. "Are you implying, Mr. Kuro, that you knew when the Ninth King would appear?"
Kuro exhaled heavily. "Eighteen years ago… I adopted a child. I lied when I said his parents died. I hid them in a distant village under my protection."
Ren's eyes widened. "Master—"
He tried to step forward, but Yume, Daiki, and Haru held him back gently.
Kuro pressed forward.
"That child was born without a shadow. His powers were sealed. Many wondered—how could he become a King? The truth is… I was there when he was born. His power, even without the Black Heart, rivaled the Kings. We sealed it. We left him as Rank F. It was our mistake—the Kings' mistake. And he grew alone in the darkness. The Ninth King survived… and never turned evil. That was a miracle."
"Stop… stop…" Ren's voice trembled.
Then he roared—
"STOP IT, MASTER!"
The hall fell silent, the lantern flames flickering under the force of his voice.
"That's enough. I never complained. So why are you saying this now?!"
His anger was raw—not the fury of a king, but the pain of someone who couldn't bear seeing his master punished.
Kuro bowed his head. "Ren… I broke the order. I must accept the consequences."
Then, unexpectedly, the people spoke.
"We do not mind, Mr. Kuro," said Aleck Akegami—Yume's uncle—from the crowd. "You protected him. You were right."
Others joined:
"You made the right choice."
"You kept him safe."
"You did your duty."
Aleck added firmly, "You brought our King to tears. If anyone deserves to complain, it is him—not us."
Kuro lowered his head deeply. "…Thank you."
"What punishment do the elders give?" Kuro asked.
Silence.
Then one elder spoke. "If the Eight Kings did not punish you… neither shall we."
Kuro let out a breath of relief. "Then, let the transfer of the Fourth General begin."
He called loudly—
"Arden!"
But no one answered.
Silence settled like a blade.
Ren and Althric exchanged a sharp glance.
Something was wrong.
Something was coming.
And then—
To be continued…