Nobu's body trembled slightly as he fell through the endless darkness.
Then—
Everything stopped.
His eyes snapped open.
A sharp breath escaped his lips as the world rushed back into focus. The cold leather seat beneath him, the faint hum of the car engine, the reflection staring back at him through the mirror—it all felt real again.
He was back.
Back to reality.
For a few seconds, Nobu said nothing. He simply sat there, staring at his own reflection. His eyes held something new now… something deeper.
Excitement.
And fear.
"So… this is really happening," he whispered.
The thought of going back in time stirred something inside him. A strange thrill. To witness the origin of everything… to see the era where the clan system was born.
To see him—Malvek—in his true time.
But that excitement didn't last long.
Because another thought slowly crept in.
His family.
Nobu's fingers tightened unconsciously.
"What… will happen to them?" he muttered under his breath.
If he went back… if he changed the past…
Would they still exist?
Would his children still remember him?
Or worse—
Would they disappear completely… as if they had never been born?
A deep silence filled the car.
Nobu closed his eyes for a moment, trying to steady his thoughts. But no matter how hard he tried, the same conclusion came back again and again.
If he did nothing… everything would repeat.
The blood.
The betrayals.
The endless cycle of pain created by the clan system.
He slowly opened his eyes again.
"…Then I have no choice."
His voice was calm now.
Determined.
"If destroying that system is the only way… then I'll do it."
For a brief second, a faint smile appeared on his face.
"…And maybe… just maybe… I can come back to a better world."
A world where his family could truly live in peace.
But before any of that—
There was something he needed to do first.
Find the one person who could send him back.
The immortal man Malvek had mentioned.
Nobu frowned slightly as he looked into the mirror again.
"…I forgot to ask where to find him."
A small sigh escaped him.
"Great… just great."
He leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes once more, focusing his mind.
"Malvek…"
No response.
"…Malvek."
Still nothing.
Nobu clicked his tongue in frustration.
But just as he was about to give up—
A voice echoed faintly inside his mind.
"Go to Japan…"
Nobu's eyes widened slightly.
"And ask the Yamikawa family."
The connection faded instantly.
"…That's it?" Nobu muttered.
But it was enough.
Now he knew where to go.
Japan.
Yamikawa Family.
A small smile appeared on his lips.
"Looks like I'm not completely lost."
The next step was preparation.
This wasn't something he could do openly.
Everything had to remain secret.
Quiet.
Even from the people closest to him.
Especially from Beru.
Nobu lowered his gaze slightly.
"I don't want to drag him into this…"
Beru was already injured, still recovering in the hospital. If he found out, there was no doubt—he would come along.
And Nobu couldn't allow that.
Not this time.
"…Sorry."
With that thought, Nobu made his decision.
A few hours later—
Nobu stood outside Beru's house.
But the moment he arrived, his steps slowed.
A helicopter stood in the open area nearby, its blades still.
"…Convenient," he murmured.
He walked inside and was greeted by Beru's wife. She looked slightly surprised to see him.
"Nobu? Is something wrong?"
Nobu shook his head gently.
"No… I just came to borrow something."
Her expression turned confused, but she didn't question him.
Nobu glanced toward the helicopter outside.
"I'll be leaving for a while," he said calmly. "Please… don't tell Beru."
Her eyes widened slightly.
"But—"
"If he finds out," Nobu interrupted softly, "he'll try to follow me."
A brief silence followed.
Then slowly… she nodded.
"…Alright."
Nobu gave her a small smile.
"Thank you."
Moments later—
The helicopter roared to life.
The wind grew stronger as the blades began to spin.
Nobu sat inside, staring ahead silently as the ground beneath him slowly disappeared.
As they rose into the sky, the city spread out below him like a living map.
Lights.
Roads.
People.
A normal life.
"…It's beautiful," he whispered.
For a moment, his eyes softened.
But then—
"…I might not see this again."
The thought came suddenly.
And this time…
He didn't push it away.
Instead, he simply accepted it.
Mid-flight, Nobu took out his phone and made one final call.
His wife answered almost instantly.
"Nobu? Where are you?"
"I have to go somewhere," he said calmly.
A pause.
"…Is it dangerous?"
Nobu looked out the window.
"…No."
It was a lie.
"…Go to the Misaki clan for now," he continued. "Stay there until I come back."
His wife didn't argue.
She understood.
"…Come back soon," she said softly.
Nobu's grip tightened slightly around the phone.
"…I will."
The call ended.
Hours later—
The helicopter landed in Japan.
After completing the necessary checks, Nobu stepped out into a new land.
Different air.
Different atmosphere.
But the same tension.
He booked a cab and got inside.
For a while, the ride was silent.
Then—
"Do you know the Yamikawa family?" Nobu asked.
The driver froze.
For just a second.
Then slowly…
He looked at Nobu through the mirror.
The atmosphere inside the cab changed instantly.
Without a word, the driver pressed a button.
The windows darkened.
The mirrors adjusted.
Nobu's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…What are you doing?"
The driver didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he asked quietly—
"What business do you have with them?"
Nobu leaned back calmly.
"That's personal."
Another silence.
Then the driver exhaled slowly.
"…Be careful."
His voice carried weight.
"The Yamikawa family… they don't deal with outsiders."
Nobu's lips curved slightly.
"…I'm not here as an outsider."
The car finally stopped.
Before him stood a massive estate.
Tall gates.
Armed guards.
An overwhelming presence.
The Yamikawa Mansion.
Nobu stepped out of the car.
The air felt heavier here.
Darker.
He walked toward the gate without hesitation.
The guards immediately blocked his path.
"State your business."
Nobu looked at them calmly.
Then said one sentence—
"Inform Senjo Yamikawa…"
A brief pause.
"…that Malvek has come to meet him."