WHYYYYYY!?
Renji screamed, hugging his mother's broken body.
Holding her cold body close, his tears fell on her little by little as he whispered:
Mom please don't let me .
I'm sorry that's all my fault!
But ""Hic....Hic.... Just don't leave me , I'm sorry.
-------------------------
Earlier this morning, there was a woodcutter working quickly for a seventeen-year-old boy.
He was Renji Maruka.
The exhaustion was visible on his face from the lack of sleep,
ZWHOOOSH-THWAK!!
he kept working despite that.
The wood was split apart with a speed and force that didn't seem human.
I Must Finish Cutting TODAY!
THWAK!!
He said it firmly, while chopping the wood until the very last piece.
Renjiiii!
A childish, annoying voice broke Renji's focus.
He turned, and there she was—his little sister, Himari, a beautiful fifteen-year-old girl.
Her long white hair shifted in the cold wind, strands moving restlessly.
Hhh.
Himari?
I'm working right now.
So .....I can't play with you
He said it calmly, while gathering the firewood into his bag. Without looking at her.
Himari got angry and she puffed her cheeks, and said with annoyance:
Ugh! but BROTHER!
You promised me to make me a wooden horse today.
I know I know ... but I'm kind of busy right now.
He replied while gently patting her head.
But you promised Meeee
"Tock"
He flicked his finger lightly against her forehead and said mockingly:
"Grow up, you're fifteen now."
She placed her hand on her forehead and cried out with childish anger:
OW!
"I'm not childish, I'm just being myself — that's what a little sister does, as you know!"
"HA. You're right.
But you know I'm going to the village to sell the firewood.
You know..... that's my job."
He said playfully, as he spoke.
She puffed out her cheeks, crossed her arms in annoyance:
That's not Fair!!
You always do this!
You NEVER keep YOUR PROMISES!!
Renji sighed, stared at her spoke with a smile:
Himari.
Himari replied in anger
What?
About the wooden horse.
He said while putting her hand inside his bag.
I made it yesterday, when everyone was asleep.
She gasped, her eyes alight with excitement, spoke with a bright smile:
W-WAIT?
You WHAT!?
He replied while handing the wooden horse into her hands:
Now...do you see? I never break my promises; I simply keep them at the right time, or, at times, forget.
Himari felt as though she could soar to the moon with joy, for in the mountains, one has little except for what they craft with their own hands and Himari could not crave or make her own toys; she always received wooden ones from her brother and stuffed dolls from her mother.
At that moment, she hugged Renji so tightly, he almost suffocated. He tried to push her away, but it was useless.
Yay!
You're the BEST.
She spoke with uncontained excitement, pressing her face against his chest in pure joy
Renji patted her head, his voice warm with tenderness:
Alright, alright. It's time for you to let go so I can head to the village and sell the firewood.
She let go of him and glanced at the snow, then back at him:
"But don't be late, understood!?
This time, Mother and I will make a delicious dinner.
And maybe... I'll even make you some of my special sweets
Renji froze in place when he heard that she would be the one cooking dinner with his mother and even making her special sweets. Inside he screamed:
Oh no, not your sweets, please! Last time I almost died when you swapped the sugar for salt.
Himari noticed Renji had been frozen for two minutes, lost in his thoughts. She placed her hand on her hip, looked at him, and said:
What?
Don't you like that I'll be the one making the sweets tonight?
Renji looked at her coldly and replied:
"Yeah, because last time you swapped the sugar with salt."
Himari's anger flared. SMACK! The sound of her palm hitting his head echoed sharply.
"But it was only twice! Don't exaggerate!" she yelled.
Renji held his head and turned toward the forest, muttering,
"Ugh... why does she always do that?"
"Because I'm your little sister, and I do whatever I want!" she shouted from behind him, waving cheerfully waving goodbye with a grin.
Renji ignored Himari as she turned away and went back into the house to help their mother until his return.
Meanwhile, Renji made his way down through the mountain forest, the snow weighing down his every step as he dragged the cart of firewood all the way to the village at the foot of the mountain.
By the time he arrived, His breath tore out in harsh gasps, lungs stung by the cold—yet a smile lingered on his face, because he had done it once again.
The villagers welcomed him warmly. Some greeted him with smiles, others only with silent glances, but they all gathered around him—for he was the only lumberjack who braved the mountain.
Renji began distributing the firewood to everyone, collecting the money as usual.
But just before he ran out of bundles, he noticed someone unfamiliar—clearly not from the village.
The man's hair was black, neither curly nor straight, flowing down to his back. He wore a lavish kimono of deep crimson and violet, its fabric embroidered with threads that gleamed like gold. A wide sash was tied firmly at his waist, and his hands were covered with long, fingerless white gloves.
Each step he took echoed sharply from his wooden sandals, the sound drawing closer as he walked toward Renji—his face marked by a calm smile that somehow felt wrong.
Renji grew tense under the man's unwavering gaze as he slowly closed the distance between them, step by step, until he finally stood before him.
H-hi how can I... help you?
He spoke with unease, trying to keep his composure before this man—someone who clearly did not seem to belong to the village, nor to the common folk.
The stranger looked at Renji in silence for a while. He glanced at the firewood that was left, but he didn't care. Then the stranger spoke to Renji with a …in a deep voice. and smiled as he spoke, saying:
Hm. I thought there was some kind of show or something, you know. But it turned out they were just gathering to get cheap firewood for warmth during the harsh winter of the Tsugaiko Kingdom.
Sir do you want some firewood, or what?
Cause I have no time to this .
Renji spoke while trying to sound formal with the stranger, but he grew nervous and stammered more than once.
The stranger then fell silent for a moment, staring intently at Renji's features as he spoke, before asking with a tone of false kindness:
Tell me, kid… what's your name?
Renji replied :
"Okay, for starters, I'm seventeen. So yeah, stop with the 'kid' thing. Oh, and by the way… it's Renji Maruka."
The stranger froze in place. His smile vanished at once, and his face turned grim after hearing the name. In a low voice, he muttered:
"Maruka, is it? … Very well. My name is Kimaro Ronzztan."
Renji quickly replied, preparing himself to head back home (since the firewood had already been distributed to the villagers):
Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Ronzztan, but if you're only here to talk and not to buy… then you'll have to excuse me—I need to be on my way.
Ronzztan's hand clamped down on Renji's shoulder, yanking him closer. With an unsettling calm in his smile, he said,
'Listen, kid. Let's strike a deal. I've got no money—but I can pay you with a book. Interested?'
Renji froze, shocked not only by Ronzztan's grip but by the ridiculous offer that followed. His voice rose in anger:
'Take your hand off me, sir! And tell me—who in their right mind would trade anything for a book?
Ronzztan's smile widened as he raised the book alongside six silver coins. His voice carried a calm, sly undertone:
'Here—half the money for all you've got, and the book as well. Tell me, what reason do you have to refuse?
Renji paused, his thoughts turning inward:
"Half the payment… better than nothing. And if I accept, at least the rest of the firewood will be gone as well
Renji nodded in agreement and began giving Ronzztan the firewood, but the amount was too large to carry only with the arms, so he asked him, saying:
"Excuse me, but do you have a cart... anything to carry this quantity?"
Ronzztan smiled and replied:
"Do not think about that, boy. Just put the firewood on the ground and I will manage my own way. But do not forget the book with your money.
Renji did as he was told, setting the firewood down beside him, then accepted six silver coins and the book in return. With a polite bow, he bid farewell before heading off.
As Renji disappeared into the forest, Ronzztan muttered under his breath. His eyes shifted, …burning faintly red, like blood. the pupils splitting vertically like a cat's. His grin stretched wider, revealing fangs—not large, but razor-sharp, and certainly not human. Still watching Renji, he whispered:
"Goodbye, boy—grandson of Marokai Zenshinta. You'll be seeing that brave old man of yours soon… on the other side. Heh-heh."
Renji climbed higher through the mountain trees until the sun dipped below the horizon and the distant howls of wolves echoed around him. He paid them no mind; encounters on this path were rare. At last, he reached his home safely. His mother rushed to greet him, wrapping him in a warm embrace as she spoke softly:
"Renji, you're home safe.
I was so worried something terrible had happened to you."
"Oh, Mom… I've been doing this since I was twelve. There's really no need to panic every time I come home late," Renji answered, struggling to breathe in her suffocating hug.
But this is the first time you've come home past midnight. Your sister even fell asleep without dinner while waiting for you.
She said this while setting out some food for him.
Renji smiled, sat down to eat, and spoke wearily, hoping to ease his mother's worries:
"I know, I know… but there was just so much work today. First cutting the trees I'd been felling over the past three days, then hauling them onto the cart, dragging everything down the mountain in the freezing cold, and finally selling it all. That's why I was so late."
Oh, I see… that makes sense. But would you like some of your sister's sweets?" his mother asked, holding up a plate of pastries—half of them looking nearly burnt.
Renji swallowed hard and quickly waved his hands in refusal.
"No thanks! Those sweets are poison. I'm not touching my sister's baking, thank you very much. Last time I couldn't sleep all night from the stomachache."
His mother burst out laughing, set the sweets aside, and said:
"Alright, alright, you're right. But we should support her, even if it means pretending."
"Yeah, by getting food poisoning… or struggling in the bathroom later," Renji muttered.
While his mother laughed and Renji kept making fun of his sister's cooking,
the sound of sluggish footsteps approached.
His mother smacked him lightly in the chest to shut him up, and he yelped in pain.
"Ow! Mom, seriously—what was that for?"
"Renji… you're home?"
It was Himari. She had been woken by the noise but hadn't caught what was going on.
She shuffled forward, hugged Renji sleepily, rubbed her eyes, and glanced at the food.
"Perfect… you're here, Mom's awake, and now I'm awake too. So let's eat together."
Renji smiled, patted her head gently, slid the dish toward her, and the three of them began to eat together.
A few minutes later, the dishes were empty. Renji glanced at the table—only to find a plate of half-burnt sweets slid in front of him.
Yes. The very same kind.
Handmade by Himari herself.
She nudged the plate toward him, picked up a piece, held it to his mouth, and said playfully:
"Come on, I made these just like I promised. Now, say ahhh~."
Renji's face went stiff. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught his mother slipping out of the room. From behind him, her hushed voice drifted back, just loud enough for him to hear:
"We have to support your sister… so bear with it."
Renji's lips quivered as he slowly opened his mouth.
NOM.
A burst of sweetness hit his tongue—immediately followed by the acrid taste of burnt sugar and hardened chunks so tough his molar nearly cracked.
He forced the lump down, smiling weakly as Himari watched with shining anticipation.
"So? What do you think? Better than last time, right~?"
Renji managed to croak out:
"Y-Yeah… much better than last time."
"YAY!" Himari squealed, shoving the plate closer and stuffing piece after piece into his mouth with her own hands.
"Come on! I want to see this plate completely empty!"
With every bite, Renji felt his soul slip out of his body for a few seconds. His stomach soon ached—stuffed to the brim with both the sheer volume and the awful taste of the sweets. But as the big brother, he couldn't bring himself to criticize cooking that wasn't even fit for cattle.
Himari's eyes gleamed with joy when she saw the empty plate.
"You're the best! You really love my sweets that much?"
Renji couldn't even form a reply—he just screamed inside his head:
"Yeah, I love them so much I'd rather wrestle a bear than ever eat them again… damn it."
Himari leaned against the wall, proud of her mischief—until a shadow slowly loomed over her, swallowing her whole.
Her eyes snapped open. Renji stood there, seething, ready to grab her.
Thinking fast, she did what any little sister would in such a crisis.
"Moooooom! Renji's trying to hit me again!"
Yes… she had unleashed the secret weapon.
But their mother was already asleep and didn't respond. Renji lunged after her, Himari bolting away while still yelling for their mom. She dashed into their mother's room, the two of them circling around until finally she woke up, groggy and furious.
"Enough! I just want to sleep!"
Himari dove into her mother's arms, eyes wide with fake innocence.
"Mom, Renji's trying to hit me!"
Their mother gave Renji a weary look.
"Renji, you're the older one. Leave her alone—and grow up."
Renji stood there in silence, glaring at his sister, unable to argue. She just stuck her tongue out and teased:
"Pbbbt~ Grow up, big bro. Don't hit your little sister~."
Renji stormed out of the room, muttering a storm of curses inside his head. A split second later, a shoe smacked him right in the face.
Renji slipped into his room, stretched out on the floor, and pulled a heavy blanket over himself.
But something hard pressed against his side from inside his pocket. Reaching in, he pulled out the money he'd earned—and the strange book. It was bound with a lock, though one that came undone far too easily.
No words, only pictures—monsters, broken human shapes, things worse than demons.
Renji stared in disbelief, one question echoing again and again in his mind:
"What the hell is this?
Why would that man, Ronzztan, give me a book that's completely useless?
…Wait."
His eyes froze on the last fourteen pages.
The figures there were different—closer to humans than monsters.
One creature had four yellow eyes, glowing faintly, shot through with blood-red veins.
Jagged horns crowned another, his mouth lined with fangs like razors. Though small in stature, his eyes cut sharply, his face fixed in eternal gloom.
And then came another—grinning with wild delight. His face was sharp, unnervingly flawless, more striking than the rest. By his side leaned a heavy staff, iron glinting in the candle's glow.
There was an illustration inside—not resembling a human or a demon, but more like smoke etched onto the page.
Renji couldn't make sense of the book, so he set it aside and decided to get some sleep. But just before closing it, he noticed the images stirring on their own.
They began to shift slowly, as though they'd been frozen for ages… and had finally started moving again.
Renji recoiled in panic, hurling the book away. He clamped a hand over his mouth to stifle the scream threatening to escape.
His wide eyes remained fixed on the book… until whispers began to echo, faint at first, then layered, as though a chorus of unseen voices were speaking at once:
"…released… released… Lord Ronzztan… freed us…
voices—too many voices—who opened the gate?
a better world? hah-hah-hhh… brighter, sweeter… only so I can crush it—smash it—ruin it all over again!
hahaha—hha—hhh—aaaah—ha—"
Renji snatched up the book and bolted out of the house. But before he could get far past the door, he felt it growing heavier and heavier in his arms.
The sudden weight tore a pained grunt from him, forcing him to let it crash onto the ground.
"What's happening?
What… what is this?" he gasped in terror.
The book began to glow with a deep violet light. From its pages, countless hands clawed their way out—accompanied by twisted laughter, guttural roars, and furious muttering.
All of it poured from the book, as though it were not a mere tome, but a gateway to another world… or worse, a prison for beings that never should have existed at all.
The book began to rip itself open, unleashing thousands of curses and demons that poured out in a frenzy—laughing maniacally as they stampeded into the forest.
Renji stood frozen, paralyzed with dread. He had no idea what he had just unleashed… or who those beings even were.
Then, just as suddenly, the chaos ceased. The book stopped tearing, its torrent of monsters cut off.
Only fourteen final pages remained within it.
Renji crept forward cautiously, only after making sure the horde had vanished into the forest. As his hands closed around the book, the remaining fourteen pages ripped free, scattering through the air around him.
"What…?" he began—
But the words died on his lips.
The very first page—the one marked with the strange smoke—flared with a sinister light. From its surface spilled a shapeless mass, pouring out like thick black smoke. The cloud twisted, coiled, then took on a body that mirrored Renji's own… its gaze locked unblinking onto him.
His heart roared within his chest, each beat echoing like the toll of a funeral drum. His body refused to move. He couldn't speak. Couldn't flee. He was trapped in his own stillness.
The smoke-born figure drifted closer, its eyes boring into him. Yet even as it approached, more horrors began to claw their way from the scattered pages: first, the being with four eyes… then the one with a beautiful face, framed by predatory fangs.
The smoke creature suddenly recoiled—as if in fear—before lunging at Renji with blinding speed. It slammed into him, seeping into his body like poison.
Renji's lungs locked. He couldn't even breathe. Fire erupted inside him, burning through every vein and nerve. His vision faltered, twisting into a haze. Darkness spread over his sight like spilled ink.
Then—
He fell. Crashed to the ground with a thud, consumed by the void.
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