Morning came, but it did not bring peace. Yume had not slept a single second. The memory of last night's incident kept replaying in her head like a nightmare she could not escape.
Ren stirred awake and suddenly jolted upright, his voice sharp and loud. "Stay back!"
Yume flinched, startled.
"Ren… it's just me," she said softly, almost whispering.
His breathing was heavy, chest rising and falling as though he had just fought a battle. "Yume? Damn it… I thought—"
She looked away, trying to hide the faint tremble in her hands.
"You didn't get any sleep, did you?" he asked, more gently this time.
"No," she admitted quietly. "I couldn't. Not after what happened last night…"
The door opened, and Master Kuro entered with Ichiro, the organization's assistant. Both of them looked calm but serious.
"So," Master Kuro said, his deep voice breaking the silence, "today you are leaving."
"Yes, Master," Ren said, standing up.
Ichiro turned to Yume. "Yume, you are officially assigned to observe Ren and report every movement to the higher-ups."
Yume nodded firmly. "I will do as I am ordered."
"Good," Master Kuro said. "Now, get ready. You have a long road ahead of you."
They packed their belongings carefully and loaded them into the car. At the last moment, everyone from the organization came to say goodbye. The air was heavy, a mix of tension and unspoken words.
After saying farewell, Ren and Yume left together, starting their journey back to the village.
During the ride, Yume grew quiet, her body finally giving in to exhaustion. She let her head rest on Ren's shoulder.
Ren immediately stiffened.
"Oh my!" The Black Heart's voice echoed inside Ren's head, dripping with mockery. "What a scene this is."
"Shut up," Ren muttered under his breath.
"My King," the Darkness rumbled with amusement, "is he always like this?"
"Yep," the Black Heart replied, laughing. "He acts tough, but look at him now — completely cooked."
Ren gritted his teeth.
"She didn't sleep last night," he said to himself, his tone quiet but sincere. "What happened shook her badly. Facing death… it terrifies even the strongest."
"Yes," the Black Heart agreed. "And I felt your heart beating faster, Ren. You were scared too. Scared not for yourself — but for her."
Ren didn't answer right away.
"Darkness," he finally said, "you saw it. The way she looked when that blade almost cut off her head. She was terrified. And now… she's sleeping so deeply she doesn't even know what's happening around her."
I won't let this happen again to her.
The Heart chuckled. "Man, congrats! You are in love with Yume Akegami."
Ren's eyes widened. "What? No. That can't be possible—"
"Oh, it's possible," the Heart interrupted. "In the cave incident, when I showed you that nightmare, you completely lost control because of her. You care about her more than you admit."
"He is right, my King," the Darkness said. "You love and care for her deeply."
Ren clenched his fists but then sighed. "If I do love her… I will never say it out loud. But I will protect her. Always. In the shadows."
She don't deserves a man who can't protect himself.
After the long journey, they finally reached the village.
The villagers greeted the old man and Yume respectfully, but when they saw Ren with her, they froze. Shock turned to anger.
"You brought him back?" someone shouted.
They began throwing pebbles and trash at Ren, shouting insults.
"Trash like him doesn't belong here!"
An arrogant man with a knife stepped forward. "Let's kill this garbage right here and now!"
Ren smiled faintly, then spoke quietly. "Darkness. Let's show them what we are now."
A chilling wind swept through the village. Darkness spread like a living shadow, covering the streets and houses.
The villagers screamed in fear.
"It must be Yume! Or Master Kuro!"
But then a deep, terrifying voice echoed from within the darkness.
"What are you trying to do to the King?"
"King?" someone shouted back. "Who are you protecting this trash for? He should be erased from this world!"
At that, Darkness unleashed 8% of its power, and the air itself seemed to freeze.
"You dare speak against the King?" the Darkness roared. "Then you all deserve death!"
Several villagers panicked and grabbed Yume and Master Kuro, dragging them forward. "Kneel and beg for forgiveness!" they shouted arrogantly.
From the darkness, a figure emerged — Ren, his body half-covered in shadows, his face hidden.
"You dare…" Ren said, his voice low and dangerous, "touch them?"
Without mercy, he struck those in front of him, throwing them to the ground. The impact left them brutally injured.
"Ren!" Kuro shouted. "Enough!"
But Ren didn't stop.
Yume beat back the people holding her and ran toward Ren.
"Ren! Stop! You have to snap out of it!"
"They put their weapon on you! They tried to kill Master!" Ren's voice broke with anger. "I won't forgive them—"
"They all deserve to die." His eyes blazed with unholy fury, filled with vengeance, as though a demon had seized control of his very soul, driving him to slaughter everyone before him.
"Ren!" Yume shouted, her voice full of emotion. "Forgive them! The Ren I know… the King I know… doesn't kill his own people. Even if the world doesn't accept you as King, I will. I accept you as my King, Ren Akatsuki!"
Ren froze.
Yume touched his face gently, tears in her eyes. "The Ren I know never kills needlessly. He protects people. Please… come back to me."
Ren's expression softened. Slowly, he let the shadows recede.
Then, to everyone's shock, Ren suddenly pulled Yume into a hug.
Yume's eyes widened in surprise, but then she smiled softly and hugged him back.
The darkness covering the entire village faded away, and the air returned to normal.
But the Darkness spoke one last time, its voice echoing like a curse.
"If you ever stand against the King again… prepare to bear the weight of the crown's wrath."
The villagers trembled in silence.
One man finally asked in fear, "Who… who are you?"
Ren's voice was calm but firm. "I am the one you threw out of this village when I had nothing. I am the one you tried to erase. But today, I am back what is mine."
Master Kuro nodded. "As you wish, Ren."
Yume stepped forward. "I will go with you."
"Come," Ren said simply.
After five long years, Ren walked back to the home where he had once lived with his parents.
The people who had stolen it from him stepped outside, laughing. But when they saw Ren surrounded by evolving shadows, their laughter died.
The leader, Zen Kurohane — a Rank A hunter — stepped forward, smirking arrogantly.
"Oh, you're back," Zen said. "I thought we got rid of you for good."
Ren stared at him coldly. "So, you're the one who made false statements about me all those years ago."
Yume shouted at him.
"So, what if I am?" Zen said, drawing his weapon. "You can't do anything. You're still just trash."
"You might be Zen Kurohane," Yume said sharply. "But this time, you can't stand against him. Not anymore."
Zen gave a chilling laugh. "Is that so? Then let's see if you can fight. Ren! If you have truly become strong, let's have a spar. How about a rematch?"
Ren smirked, his eyes glowing faintly in the shadows.
"Fine," he said. "This ends here."