I. The Merchant of Yuba
To endure the sun that seared his skin like a branding iron, Kiri wore thick layers of clothing and wrapped a cloth around his head, concealing every inch of flesh as he slid down from the back of his F-Croc.
Beyond the shadow of the rocks lay the oasis. The town of Yuba came into view.
He told the obedient creature to rest, then began to walk. He would make the trek to Yuba on his own two feet.
On his back sat a massive, bulging rucksack packed with all manner of goods.
His consciousness shifted. In an instant, he was a traveling merchant, and nothing more.
He was accustomed to this—repainting his own thoughts as a form of camouflage, momentarily scrubbing the mission from his mind. The person he was now was distinct from his true self. To any observer, he was merely a simple, innocent boy.
Because one never knew who might be watching, he wore a smile, beaming pleasantly even in solitude.
As he entered the town with a practiced gait, the townspeople greeted him with waves and smiles. Having visited countless times over the past year, they had come to recognize him as one of their own.
He comes here because he has a friend named Koza.
That is what everyone believed.
That was fine. He strove to believe it himself.
Upon arriving in Yuba, his first destination was always Koza's house. Kiri's steps were light, and he exchanged greetings with passersby as he went.
He noticed the disturbance only as he neared the house. Suddenly, a roar of anger shattered the peace. Kiri stopped in his tracks, pausing before Koza's front door.
A moment later, the door flew open as if kicked from the inside, and Koza stormed out with a furious stride.
"I've waited long enough! I'm going! To Alubarna!"
"Wait, Koza! You must not use the Dance Powder!"
"If we don't, this place is just going to wither and die!"
His face twisted with uncharacteristic rage, Koza screamed at his father, Toto. But as he turned forward, he froze.
Seeing Kiri standing there with a blank, stunned expression seemed to bring him back to his senses.
Koza clicked his tongue. Shifting his expression, he started walking again, grabbing Kiri's arm as he passed and forcibly dragging him away from the scene. Toto stood at the doorway, shouting after them, but Koza did not stop.
"Hey, wait, Koza! Reconsider! The rain—it will surely fall soon!"
"How long have you been saying that?! Yuba is at its limit!"
"Koza!"
Kiri, dragged along by the arm, followed without resistance.
Koza marched them to the edge of town, to the border of the desert, before finally releasing his grip.
Perhaps the anger was still built up inside him; his breathing was ragged. He took repeated deep breaths, trying to compose himself in front of his friend. He clutched his head, exhaled one last long sigh, and finally looked at Kiri.
It was likely the first time Kiri had ever seen him like this.
Maintaining his smile to soothe the tension, Kiri spoke gently.
"What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"Yeah... just a little something."
"Toto-san seemed really angry. You two were getting along so well the last time I was here."
"Things have changed. While you were away."
Koza found a wooden crate against a wall and sat down.
He still didn't seem calm. Something significant must have happened.
Feigning ignorance, Kiri waited. Staring out at the desert, Koza began to speak.
"It hasn't rained in a long time. Did you know? They say Erumalu is in bad shape, too. It's not just around here—rain has stopped falling all over Alabasta."
"The rain..."
"That's why I'm going to appeal directly to the King. Just a little would be enough. There's something called 'Dance Powder' that can make it rain artificially. If we use that, we can survive until the rainy season."
"I've heard of it. I know such things exist. But..."
"You're going to say there are risks, right? I know. But human hearts aren't that simple."
Koza looked around the town. Kiri followed his gaze.
Now that it was mentioned, the townspeople did seem drained. They tried to go about their days as usual, but an underlying despondency was visible in their expressions. They likely tried to hide their pain from Kiri's face, but unaware that he was observing them from a distance, many let out heavy sighs.
No rain. In a desert nation, that was a sentence of immense suffering.
"The town is at its limit. To keep the people here—the ones who want to survive here—we need rain. That's why, even just a little..."
"Come to think of it, it feels like there are fewer people than before."
"A lot of them have left. This town... it's been abandoned."
Koza hung his head. He was undoubtedly hurt. He had worked so hard to make this town a vital hub connecting the vast desert. Nothing cut deeper than the residents leaving. Even now, he desperately wanted to do something.
Kiri listened, his face a mask of confusion.
Slowly, Koza raised his head, muttering with renewed resolve.
Kiri was here now. He could bare his heart to a trusted friend.
His words laid bare a desire that bordered on ambition.
"This town can still start over. I will not let Yuba die. Just one thing—no matter how small—if we just have a catalyst, we can rebuild. I believe Dance Powder is that catalyst."
"I see... but..."
Koza finally noticed Kiri's hesitation.
It was unlike him. Usually, he spoke freely with that airy, carefree face, but now he was choosing his words carefully. He frowned, casting his eyes downward as if hiding something.
Sensing something was wrong, Koza pressed him immediately.
"What is it? Is something bothering you?"
"No, well, yes, but..."
"Say it. Whatever it is."
Kiri nodded, then looked Koza in the eye with a troubled expression.
"When I stopped by Alubarna this time... it was raining. Just a few days ago."
His voice lacked confidence, but the message was clear.
In that instant, Koza's eyes widened. He lost his words. Silence fell.
He couldn't believe it. His mind went blank, thought suspended.
"What... do you mean? Is that... true?"
"Yeah... I'm certain."
"Why would it rain in Alubarna? Not a drop fell in Yuba. Not for days, weeks, months... So why, only where the Royal Family lives..."
Koza's shock was rapidly curdling into rage.
He stood up unsteadily, watching Kiri, who looked away awkwardly.
"Don't tell me... they used Dance Powder? You said there was a risk. Is it possible... that because of that, rain stopped falling in the rest of the country?"
Koza grabbed Kiri's shoulders hard, bringing his face close. He questioned him with the look of a desperate man.
"You would know, wouldn't you? You've shown me all kinds of things. You've brought me so many goods. Tell me. What is the risk of Dance Powder?"
"Dance Powder... artificially accelerates cloud growth to force rain. But in exchange... it steals the rain that was supposed to fall in other places."
Hearing this, Koza's hands slipped from Kiri's shoulders.
He stumbled back to the wooden crate and sat, hanging his head in sheer stupefaction. Seeing this, Kiri spoke hurriedly, as if adding an afterthought.
"But, it's just a rumor, I don't know if it's actu—"
"No... thank you. Knowing that is enough."
Koza exhaled a long breath and looked up. By then, the look in his eyes had changed.
"I'm going to ask the King. Will you come with me? To Alubarna."
The voice that asked Kiri was restrained, yet vibrating with anger.
Kiri erased his smile, nodding with a bewildered expression. Seeing his confirmation, Koza clenched his fist tight.
It was a considerable distance from Yuba to Alubarna. The journey would take time. He felt bad asking Kiri, who had just arrived, but Kiri had nodded.
He wanted the truth. He would verify it with the King.
While recalling the face of Cobra, whom he had spoken to in his childhood, and wishing to trust him, a bubbling rage was rising within him. He had no room left to think; he simply had to act.
II. Tears of the Capital
Rain-swept Alubarna was devoid of people, even in the middle of the day.
The streets had emptied, and the few remaining figures moved with a practiced air of avoiding the downpour.
This suggested that rain had become common enough in this city for habits to form. While unseen in other towns, rain here was now a mundane reality.
In a room on the second floor of a certain inn, Kiri stood by the window, gazing out.
The quiet rain drove people away—the perfect environment for plotting.
There was one other person in the room.
Sitting on a chair, Mr. 2 looked at Kiri's back with a bored expression. His face held a complicated mix of trouble and perplexity. He certainly didn't look like he was having fun.
"I hate the rain... It makes my heart feel so unsettled."
He huffed through his nose as he watched Kiri speak without turning around.
Mr. 2 rested his cheek on his hand, remaining silent until Kiri spoke again.
"I have an important mission. I need you to copy the faces of King Cobra and Koza."
"Hmm... I get why the King is important. But whyyy do we need that brat?"
"Koza is a talent. He's strong, smart, and has the charisma to lead. Eventually, he'll lead the Rebel Army and stir this country into a frenzy for us."
"If you say so~."
"I've allotted a long timeframe for this. Proceed carefully so you aren't caught. If there are too many accidental deaths or random slashings, people will get suspicious."
Kiri finally turned around.
That eternal smile was on his face. Because of it, one could never read his heart. One could never know his true intentions.
That seemed to be what was bothering Mr. 2.
"You're awfully quiet today. Something happen?"
"Well... I suppose you could say something happened. By the way, no lessons today?"
"No. Because it's raining."
Kiri looked out the window again. Mr. 2 sighed theatrically.
"Are you really okay with this? This situation... you're betraying your friend, aren't you? Doesn't your heart ache, just watching silently from the sidelines?"
"You've got it wrong, Bon-chan. I became his friend in order to betray him."
The voice that spoke so calmly sent a shiver of fear through the room.
And that was exactly why Mr. 2 couldn't let it go.
After a moment of hesitation, he decided to ask.
"I've been wondering lately..."
"What?"
"You... no matter when, where, or what you're doing, you have that exact same face. Even if a drunk beats you, even if someone screams at you, you're always smiling. It just... it doesn't feel like you're really living, you know?"
He stopped resting his cheek on his hand and leaned forward slightly.
Staring into the eyes of Kiri, who had turned back with a puzzled look, Mr. 2 asked with rare seriousness.
"Kami-chan... are you enjoying life?"
For the first time, Kiri's eyes went wide. But only for an instant.
Immediately, he returned to the same smile and let out a small chuckle.
Normally, it would be an approachable expression, but for some reason, Mr. 2's face did not brighten.
"Fun? ...What was that again?"
-------------------------------
I've already uploaded 40 chapters of this story on Patreon!
If you enjoy it, come check out the latest chapters in advance.
Here's the link:
[patreon.com/Greyhounds]
Thank you so much for your support!!
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"