Chapter 42: When the Door Was Knocked
The shelter door was lightly knocked.
For a moment, silence fell over everyone inside.
Mitsuni turned toward the door and opened it.
Haruto and Kaito were standing there.
The moment Yuki saw them, she ran forward. Without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around Haruto's neck.
Yuki:
"Haruto!"
Haruto was surprised, but happy. He gently wrapped his arms around Yuki.
"It's okay… I'm here. You're safe now."
At the same time, Zen and Shin rushed toward Kaito.
For a split second, Kaito didn't know what to do. His sharp, serious gaze froze in place.
Then, a barely noticeable smile crossed his face.
But almost immediately, he returned to his usual serious expression.
Haruto looked around. Everyone was exhausted—but alive.
He turned to Mitsuni.
"What happened here?
What happened to Taro?
Do we know who the attackers were?"
Mitsuni took a deep breath.
— A brief time skip —
Mitsuni had explained everything. Haruto nodded slowly.
"Hm… I see.
So that's why everything happened."
Meanwhile, Kaito was helping the assistants who were treating the wounded—silently handing over bandages, carrying stretchers.
Just then, the door was knocked again.
When it opened, Daichi and Sora entered, accompanied by an assistant.
And behind them—
Lady Akira, Yoona, Tatsuya, and Ren were being carried in, their energies completely drained.
At the very back, on a stretcher, was San—unconscious, with a deep diagonal slash across his chest.
Mitsuni's expression instantly hardened.
"Bring San here immediately!"
Then he turned to Daichi.
"What happened?"
Haruto spoke up.
"The Quiries… they disguised themselves as them."
Yuki flinched.
Haruto continued.
"They copied their appearances.
They injured San."
Yuki lowered her gaze. Her voice trembled.
Seeing her like that, Haruto forced a gentle smile.
"Hey, Yuki… why don't you grab something to eat with the twins?"
(He glanced over—Zen and Shin were already stuffing themselves.)
Yuki nodded quietly and walked away.
Mitsuni smiled faintly.
"Hah… I think this is the first time I've ever seen those two eat this much."
Haruto's expression darkened.
He clenched his teeth.
Kaito looked at him.
"They were planning to take Yuki…" Haruto said.
Mitsuni widened his eyes.
"So that's why they drained their energies?"
Haruto nodded.
"Yes.
Lady Akira's, Yoona's, Tatsuya's, and Ren's energies…
to use their forms as disguises."
At that moment, Kaito cut in sharply.
"Where is Kenji?"
Sora hesitated.
"We… didn't see Kenji."
Mitsuni frowned.
"Taro didn't mention him either."
Daichi spoke quietly.
"Don't worry…
He's fine. At least… I hope he is."
Just then, an assistant approached. His face was pale.
"A Quiri… said they saw Kenji."
Everyone turned toward him.
The assistant continued, his voice shaking.
"His eyes were open…
but he looked like a corpse."
The air in the shelter froze.
Haruto swallowed.
"What do you mean…?
Kenji… is he dead?"
Taro closed his eyes. He couldn't hold back his tears.
Kaito stormed toward the assistant in anger.
"How do you know that?!"
The assistant replied, trembling.
"He had a severe cut on his neck.
The blood loss was extreme…"
Mitsuni suddenly grabbed the assistant by the collar.
"Why didn't you say this earlier?!"
Then his hands began to shake.
He let go.
And lowered his head.
Crying spread through the shelter.
No one could stay silent.
The wounded, the hunters—everyone.
The shelter was swallowed by a heavy atmosphere of mourning.