— KUBATO —
The vehicle came to a halt in a clearing.
The sun had already set, sending its final rays beneath the cloud cover, dyeing the sky in shades of violet. It was a breathtaking sight.
Akumu had remained seated on the loading platform the entire way, silent.
Kubato's stepparents were quiet as well, though she could feel their unspoken questions pressing against her.
The driver and Konrad got out of the car, explaining that they needed to relieve themselves, and disappeared into the forest.
"Kubato…" Marcel finally broke the silence. "Who is that man?"
She felt overwhelmed for a moment. Why was he asking her instead of Akumu himself? He was right there, behind them.
Her thoughts drifted back—to how he had appeared, how he had saved her from Konrad and his friends, how he had always been there when she was lonely… when she was hurt. And most of all—
Grandpa's legacy.
"He is… Grandpa…" she whispered softly.
The danger was over, yet the fear that had lived inside her since her grandfather's death still clutched her heart. She hadn't trusted anyone. Couldn't trust anyone.
Only Akumu.
"My… friend," she finally said. Even she didn't know how to describe him properly.
He was… like Grandpa.
"Your friend?" Marcel repeated in surprise, looking at the child sitting on Margarita's lap.
"In what way? When did you meet him?"
"Dear," Margarita interrupted gently, "I don't think it's what you think."
Larissa, sleeping between her parents, twitched slightly, as if agreeing.
Marcel sighed. "I figured as much…"
He turned toward Akumu.
Akumu lay relaxed on the loading platform, hands behind his head, legs crossed, staring up at the sky. When he was calm like this, Kubato could relax too. She could feel it.
"So you're the one who saved Kubato last night?" Marcel asked.
Akumu merely nodded.
Konrad emerged from the forest. "Should we make camp here?" he called.
"On the cold ground?" his mother replied loudly.
"There are travel tents hidden under the vehicle," Wilhelm called back, sounding far calmer than before.
Over the next hour, Kubato watched Marcel, Konrad, and Wilhelm set up the tents. Margarita and Larissa watched them cheerfully.
The cat slave helped where she could—and did a better job than some of the men.
Before it grew completely dark, they lit a campfire and ate the little bread Konrad had taken from his parents' house.
Akumu didn't eat. He didn't even sit by the fire. He stayed on the loading platform while the family ate. Wilhelm didn't eat either, merely warming himself by the flames.
"Akumu," Konrad called after a while. "Don't you want to join us?"
"Nope," he replied casually. "Enjoy the togetherness."
"But don't you want at least something to eat?" Marcel asked. It was pitch black by now.
"I don't need food," came the answer from the darkness.
"Akumu, was it?" Margarita spoke after a short pause. "You saved our lives. Please sit with us. We'd like to get to know you."
Footsteps emerged from the dark. His corpse-pale face came into view, belt buckles clicking rhythmically with each step.
A smile rested on his face.
"You're welcome," he said simply, sitting down on one of the logs the boys had gathered.
Kubato was happy he joined them. She immediately stood up from beside Margarita and Larissa and hurried over to him.
"You really like it with me, huh?" he teased, winking as he wrapped an arm around her.
"Would you tell us about yourself?" Marcel asked. "We don't know you. Or you either, Wilhelm."
"There's nothing worth telling about me," Wilhelm said, staring into the fire.
Kubato felt uneasy. He had helped them, yes—but she didn't know him. He had just… appeared.
"I was the state's deputy commissioner," Wilhelm continued. "But this ugly regime has grown more and more repulsive to me. I had a wife and children. They left the country early on. I stayed behind, because I didn't want to disappoint my 'fatherland.'"
Silence followed.
"But this country is cold and heartless. It disappointed me at every turn—especially when I learned what they were doing to beastfolk."
Kubato felt his gaze on her. It was unsettling… and tired.
"I endured it for a while longer. But I'm done with Preußtland. I want nothing more to do with it."
"That's… intense," Margarita said sincerely.
"We saw the suffering of the beastfolk too," she said, looking at Marcel. "We helped where we could. But in the end, we were exposed."
"But not for nothing," Marcel added. "Thousands of beastfolk were saved."
"How did you get them out of the country?" Wilhelm asked.
"Preußtland sold many resources abroad in recent years," Marcel explained, "after energy stones were discovered fifty years ago in the Kalipso Heights. So many were found that traditional resources became unnecessary."
"And you took advantage of that?" Wilhelm pressed.
"Yes. We transported many of them out by steam locomotive."
"I see," Wilhelm admitted. "I researched you. I knew you were helping beastfolk—but not how."
"And Siegmund had been after me for a long time?" Marcel asked.
Wilhelm nodded. "It was only a matter of time."
"I have a question," Akumu suddenly cut in.
Kubato listened closely.
"These energy stones… did Arthur Damm have one? Something in his armor glowed when he started burning."
"Yes," Marcel confirmed. "Those are energy stones. Compared to conventional resources, they're incredibly efficient and durable."
"Wonderful," Akumu said immediately. "They're just like the magic stones from Atlantis."
"Atlantis?" Wilhelm repeated, smiling mockingly. "What's that supposed to be? A fairy tale?"
"No," Akumu shook his head. "You don't know Atlantis? It's the most powerful kingdom in the world."
Wilhelm burst out laughing. Konrad smirked.
"Akumu, did you hit your head? Atlantis doesn't exist. Preußtland is the strongest kingdom on this planet!"
Kubato noticed Akumu stiffen. He looked confused.
"What are you talking about?" he said quietly. "I come from Atlantis. I was born there."
Wilhelm's gaze turned contemptuous.
"You call yourself Death? You're a joke. You may have supernatural powers, but Atlantis has never existed."
"Don't lie!" Akumu stood up—confused, angry, hurt.
"Atlantis is my home! It has existed for thousands of years! It can't just disappear!"
Wilhelm stood as well. No one dared to intervene. The tension was suffocating.
"Listen to me," Wilhelm snapped. "I don't believe a word you say. You call yourself Death? Do you know how insulting that is? People die every day. They're murdered. Coldly. And you call yourself Death for fun?!"
Kubato felt something burning inside Akumu. No one understood him.
He isn't acting.
"I feel every single one who dies," Akumu said quietly. "All their emotions. All their pain. Every tear. Every cry."
Wilhelm clapped mockingly. "Nice performance. You'd do well in theater."
Akumu fell silent.
Kubato noticed his fists clenching.
Finally, he asked softly, "What year is it?"
Why that question? Had he realized something?
"Year 5006 after the World Shift," Konrad answered hesitantly.
Silence.
"…after the…" Akumu repeated.
He looked even paler than before.
Then he turned around and disappeared into the darkness.
"Akumu," Kubato whispered, but a hand stopped her.
She turned. The cat slave.
Her hand was cold. Her gaze… different.
"Leave the master be," she said gently. "He needs time alone."
Master?
"Exactly," Wilhelm added with a grin that showed his disdain. "Leave him alone."
No one spoke after that.
"I'm going to sleep," Konrad announced and walked away. The others followed.
"Kubato," Margarita said softly, holding out her hand. "Come to sleep."
Kubato cast one last glance at the place where Akumu had merged with the darkness.
Akumu…
It hurt her heart how Wilhelm treated him. But she couldn't say anything.
Her own pain—especially when she was alone—was already enough to bear.