As the squad entered the grand hall of the castle, a solemn hush settled over them. Marble pillars rose toward the vaulted ceiling, their carvings glinting beneath golden chandeliers. Silk banners bearing the royal crest lined the walls, while elite guards stood in silent formation, armor polished, spears grounded, eyes sharp.
At the far end, King Sugiyama sat upon his elevated throne, his presence dominating the castle.
With practiced reverence, the Minamotos knelt as one, fists pressed to their hearts.
"Long live King Sugiyama!"
Prince Sugiyama, seated on his own throne beside his father, surveyed the scene with his anger barely restrained. Then his voice thundered, sharp and commanding.
"You incompetent assassins! My orders were clear– to train my horses! And yet you dare defy me?"
Ukichi remained calm, his tone measured and steady. "We fully intended to comply, Your Highness, but we were caught in a situation where an innocent family needed our help."
The prince's eyes blazed with fury. "So what! You dared to disobey my command?" His words carried the weight of unrestrained anger.
"Pardon my words, Your Highness," Kageru suddenly spoke up, his tone respectful but firm. "Saving a family was far more important than training your horses."
Now completely burning with rage, the prince sprang from his throne and began his advance toward Kageru, who remained kneeling, unflinching.
Towering over him, the prince's voice dripped with contempt. "You dare speak to me in such a manner, fool? Beg for mercy" He extended his foot slightly at Kageru.
"I haven't said anything wrong, so I won't." Kageru's voice remained steady, firm.
The words only fueled the prince's fury, as he roared and he lashed out, delivering a kick squarely on Kageru's face.
The remaining Minamotos stayed silent, heads bowed, frozen in place, while the prince was raining blow after blow down on Kageru, whose blood began to streak across his cheek, yet he remained kneeling.
Then, with a sudden flash, the prince drew his sword and swung it sharply toward Kageru with lethal intent.
But before the strike could land, a blade
intercepted his attack with a ringing clash of steel clashing that echoed through the grand hall, reverberating off the marble pillars, freezing everyone in place.
The prince was left with eyes wide in shock, and in the next moment his anger spikes even higher as he follows the movement—only to see Ukichi standing firm, holding the sword that had stopped his deadly strike.
"You fool!" the prince spat, his rage almost visible in the air. "Kill them—all of them!"
Before the warriors could move, a single, commanding word cut through the chaos.
"Silence!"
King Sugiyama's voice thundered, echoing off the marble walls and silencing the hall instantly.
All eyes snapped to the king. Every syllable
carried unshakable authority as he continued, "Koji, return to your throne—now."
The prince of Sugiyama, Koji's eyes were still burning with fury as he kept staring at Ukichi. But despite his anger, he had no choice. Reluctantly, he retreated to his throne, every step heavy with restrained rage.
Addressing Ukichi directly, King Sugiyama inquired with a commanding tone, "So, you chose to defy royal orders to protect a family?"
Ukichi stood unwavering. "As the leader of this squad, the responsibility falls on me. It was my decision," he said firmly.
"No, Your Majesty," Hiroto interjected, his voice steady. "We all made that choice together. We share equal responsibility."
King Sugiyama regarded them in silence for a long moment before speaking, his voice carrying absolute finality.
"For defying royal orders, I decree that each of you shall receive one hundred lashes upon your backs as punishment."
The squad accepted the judgment with solemn nods, not a single voice raised in protest.
King Sugiyama spoke once more, his gaze cold and unwavering. "Should any of you dare to disobey again, the consequences will be far more severe."
Suddenly, a royal guard stepped forward, bowing deeply before the king.
"All hail King Sugiyama, Your Majesty," he announced. "Mr. Yamato from the Kei Kingdom has arrived."
With a sharp, decisive gesture, the king commanded, "Guards, escort them away and see that their punishments are carried out."
The Minamotos rose as one before moving with disciplined grace alongside the royal guards. And as they crossed paths with the elderly Nobel guest, Mr. Yamato, a sudden wave of tension ran down his spine.
Mr. Yamato of the Kei Kingdom was now walking forward absentmindedly, eyes wide with apprehension, before he instinctively darted his eyes back over his shoulder at the departing Minamotos, as if their very presence left something.
The royal guards escorted the departing Minamotos, leaving Mr. Yamato to be presented before King Sugiyama.
"Welcome, Yamato, welcome," King Sugiyama greeted warmly, his hand extending in a gracious gesture.
Standing tall, Yamato bowed deeply. "All hail, King Sugiyama," he intoned with respect. Straightening, he continued, "The King of Kei acknowledges and accepts your terms, and has sent these gifts as a token of gratitude."
A triumphant smile curved King Sugiyama's lips. "Very well, then. You and your comrades are most welcome in our castle, let us shower you with our hospitality," he declared, his voice both warm and commanding."
Yamato's eyes flickered with curiosity as he asked, "Your Majesty… the members of that departing squad… were they truly the last descendants of the Minamotos?"
"Indeed, they are," the King confirmed, his voice steady and confident.
"And the young man, the one with the red hair and eyes, is he the only heir of the Great King Minamoto?" Yamato pressed, his gaze sharp and intent.
With a grave nod, the king confirmed, "Yes, he is. But, he cannot wield any Wrath, it was all consumed by his father."
Yamato's gaze remained unwavering as he said, "Your Majesty, I possess the ability to sense the essence and potential within individuals. These descendants… they carry something dark, something which is hard to tell, but… It is something that could bring either greatness or complete destruction."
A curious smile flickered across the king's face. "If they are truly so special or powerful, then why did your king choose not to accept them?" he asked, his tone laced with intrigue.
"As for the intentions of my Kei King, I cannot say," Yamato replied gravely. "But one truth is undeniable, that those children are a grave threat to every kingdom. There are still rumors that say the Vorakyns were never fully vanquished, and if they return… the only reason will be the souls of Minamotos."
He paused, his voice dropping to a chilling low. "And it will not just end with the Minamotos. Once their hunger is unleashed, it will turn upon all humanity. And when that day comes, the fate of mankind itself will hang by a single thread… Those children must be killed, before their existence condemns humanity."
A chilling stillness gripped the castle hall, until a commanding voice shattered the silence.
"As the king of this Kingdom, I have no intention of ordering death without just cause," King Sugiyama declared, his tone firm and unyielding. "Moreover, the Vorakyns were annihilated by King Minamoto himself. They are gone."
His gaze hardened. "As for those young assassins, they pose no threat to this kingdom or any kingdom. They are the weakest of their clan, drained of the greatest Wrath their ancestors once held!"
A faint, knowing smile touched his lips. "Do you know why no other kingdom accepted them yet I did? Because I desired the Minamoto name under my command. Even without Wrath, that name alone carries weight enough to shake kingdoms… And I'm not giving up on this because of your stupid, shallow fear"
"Be careful, Your Highness," Yamato said quietly. His voice held no panic, only certainty. "It may be just a rumor that the Vorakyns still breathe. But, there are some who still believe..."
He continued, unhurried. "If the Vorakyns return, there will be no one left to stop them. That boy with red hair is nothing like his father, the Great King Minamoto was, After all, he was the only one in a hundred years to wield the Wrath Of Hellfire."
A heavy silence swallowed the royal hall, and beads of sweat began tracing down King Sugiyama's face, betraying a tension he dared not show.
King Sugiyama slammed his fist against the armrest of the throne, the sound reverberating through the hall.
"Their return is impossible!" His voice thundered with fury. "And even if they dare… we are ready. The tides have turned, our kingdoms have grown stronger. Warriors, archers, knights, and assassins alike stand ready to face any threat."
His chest heaved, breaths coming fast and heavy, the force of his words still vibrating in the tense silence of the hall.
A heavy silence filled the royal hall, the air thick with tension as everyone absorbed the king's wrath.
Yamato offered a faint, warm smile and inclined his head. "Indeed, I believe we would give them a formidable challenge this time," he said smoothly. "But for now… if you'll excuse me, let us proceed with the purpose of my visit."
Despite the charged atmosphere, his calm demeanor never wavered, every movement measured, every word deliberate, a quiet contrast to the storm that still raged around him.