Denu stood on the stage. People sat in rows of chairs, all staring at him, actively listening.
Someone raised her hand.
"Yes?" Denu's voice was chilling.
The woman stood.
"We, the leaders of the General Center, have been considering introducing a new law."
"Say it," Denu replied.
She looked toward Laixo, who sat beside her with papers in his hands.
Laixo stood and read.
"The Co-Ruler Act," he said, his voice controlled.
"Under this law, a Ruler must marry before ruling, and both the Ruler and the Ruler's spouse will handle governance together."
Everyone listened attentively. His voice was professional, without hesitation or nervousness.
"This will ensure no gender discrimination," he finished, lowering the papers.
"What do you think, My Ruler?" the woman asked humbly, placing a hand on her chest as she bowed her head.
"I disagree," a man seated in the front stood up.
What's with him now? Tension crept into Laixo's expression. His partner waited for the reason behind the dispute.
"Sure. Say your thoughts," Denu allowed, his gaze fixed on the man.
The man stood. His Divine Scar, near his eyebrow, emitted a green glow from its outline.
"Not everyone desires a relationship. Also, forcing a relationship is unnecessary in a system. I understand their intentions, but this would create more problems instead of solutions." He presented his thoughts before Denu and waited for a response.
Laixo, who had been irritated for a moment, fell quiet.
"He's right, actually," Laixo said, looking at the woman standing beside him.
She curled her lips inward, raised her shoulders, then let them fall, as if saying, 'What can we do'
"We all heard Mr. Nineno," Denu said, his voice commanding. "As for the law, knowing the consequences, we are canceling it."
"Thank you for your patience," he added.
All of them stood.
"We will meet again if Fate decides," all of them said in sync.
They began moving outside, gossiping with each other.
Laixo's gaze searched for Nineno. He was annoyed.
"You should give up on making laws," the woman beside him teased, sounding almost disappointed.
Laixo turned toward her while walking.
"You were in this too. Don't put everything on me," he replied.
After everyone had left,
Denu stepped down from the stage and moved inside.
He found Belly throwing spoons into a box placed a few steps ahead, while Mio cheered her on and Edi counted, handing over more spoons.
"That's the shot!" Mio cheered.
"Four so far. Here, more," Edi said, handing over additional spoons.
Edi flinched slightly at Denu's presence, expecting a scolding.
"What are you doing, Belly?" Denu sighed.
Belly stopped.
"We're playing a game."
On the surface, she was a normal human again. Composed. Functional.
But none of the spoons made it into the box.
"This mansion has never been quiet since Belly arrived,"he
complained, though deep down he loved it the most.
Akarum stood in front of a clothing shop, a guard beside him.
"I want this," Akarum said, pointing at a black shirt.
"Two Eri," the shopkeeper replied.
The guard handed over the coins. They were made of gold, engraved with a cross sign.
Akarum took the shirt, and they began moving forward.
There were countless shops. Clothes, belts, and pants of different designs and colors lined the streets. Yellow lights shone everywhere. People bought things, gossiped, and the area rang with voices.
"Are you happy now?" the guard asked, watching Akarum stare at the shirt with passion.
"Not yet. I've planned to make Kashime poor," A smug giggle escaped his lips.
"You can't," the guard said, unimpressed, facing forward.
"She doesn't wear expensive things. Her salary is packed in lockers."
They spent hours there. Akarum bought shirts, pants, and belts. His smile never faded. He had decided to spend every single Eri Kashime Konose had. The guard simply went along, making sure the Mysterious One didn't get lost.
Eventually, they stood at the exit of Mask City. The guard was loaded with bags.
"I'll miss this city," Akarum said, turning back one last time.
"I'll come back, darling." He blew a kiss into the air as if truly giving one.
"Shall we move?" the guard asked.
"Yeah, sure," Akarum replied.
They headed toward the Village of Queens. Akarum was eager to see Kashime's reaction. His excitement pushed him past the ache in his legs, and the guard ran beside him.
At the village gates, several Lights stood, blocking the path.
"You're not allowed inside," they said, their voices firm.
Cries echoed from within, mostly women's voices.
"What's happening?" the guard asked.
"All the children have died. The cause is still unknown. No one is allowed to enter or leave," one of them explained.
"What?" Akarum's heart raced as anxiety crept through his veins.
"Please respect the instructions and stay outside," said a leader from the uTara Government, stepping forward.
"Understood," the guard nodded.
Akarum and the guard sat beneath a tree, the bags still weighing down the guard's arms.
The smile on Akarum's face vanished, replaced by anxiety and fear.
Will this end too?
Akarum stared at the closed gates.
It had started to feel good. So good.
Coffins lined the area in the Village of Queens.
Mothers cried, clutching the coffins as if they were lifelines. Fathers stood beside them, trying to stay strong, failing every time their eyes returned to the coffins.
"Why did this happen?" one mother whispered, tears falling.
Kashime stood aside, ashamed. As the village head, she hadn't been able to save a single child.
Aeni stood near Dery's coffin, crying.
"Dery!" she sobbed.
Husbands held their wives, both trembling.
A voice cut through the noise.
"We need to take them now."
A man in white clothes stood there, a white blindfold covering his eyes. Others dressed similarly stood beside him, a few without blindfolds.
"No! No, no!" a mother screamed, clutching her child's coffin as if it were her own body.
Those without blindfolds lifted the coffins.
"Who did this?" a man growled through clenched teeth.
"We're still connecting the dots," a leader replied, standing on the pond stairs.
If I had been more aware, I could've saved them.
Kashime stared at the coffins as they were carried away.
"Don't take mychild!" a mother lunged forward, only to be pulled back by her husband.
"I'm sorry for your loss," the leader said calmly. "Please go inside and rest."
"How can you expect us to rest?" a man said, tears burning in his eyes. A woman beside him stared blankly, grief hollowing her gaze.
So… will I get caught?
Aeni stood a few steps away.
"Please go inside. Staying here won't resolve anything," the leader urged.
Slowly, they moved away, supporting one another.
"Now, Kashime," a leader called sharply.
She flinched.
"Yes?"
"What were you doing? You were supposed to be handling the village."
"I was inside the center," Kashime replied softly, her fingers twitching nervously.
Outside the village.
Akarum watched the white-clothed figures carrying the coffins away.
"Is Kashime safe?" he wondered, eyes fixed on the closed gates.
Inside the village.
"We're removing you from your position," a leader said.
Kashime didn't protest. She simply nodded.
"Go outside," another leader added.
She walked toward the gates, guilt weighing heavier with every step. Her eyes never lifted from the ground.
The gates opened.
Akarum's face lit up when he saw her.
"Kashime!" He ran toward her, stopping a few steps away.
He waited for a response.
She gave none.
"Akarum." Her voice was quiet. She kept moving toward the tree where the guard sat with the clothes.
"Yes?" Akarum moved with her.
"Did you enjoy it?" she asked. So quiet. Her movements were deliberate. Her gaze didn't lift.
"I did, but…" Uncertainty surrounded his face.
"We are heading to Heavenly Kaatoumo. I am no longer the head. So, of course, we need a place to live. I couldn't live here. Sister lives in the Academy. I don't want to see her." She said as she sat under the tree.
"We will," Akarum said, standing beside her.
"I don't feel like I can carry all these clothes of yours…" she expressed even though physical she could but emotionally she couldn't.
Her gaze shifted to the guard, who stayed quiet and didn't interrupt her turmoil.
"So do me a favour, if you could. Carry these until we reach Heavenly Kaatoumo," she said.
"I would carry them, no problem," he replied without a second thought, understanding her emotions.
She never looked like this. She… she's hurting.
Akarum's chest tightened.