The Forest Falls Silent
Not naturally.
Forcefully.
Like the air itself is waiting.
Hiroto Stares at the Figure
Breathing controlled—
But tense.
The Stranger Smiles Calmly
As if this entire situation means nothing.
"…You react faster than expected."
Hiroto keeps his blade raised
"…Answer the question."
The figure tilts their head slightly
"…You ask too much for someone who's still weak."
That instantly irritates Akari
"…You talk too much for someone hiding their face."
The figure glances at her briefly
Not angry.
Not amused.
Just dismissive.
"…Irrelevant."
Akari clenches her fists
"…Say that again—"
Kenzaku stops her immediately
"…Don't."
Akari looks at him
"…What?"
Kenzaku's eyes remain on the stranger
"…This person's dangerous."
The stranger smiles faintly again
"…At least one of you understands."
Then—
Tamagichi arrives
Without sound.
Without warning.
The atmosphere changes instantly
The stranger's smile fades slightly
"…So you're here too."
Tamagichi steps forward calmly
"…You shouldn't have come."
The stranger responds immediately
"…And yet I did."
A tense silence follows
Hiroto notices something immediately
Tamagichi's posture.
Slightly different.
More cautious.
That alone is alarming
The stranger finally looks back at Hiroto
"…You've drawn more attention than you realize."
Hiroto narrows his eyes
"…Because of the blade."
The stranger pauses briefly
Then chuckles softly
"…So you already know that much."
Akari steps beside Hiroto
"…Who exactly are you people?"
The stranger looks at her again
This time longer.
Then—
"…People who maintain balance."
Kenzaku immediately responds
"…That sounds like a lie."
The stranger's eyes shift toward him
"…Because you only see the surface."
Tamagichi's voice cuts in sharply
"…Enough."
The stranger sighs lightly
Almost disappointed.
"…You always interrupt before things get interesting."
Then—
The stranger takes a step forward
Pressure fills the area instantly
Not overwhelming—
Precise
Like a blade against the throat.
Hiroto grips his sword tighter
The stranger speaks directly to him
"…Tell me."
A pause.
"…What did the blade show you?"
Silence
Hiroto's eyes sharpen
"…Why do you care?"
The stranger answers calmly
"…Because if it has begun remembering…"
A slight pause.
"…then everything accelerates."
That line changes Tamagichi's expression slightly
The stranger notices
And smiles faintly again.
"…So even you're worried."
Tamagichi steps forward
Presence rising sharply now.
"…Leave."
For the first time—
The stranger's smile disappears completely
A tense silence
Then—
"…Very well."
The pressure vanishes instantly
But before leaving—
The stranger looks directly at Hiroto one final time
"…Remember this carefully."
A pause
"…The moment the blade fully awakens…"
The stranger's voice lowers—
cold.
"…the world you know ends."*
And then—
Gone.
To Be Continued