“What a beautiful morning. The sun is shining and the sky is clear. The grass is greener than ever, the trees seem to laugh, and the air is pure. This is a perfect morning for a quick walk.”

  Naki immediately heads out for his daily walk, which is more like a jog.

  It has now been one week since Shinoa’s death and three days since her funeral.

  Only Aihara, Naki, and members of the branch family were present. None of the other siblings attended. Her grave lies on the estate grounds. There is a separate cemetery for the main family and another for the branch family.

  Naki’s walk always lasts exactly one hour. After that, he returns to the temple and spends the rest of the day training. He has often asked Najun if he wants to join him, but Najun is a late sleeper. He also refused to attend Shinoa’s funeral because he was feeling too unwell. By now, he has completely isolated himself from the family and fallen into a depressive phase.

  Naki tries to cheer him up and goes to wake him every morning.

  “Good morning, sleepyhead. It’s time for breakfast.”

  Naki pulls open the curtains in Najun’s room, letting the sunlight pour in. He opens the windows to let in fresh air, then pulls away Najun’s blanket and pillow.

  “If you don’t listen, you’ll feel it.”

  Najun slowly sits up, fighting for his blanket and pillow.

  “Give it back.”

  “No. You have to get up. You can’t sleep all day. That’s not healthy.”

  “So what? Just let me sleep.”

  “I know you feel terrible because of Shinoa, but you have to keep living. For her. Don’t let her death be meaningless.”

  Hearing these words, Najun gives up fighting and lets go of his bedding before heading to brush his teeth.

  “Maybe that was too harsh of me,” Naki thinks.

  Naki prepares breakfast, and they eat together. Naki eats enthusiastically, but Najun barely touches his food and sits in silence. Naki repeatedly tries to talk to him, but eventually gives up trying to get Najun to socialize.

  “Both of you, to your father. Now!”

  Hina enters the room and gives them the order.

  They go to Aihara and see their uncle Ino and his daughter Saku there.

  “Father, why did you call us here?” Naki asks.

  Before Aihara can answer, Saku interrupts.

  “My mother was murdered. By a filthy murderer wearing a mask. Stop. My pain has not yet faded. I want the truth. Without it, this will be my end.”

  Saku is a very dramatic person and loves being the center of attention. Even though she mourns her mother’s death, she uses the situation to draw focus to herself.

  “Hello, Saku. Long time no see,” Naki greets her with fake cheerfulness.

  “Hello, my dear cousin. You, of all people, understand this emptiness. Now my mother is gone as well—forever. This endless void is like a black hole that spits out negative energy.”

  Saku continues with her strange speeches, but the others ignore her.

  “As she has just told you, my wife is dead. To be precise, she was murdered three days ago—on the same day as the funeral. We found her body last night.”

  “Why did it take you so long to realize she was dead?” Hina asks.

  “She was a very cynical woman. She hid herself from me over the smallest things. But three days was too much. The doctor told us her body had already been dead for three days.”

  They continue discussing the case and come to the conclusion that a murderer is hiding somewhere.

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  “Do you think it was a bounty hunter, or does he have personal motives?” Ino asks the group.

  “I’d say a bounty hunter,” Naki explains. “If it were personal, he would have made a spectacle of it. And honestly, your wife wasn’t the most important person in this family.”

  Ino looks offended by Naki’s conclusion.

  “Right now, we don’t care about the reason,” Aihara says. “What matters is capturing and eliminating this murderer. That’s why I called you here. My sons, I command you to assist your uncle and cousin in eliminating him. I thought this might serve as a distraction after Shinoa’s death, so I hope it helps.”

  Naki agrees immediately. Najun stares blankly ahead and barely manages to nod.

  “But where do we even start—”

  A siren interrupts Naki.

  “Emergency alert! Emergency alert! Two service workers were found dead in the side temple! Both had multiple slash wounds across their bodies and died from blood loss. The incident appears recent!”

  “That’s where we start.”

  Naki and Saku sprint toward the side temple.

  Ino picks up the exhausted Najun and runs as well.

  Naki and Saku arrive first and immediately see the two corpses.

  “How did someone even get in here—there! A broken window. Let’s head that way.”

  They move out, with Ino following, still carrying Najun.

  “Najun, tense your body a bit. You’re turning into a lump if I let go,” Ino complains.

  Najun doesn’t respond. He only thinks about how to escape this mission. It surprises him how little his aunt’s death affects him. The only thing on his mind is the scar on his neck—the scar that will forever remind him of his worst deed.

  After about twenty minutes, they reach a wide clearing with no trees.

  “Do you see anyone?” Ino asks.

  He sets Najun down and takes a combat stance.

  Naki spots movement in the bushes and sprints forward.

  He draws his sword and slashes through them—it’s only a rabbit.

  “Oh wow, Naki found our murderer,” Saku mocks. “Your performance brings me to tears—it really lifts my mood.”

  Her comment is ignored.

  The rabbit runs, then is struck by a gunshot and dies instantly.

  “Hide,” Ino orders, lifting Najun again.

  They take cover behind trees and wait.

  A bullet slices through the air, cutting strands of Naki’s hair.

  “A precise shooter,” Naki says calmly.

  “Don’t show yourselves, or you’re dead.”

  They try to locate the shooter, but more gunfire forces them to stay hidden.

  “I think I know roughly where he is,” Naki says and moves forward, staying behind trees, bushes, and rocks.

  Saku and Ino follow, managing to advance far.

  Najun lags behind, moving slowly.

  “They’re fast… There’s no way he can shoot that far. He must be using an ability.”

  As Najun walks, something approaches from behind. He turns—too late.

  A man dressed completely in white tackles him to the ground. A sniper rifle is strapped to his back. Smiling, he pins Najun down.

  “Ah! Who the hell are you?!”

  “You Sakikos are really stupid. I’m carrying a sniper rifle, and someone just tried to shoot you from long range. Put the facts together.”

  “But how did you get here so fast? You were in the opposite direction.”

  “I’m just very fast.”

  He presses Najun harder into the ground until Najun screams, then starts kicking him in the face.

  “Bullet, pierce him.”

  Bullet, the hummingbird, materializes and tries to fly straight through the sniper’s head—but he casually dodges.

  “Cute bird.”

  Bullet tries again and again but misses. Then it begins draining the man’s energy—and it works.

  “Why do I suddenly feel sluggish? What did that bird do?”

  Bullet returns to Najun and transfers the energy back, healing him.

  “This might actually get fun,” the sniper mutters.

  Before he can attack again, he hears the voices of the other Sakiko members. He hesitates and decides to flee.

  Naki arrives first.

  “Are you okay? I saw someone pinning you down. Was that the shooter?”

  “I think so.”

  “What did he say? Do you know which direction he went?”

  “No.”

  Naki snaps.

  “Do you realize we have to find him? How can you be this demotivated?”

  “You just want to be the perfect son.”

  “No. Someone is murdering our people. I know Shinoa’s death hit you hard—but pull yourself together. Take your time, but stop spreading this negativity during missions.”

  Najun looks at him with suppressed grief.

  “If I could tell you what I did, it would be easier… I didn’t want to—”

  He is interrupted by Naki hugging him.

  “Please talk to me. You can tell me anything. I’m your big brother.”

  Najun returns the hug, but coldly.

  “Aww. I wish I had this kind of relationship with my brother,” Saku interrupts. “Mine is nine years old and aggressive. He doesn’t even care about our mother’s death. Cold—like a hunter who starves.”

  They return to the temple and report everything. Aihara is furious and demands they hurry, or more people will die.

  That night, Najun goes to bed, still thinking about what he has done.

  Bullet tries to cheer him up.

  “Bullet… do you think I’m a bad person?”

  Bullet forms a No in the air.

  “Are you sure?”

  Bullet forms a Yes.

  “Whatever I ask, you just say what I want to hear. You’re bound to me. You’re part of my mind.”

  Najun sits up and holds Bullet in his hand.

  “Can you give me her energy? Maybe I’ll see her one last time.”

  Bullet moves to Najun’s neck and transfers Shinoa’s life energy.

  Najun feels an overwhelming surge of power—like a second soul awakening.

  Suddenly, Shinoa stands before him.

  “Shinoa… I can see you?”

  She doesn’t speak. She just stares.

  “I just wanted to… ask how you’re doing now.”

  She still doesn’t speak and walks closer. Najun sinks deeper into his bed, but she leans to his ear.

  “You are a monster.”

  She dissolves, leaving Najun sobbing. He doesn’t sleep that night.

  In the side temple, Saku brushes her hair while singing a song her mother used to sing.

  “Ah, Mother… who will I share my foolish thoughts and feelings with now? How will I ever find your killer?”

  She suddenly throws her brush out the window and dances around the room.

  “Why didn’t I realize it sooner? The answer was in my beautiful hands this whole time—on my beautiful body.”

  She fans herself dramatically and rushes off to tell her father the idea she should have had all day.