Chapter 12: weakness turns into perfection

The massive door creaked open slowly, groaning under its weight as the ancient hall shuddered with the echo of its hinges. As it opened, a wave of hanging dust and dim light spilled inside, as though the place itself was breathing after a long suffocation.

Y entered with steady steps despite his exhaustion, the marks of battle etched clearly across his body. Every movement sent faint echoes rippling through the vast chamber. In the heavy silence, he lifted the massive crystal high and released it into the air.

With a swiftness that belied his frame, the blacksmith reached out and caught the crystal with flawless precision before it could fall. At the moment of contact, a faint flash of light burst forth, followed by a subtle pulse that made the onlookers instinctively step back. Murmurs of astonishment rippled among them, while Y merely glanced at his injured hand and spoke in a weary tone:

— “My apologies… but is there a healer?”

A smile of admiration curved across King Ragnar’s face as he watched from his throne. His deep voice carried through the chamber:

— “It seems you’ve returned from a great battle, Y.”

Then he barked a sharp command, his voice booming through the hall:

— “Summon the healer at once!”

His gaze shifted toward the blacksmith.

— “What say you, Thoram?”

The blacksmith stepped forward with measured confidence, the ring of his metal boots striking the stone floor. His seasoned eyes examined the glowing crystal, still pulsing with quiet light as if a heart beat within it. He traced his fingers across its surface as though reading its history, then declared firmly:

— “It’s perfect… at last, the pure material. I can finish the weapon.”

(Then, turning briefly to Y, he added:)

— “But time presses us… I’ll need no more than three days.”

At that moment, the healer rushed in, breathless, his hurried footsteps cutting through the silence.

— “You summoned me, my lord?”

The king gestured without hesitation.

— “See to Y’s hand immediately.”

The healer approached Y, inspecting his arm with care, sweat gleaming on his brow beneath the torchlight. His voice quivered with concern:

— “It’s completely shattered… what on earth were you fighting?”

Y answered calmly, raising his other hand to point at the door:

— “That man.”

The hinges groaned once more, the door swinging wide with a resonant screech… and through it stepped a figure whose presence radiated an undeniable authority.

Garb—his body massive, his features carved by a thousand battles, a short beard upon his chin, and auburn hair flowing with each heavy stride. With every step, the colossal hammer at his side thudded like a heartbeat, not merely a weapon of war, but a symbol of power steeped in silence and history.

A suffocating hush fell across the hall; even a torch upon the wall sputtered out, as though afraid to remain lit.

The healer stared, eyes wide with disbelief, whispering hoarsely:

— “Garb…?!”

King Ragnar rose stiffly from his throne, his steps reverberating like drumbeats as he advanced slowly toward the man thought long lost to time. He searched his eyes for a long moment before speaking, his voice low, torn between reproach and longing:

— “Where have you been… all these years?”

Garb bowed his head slightly, speaking with respect:

— “I am sorry… I left the kingdom in your care, and I accept the burden of that choice. But what I did… I had to do.”

Their eyes locked in a silence thick with weight, while the crystal in Thoram’s hands pulsed gently, as if bearing witness to the birth of a new chapter in the tale.

Ragnar fixed his gaze on Y and said gravely:

— “So… I see. The Demon King was behind all of this.”

Y replied coolly, his voice laced with both irony and curiosity:

— “That’s the third time I’ve heard of this Demon King… perhaps I should pay him a visit someday.”

The healer finished binding Y’s hand, then stepped back with a serious expression.

— “The treatment is done. Believe me… you’re lucky to still be alive after crossing blades with Garb.”

But Garb interrupted with a faint smile:

— “On the contrary… he was my equal. If not for that beast’s interference, I would’ve walked away far more wounded.”

A deep, contemplative look settled over Ragnar’s face.

— “You still have some time before your weapon is ready. Go now, rest… and I suggest visiting the hot springs in the Samurai Kingdom.”

Y dipped his head slightly in thanks.

— “I appreciate the advice.”

With calm, measured steps, he left the hall—leaving behind an echo of silence and unanswered questions.

Once Y had vanished from sight, Ragnar turned to Garb.

— “Now we can finish our conversation.”

Garb spoke earnestly, a note of bewilderment in his voice:

— “Who is this human? He uses dwarven techniques with uncanny precision… did one of you teach him?”

Ragnar and the blacksmith Thoram exchanged glances before the king answered:

— “He only arrived in the kingdom today.”

“What?” Garb exclaimed in shock.

— “Then who taught him?”

Thoram stepped forward confidently.

— “He taught himself. He came to my forge, watched the technique twice… and mastered it.”

Garb frowned, puzzled.

— “And his magic? He never cast a single spell against me.”

Ragnar laughed heartily.

— “That’s because he has no magic at all.”

Garb’s voice trembled with disbelief:

— “You mean to tell me… I struggled against a human with no magic, who relied only on his fists… and still managed to see through my techniques?”

Ragnar answered solemnly:

— “As Regon once said… this man is different.”

Garb muttered under his breath, almost to himself:

— “A fierce warrior… and yet kind. A rare combination indeed.”

…

Outside, Y stepped out of the palace to find his companions waiting. He allowed a faint smile to cross his face.

— “Did I keep you waiting?”

Kaguya hurried toward him, her voice filled with concern:

— “Don’t worry about us… how’s your hand now?”

Y lifted his once-injured hand and waved it lightly.

— “As good as new… it’s as if it was never broken.”

But suddenly, he froze. His eyes narrowed as he noticed something among them. He stared intently and asked:

— “And who is this?”

Aris smiled knowingly.

— “I knew it… you really can see spirits.”

She gestured toward the transparent figure of a girl beside her.

— “This is Rin, a friend of Sirin. She’s a ghost searching for her sister… and she wishes to stay with us for a while.”

Y nodded calmly.

— “I see… then welcome to the group.”

He turned back to his companions and added:

— “Let’s go. I could use a little rest.”

Aris smiled warmly.

— “A good idea… you’ve been fighting nonstop since you arrived in this world. Rest won’t hurt you.”

Kaguya raised her hand with a playful suggestion:

— “I recommend the hot springs… they’re in my kingdom.”

She chuckled softly, then added:

— “Even Ragnar said the same thing.”

The scene shifted to the Samurai Kingdom.

Steam rose from the hot spring, veiling the quiet surroundings. Y sat immersed in the water, eyes closed, his face carrying a rare calm he had not known in a long time.

Another man entered the spring, his deep voice breaking the stillness:

— “Is the water to your liking?”

Y, without opening his eyes, replied softly:

— “It’s perfect… this is the first time I’ve ever set foot in a hot spring.”

The man chuckled lightly.

— “I’m glad to hear that.”

Y opened his eyes slightly, studying the man.

— “I’ve heard you’re a guild master,” the man continued.

Y: “Just a name… freedom is above all.”

The man smiled faintly.

— “Freedom, then…”

Silence fell again, broken only by the gentle ripple of the water.

Y tilted his head slightly.

— “You’re Kaguya’s father, aren’t you?”

The man raised an eyebrow in mild surprise.

— “Did someone tell you that?”

Y: “No. But your aura is much like hers… though quieter. Sharper.”

A thin smile crossed the man’s lips.

— “That’s true. My name is Raiden… I am the Emperor of the Samurai.”

He eased himself into the water beside Y.

Raiden: “I wanted to thank you for training my daughter.”

Y: “It wasn’t training… just a few pointers.”

Raiden let out a short laugh.

— “Pointers, then… in any case, thank you. I had hoped to cross swords with you today, but it seems you have far greater battles ahead.”

Y: “Thank you for understanding. You may have your fight after you aid L and the Vampire Clan.”

The Emperor’s face grew stern.

— “In that case… things may become complicated.”

Y: “What do you mean?”

Raiden: “I don’t know the full details, but once… humans and vampires shared good relations. Then someone interfered, and everything changed. Now it is forbidden for humans to even approach their lands.”

Y, calmly: “That explains the hostility in that man’s eyes.”

Raiden: “You may find yourself fighting him…”

Y (cutting in): “I prefer to see my enemies for myself.”

Raiden laughed shortly.

— “Be careful… it’s a battle not easily won.”

Y: “Thanks for the warning.”

He rose from the spring and left, water trailing from his steps.

…

In the castle, Y walked with quiet strides, his gaze never leaving the moon suspended high above.

A woman’s voice broke the silence:

— “I’ve never seen anyone stare at the moon for so long… as if you’re seeing it for the first time.”

Y turned slightly, revealing a graceful woman, her eyes sharp yet her voice soft.

— “Forgive me,” she said. “I am Akime, Kaguya’s mother… the Empress of the Samurai. You are Y, aren’t you?”

Y: “That’s right… an honor.”

She studied him intently, then smiled faintly.

— “I wanted to ask you a question. But when I saw you… I already knew the answer.”

Y: “And… did you like the answer?”

Akime: “I thought you were fit to be a great king… but I was wrong. Kings wear masks to hide themselves. You, however… are different.”

Y: “Not different… only tired of pretending.”

He sighed softly, then continued:

— “In my original world… I had to flatter those I despised, cooperate with people I couldn’t trust—just to fulfill my father’s dream. And I did. But the thing that haunted me most… was my helplessness there.

We were like birds without wings: either a devastating fall… or a painful climb.

In that world, people hid everything behind masks—fatigue, sorrow, even love. They smiled in public… but in secret, they only cared to see you fall.”

Akime lowered her gaze.

— “What a life… and I thought our world was the cruelest.”

Y: “Because of that life, I gained a skill. I can read people’s feelings—their grief, their anger, their lies. From their voices, from their eyes.”

Akime: “So that’s why you called Kaguya your little sister…”

Y: “When I first met Aris, I saw the longing in Kaguya’s eyes. That’s why I said it. Words are weapons… they can end a war, or destroy a kingdom.”

Akime: “Your path will not be easy… this kindness of yours will force you into hard decisions.”

Y: “Since coming to this world, I decided never to compromise. I will live free… and pursue my purpose.”

He walked past her, his voice steady as he left:

— “As long as I don’t surrender… there will always be a chance to win.”

Akime stood frozen, her hand pressed to her chest, tears slowly trailing down her cheeks.

She whispered:

— “They always say villains are forged by sorrowful pasts… but what of this man? Even through suffering and loss… my daughter’s feelings still mattered to him.”

Raiden stepped beside her, resting a hand on her shoulder.

— “The harsher the journey… the stronger one becomes.”

Night was at its quietest, when Kaguya and Aris strolled through the palace’s back garden. A gentle breeze stirred the tips of the trees, and the moonlight bathed the place as though it were dusted with silver.

Aris halted, her gaze fixed on the high balcony at the end of the path. With quiet certainty, she said:

— “I knew he’d be there.”

On the edge of the lofty balcony sat Y, staring at the moon in silence. The light seemed to pour directly into his eyes, as though he wasn’t gazing at the sky at all… but at something far beyond it.

Kaguya approached with soft steps, stopping beside him, and whispered:

— “The moon is beautiful tonight, isn’t it?”

Then, with a faint smile, she added:

— “And I mean that literally.”

Y smiled without turning his head. His voice was calm:

— “So… the moon can truly look beautiful.”

He kept his eyes on the sky and murmured:

— “The symbol of the moon is carved everywhere… even on the royal palace.”

Kaguya blinked in surprise.

— “What does that have to do with the moon?”

He answered as though connecting invisible threads:

— “Your name… Kaguya. It means princess, or Princess of the Moon. The moon is your clan’s emblem.”

She fell silent for a moment, then whispered:

— “I never knew that.”

The three of them sat together, leaning their backs against each other. Kaguya tilted her head to the heavens and asked:

— “I thought you loved the moon.”

Y shook his head slightly.

— “I don’t think I love it… nor do I hate it. It just shares my silence… it has witnessed all my sorrow.”

Aris studied his face, then said softly:

— “So that’s why you seek dark, quiet places instead of joining others in their celebrations?”

Before he could answer, fireworks burst into the sky, scattering colors overhead. Yet the three of them remained in their own quiet world.

Y spoke:

— “I don’t dislike celebrations… I just prefer to watch them from afar. But someday… I’ll step into them myself.”

Kaguya smiled faintly and whispered:

— “You really are strange. You seem to know everything, always saying the right words… but right now, you look more human than ever.”

Y sighed, his gaze returning to the moon:

— “That doesn’t mean I’m wise… it only means I’ve made many mistakes.”

Kaguya’s eyes widened.

— “I can’t picture you making mistakes.”

Aris laughed.

— “I agree with her.”

Kaguya lowered her gaze for a moment, then admitted shyly:

— “And… you’re the only one who noticed my sadness, even though I never told anyone. When you said before the king that I was your little sister… you have no idea how happy that made me.”

Aris grinned, glancing at Kaguya:

— “I’ve never seen you this embarrassed before.”

Warm silence lingered, while the sky rained shifting colors every second.

Kaguya whispered:

— “I remember when Aris told me about you… she said you were the only one who treated her with kindness.”

Aris smiled, looking straight at Y:

— “Yes… he’s the person I’ve loved the most.”

⸻

Flashback — Two years earlier

Kaguya gasped.

— “What? You and Y… you’re not siblings by blood?”

Aris smiled gently.

— “That’s right. But let me tell you how it all began.”

She closed her eyes briefly, recalling a distant time:

— “I used to work in a gaming café. The place was like a shelter—some came to play, others stayed for days, even sleeping there. I carried trays, endured the shouting of customers… just for a meal at the end of the day. Sometimes… I was forced to sleep outside the café as punishment.”

She took a breath, then continued:

— “One day, Y walked in. He sat in the farthest corner, speaking to no one. The manager approached him, but Y said calmly:

‘I won’t speak to anyone… except that girl.’

And he pointed at me.”

Aris laughed softly at the memory.

— “The manager tried to argue, but suddenly a voice thundered from the back:

‘Didn’t you hear what he said?’

It was the café owner. He glared at the manager and said sternly:

‘I think I made a mistake hiring you. You’re fired.’

Then he turned to me:

‘What’s your name?’

I said, Aris.

He nodded:

‘Aris, take care of this one. He chose you, specifically.’”

Her smile softened.

— “Y sat at a machine, turned on the one next to him, and said:

‘Come… I need a partner.’

That was the happiest sentence I’d ever heard in my life.”

Her voice trembled slightly as she went on:

— “I asked him: why me?

He replied: the real question is… why not you?”

She chuckled faintly, then continued:

— “We played together, fought monsters side by side… I wished that moment would never end. But he left at midnight, only saying: ‘I’ll be back tomorrow.’

And I waited… and he came.”

Her gaze dropped.

— “One day, he brought me to a hotel and gave me my own room. A week later, he told the café’s owner:

‘This is Aris. I want her in your special team. She’s my little sister. Take good care of her.’

I couldn’t hold back. I hugged him and cried like a child. I thought the room was the best day of my life… but that moment? I’ll never forget it.”

⸻

Back to the present

Aris looked up at the sky glittering with fireworks and whispered:

— “I feel an odd sense of peace when you’re around…”

Kaguya said shyly:

— “I feel the same.”

Y turned to them, a faint smile touching his lips.

— “That’s good.”

Three Days Later…

The sound of hammering still echoed through the forge, unbroken for three whole days.

Each strike shook the workshop, pulsing with a strange magic that felt like the heartbeat of the earth itself.

Ragnar:

— He’s been at it this entire time…

Garb (smiling):

— I haven’t seen him this focused in years.

The blacksmith’s son, Thoram’s boy, stepped forward:

— Yes. He asked that no one disturb him… said he needed absolute concentration.

Y appeared with his usual composure, speaking calmly:

— I didn’t expect to find you here… Ragnar, Garb.

Ragnar:

— I received countless reports about a sound that never stopped… I came to see for myself.

Suddenly, everyone felt an overwhelming surge of energy coming from inside the forge.

The hammer fell silent… and a strange stillness descended, like the moment before a storm.

At last, Thoram emerged, holding in his hands two glowing blades, pulsing as if alive.

The weapon was a pair of twin sabers, medium in length, slender, and slightly curved inward—designed not as separate swords, but as one extension of their wielder’s arms.

The metal was smooth and pale, like hardened ice, gleaming with a sharp reflection, free of ornament.

Along each blade ran a precise, carved line, ending in a razor-thin edge—a weapon made for speed, not for show.

They were neither oversized nor mere daggers. Their length granted Y the advantage of seamless cuts, flowing between offense and defense.

The inner edges were deadlier than the outer, making spinning, fluid motions all the more lethal.

The grip was simple and firm, made of a dark, non-reflective material, comfortable to hold for long battles.

No excess decorations, only a design that whispered one truth:

This was a weapon forged for survival… for swift killing… for deadly defense.

Thoram (handing the blades to Y):

— I’ll wager on humans once more… Don’t disappoint me.

Y:

— Thank you… for your trust.

He took the weapons, and their glow faded into his hands.

Suddenly… the alarm bells roared across the kingdom.

Soldier:

— Ghouls! The ghouls are attacking the western gate!

King Ragnar (firmly):

— All soldiers to their positions! Prepare for battle!

Ragnar, Garb, and Y turned their gaze to the horizon, where a wave of ghouls surged closer.

Then Kaguya and Ares appeared.

Kaguya:

— We’ll help with the defense.

King Ragnar:

— Ready my horse… I’ll fight alongside you.

Y (stepping forward with steady strides):

— Can you pull back the soldiers? …I want to test my weapon.

Ragnar studied him for a moment, then gave the order:

— All soldiers… withdraw.

Y (turning to Kaguya and Garb):

— Touch the weapon… quickly.

Kaguya glanced at Ares hesitantly, then stepped forward, laying her hand on the blade.

— This… this weapon absorbs magic!

Garb (astonished):

— He’s right… it devours it completely.

Y (calmly):

— That’s enough.

He leapt from the high walls, landing alone before the army of ghouls.

Driving one blade into the ground—

In an instant, massive stone walls erupted from the earth, encircling the ghouls from every side, then closing inward… forming a colossal dome that trapped them inside.

The ghouls clawed and slammed against the stone, but the walls regenerated with each strike, pulsing like they were alive.

Everyone looked on in awe.

Garb (whispering):

— This… this is magic… but completely different.

Y raised the other blade skyward.

The clouds gathered above, darkening as the dome cracked open at the top.

A massive bolt of lightning descended from the heavens, slamming into the dome’s center—

and exploded with devastating force.

Silence.

King Ragnar (stunned):

— All this… and he has no magic?

Then what would he be… if he truly did?

Thoram — a swordsman without magic… and a blade that devours it. Here, weakness turns into perfection.

⸻

The Next Day – Time of Departure

Y stood prepared to leave. Ares watched him, a trace of worry in her eyes.

— Are you sure you don’t need any help?

He answered with a calm smile:

— Everyone has their own role to play.

Kaguya stepped closer, asking:

— Then what do you need from us?

Y adjusted his grip on the blades, his voice steady:

— I need you two to represent our guild here… and negotiate with the Dwarves and the Samurai. You know our goals.

Ares nodded firmly:

— Count on us.

Y turned, and in a swift motion, set off toward the Kingdom of Mond…

where L awaited him—along with the battle to come.