Chapter 4: Secret Pursuit

Kurumi sat at the table, watching Sae and Rex without taking her eyes off them.
They were sitting across from each other, eating in silence. From the outside, it looked like an ordinary meal—but Kurumi’s instincts told her otherwise. Something important was being discussed between them.

Rex set his fork down and looked at Sae.

“What are you planning to do about that matter?” he asked.

Sae continued eating. After a few seconds, he put his fork down and looked at Rex with those white, almost empty-looking eyes.

“Which matter, sensei?” he asked calmly.

Rex let out a deep sigh.

“Your childhood friend,” he said. “Taro. I’ve heard he’s been having serious conflicts with his own unit lately. Apparently, he even fought with Kai.”

Kurumi listened carefully to the conversation from the nearby table.
There were problems within the cult… serious ones.

If I use my head, maybe I can play a role in this, she thought. If they see that I’m useful… maybe one day I could even become a unit leader. I could grow stronger.

Sae looked straight into Rex’s eyes.

“I can’t concern myself with that right now,” he said firmly. “I have more important matters to deal with.”

Rex sighed once more.

“Very well,” he said.

At that moment, a cafeteria attendant approached them.

“Sir, is there anything else you need?” he asked respectfully.

“No, thank you,” Rex replied.

Then he turned to Sae.

“Don’t forget what Ai taught you.”

Sae nodded slightly. He turned to the attendant and bowed his head.

“Thank you.”

Kurumi thought that Rex was teaching Sae how to be human, step by step.

Rex stood up.

“You don’t need to be a robot to be kind to people,” he said. “Anyway… get up. There’s someone I want to show you.”

Sae stood up as well. Together, they headed toward the door.

Kurumi stayed where she was to avoid being noticed. She waited a few minutes, then quietly stood up and began to walk.

As she moved, her thoughts tangled together.

Sae has a childhood friend… and he’s the leader of the First Division of the Veil of Shadows.
If they’re childhood friends… then what is Ayano doing in this cult?

Her mind was a mess.

I need to keep investigating, she decided. And for that, I’ll follow them.

Sae and Rex turned right. Kurumi followed at a distance, hiding as she went.

Eventually, the two stopped in front of the cult’s infirmary.

Kurumi hid behind a wall.

Why the infirmary?
What could they be doing here right now?

Sae and Rex went inside.

Kurumi waited a bit, then slipped in after them.

Inside, painful groans echoed through the room. Because of the recent gang conflicts, injuries and deaths had increased. The air was heavy, filled with the smell of medicine, blood, and despair.

Kurumi peeked from behind the wall.

Sae and Rex were standing in front of a glass partition, looking at an injured girl lying on the other side. The girl had bright blond hair. Her face, her arms, her body—she was covered in wounds.

Rex placed his hand on the glass.

“This girl,” he said, “is the sister of a friend of one of the soldiers in your division. She’s been here for five days. The healers have done everything they can to wake her up, but… she hasn’t responded at all.”

Kurumi covered her mouth with her hand in shock.

As Sae and Rex stood silently in front of the glass, a man’s voice suddenly rang out.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing here?!”

His voice trembled with rage and pain.

“How could you fail to protect my daughter?!” he shouted. “Isn’t this supposed to be the only safe place in Ayano?! Then how did my daughter… how did she end up LIKE THIS?!”

Rex lowered his head.

Sae hesitated for a moment. He looked into the man’s eyes. Then at the injured girl behind the glass… and he lowered his head as well.

The man continued, crying as he spoke.

“Don’t we pay taxes so you can protect us?! If my daughter is going to end up like this… then what’s the point of all the farming we do to supply you with food?!”

His voice broke.

“What does bowing your heads fix now?” he said. “I already lost my wife…”

He wiped his tears.

“Leave,” he whispered. “I don’t want to see you anymore.”

Kurumi was frozen behind the wall.

This isn’t Rex’s or Sae’s fault, she thought. But they’re still bowing and apologizing… why?

Rex spoke, his head still lowered.

“Sae,” he said, “we will soon fight Dravok. To protect innocent people. To offer them a free life.”

He paused.

“I know you fight for revenge,” he said. “But don’t let your eyes become so blinded by revenge that you can no longer see innocent people.”

Sae raised his head.

“I understand, sensei,” he said. “I’ll do everything I can.”

Kurumi left the infirmary without being noticed.

As she walked outside, her heart felt heavy.

The gangs within the cult… Dravok… Taro’s betrayal…
There were too many problems.

I will help Sae and Rex, she decided. No matter the cost.

When she returned to the cult residence, Ai opened the door with a smile.

“Welcome back, Kurumi,” she said. “You seem to have gotten used to this place.”

Kurumi bowed her head.

“Yes, ma’am. Thank you again for allowing my sister and me to stay here.”

Ai looked at her lowered head.

“Lift your head, Kurumi,” she said gently. “It’s really no trouble at all.”

At that moment, Amy walked over with slow steps.

“Welcome back, sis!” she said cheerfully. “Look, Ai made me a crown!”

On Amy’s head was a beautiful crown made of neatly arranged flowers.

Kurumi smiled.

“You look lovely,” she said.

Amy hugged her.

“Hehe, thanks!”

Footsteps echoed from the living room. Katori had arrived.

He looked at Kurumi and Amy.

“So, Kurumi,” he said. “You didn’t come to training today. What were you up to?”

A few drops of sweat trickled down Kurumi’s forehead.

“Well… I didn’t really do much,” she said in a shaky voice. “I just walked around a bit. Yeah… just walked around.”

Katori gave her a suspicious look, then shrugged.

“Alright,” he said. “I’ve got some business tomorrow. I won’t be able to come to training in the morning.”

Kurumi, stroking Amy’s head, asked in surprise:

“Huh? What kind of business?”

Katori sat down at the table.

“It’s a long story,” he said. “I’ll tell you later.”

He pulled his plate closer and began eating.

Kurumi was suspicious but didn’t push the issue. She sat at the table with Amy and Ai. They continued eating together.

But Kurumi’s mind was elsewhere.

‘If my daughter is going to end up like this… what’s the point of the farming we do to feed you?’

Those words pierced her heart.

People were supplying food to the cult soldiers because they were afraid. That thought hurt Kurumi deeply. The lands of Ayano were suitable for farming, but because of Dravok, only a small area could be cultivated.

Kurumi whispered:

“I have to do everything I can…”

Ai smiled.

“Did you say something, Kurumi?”

Kurumi flinched, dropping her fork.

“Hah—n-no! I didn’t say anything, ma’am,” she said hastily. “I was just thinking to myself.”

Ai nodded.

“Alright. If something’s on your mind, don’t hesitate to speak up.”

Kurumi thanked her.

After dinner, everyone went to their rooms.

Kurumi and Amy lay down in their beds.

Amy smiled as she pulled the blanket over herself.

“Today was the happiest day of my life, sis.”

Kurumi stroked her head and kissed her forehead.

“Really?” she said. “If you go to sleep early, we can do more nice things tomorrow.”

“Okay!” Amy said, immediately closing her eyes.

Kurumi stared at the ceiling.

“Tomorrow is going to be a long day…” she whispered.

And she closed her eyes.