The group is still traveling. By now, they are once again inside a forest — a much larger one than in the previous chapter. Naki is still unconscious, but he is no longer in immediate danger of dying. Najun has already soaked many handkerchiefs with blood because his Birth-Protection keeps causing nosebleeds.

  Saku: “That’s really disgusting. Stop using your ability all the time. Your behavior is honestly scary.”

  Najun: “I have to make sure we don’t get attacked again. Those weird siblings might still be following us, or other assassins could be after us.”

  Saku: “I think that’s unlikely. The Taira family isn’t stupid enough to send an entire army of assassins after us. That would be way too obvious, and they’d lose credibility at the tribunal.”

  Najun: “Do you really think they care about that? If they eliminate us, there will be no witnesses left who could say it was the Taira family. We just need to be careful.”

  Saku: “And what exactly do you plan to do if you sense enemies?”

  Najun prepares to answer, but realizes he doesn’t actually have one. He stutters a few incomprehensible words but can’t give a clear response to Saku’s provocative question.

  Saku: “That’s what I thought. You have no idea what you’d do if something actually happened. Let me tell you: neither you nor I are great fighters. I can do something with my cherry blossoms, but even that has limits. You only have that hummingbird, and even that isn’t particularly powerful. It can’t even heal Naki’s wounds — only its owner’s — and even then, it does a poor job.”

  Saku: “You’re just wasting your strength, and you know it yourself. You’re only acting like this because you want to feel better.”

  That was the last sentence of their conversation. Najun doesn’t stop and continues using his ability, but Saku’s words leave a mark. Seeking comfort, Najun sits down next to Kogiri, who is sitting outside the carriage on the driver’s seat. It was difficult, but Najun managed to climb up there while the carriage was still moving.

  Kogiri: “I overheard your conversation. I don’t think what you’re doing is pointless, but I don’t fully understand it either.”

  Najun: “What exactly don’t you understand?”

  Kogiri: “You know you can’t do much if things really go south. Even if you warn me, you’re just wasting unnecessary strength, because I notice enemies very quickly myself.”

  Najun: “I just want to do something. I’m really scared of surprise attacks, and without Naki it’s even worse. I know you’re very strong too, but I trust Naki more. I’m sorry.”

  Kogiri: “That’s fine, I understand. But you mustn’t feel vulnerable just because your older brother isn’t there. There will be many situations where you’ll have to fight alone or with strangers, and you need to be ready for that. It’s okay to be worried or scared, but don’t let it become a habit.”

  Najun: “Yeah, you’re probably right. I just wonder how Naki could lose like that. I mean, he’s my big, strong brother.”

  Kogiri: “You shouldn’t think like that. Naki had to fight two of them at the same time, and he was using his training katana. If he had fought with his real katana, he would most likely have defeated them. It would be the same for me if I weren’t fighting with my real weapon.”

  Najun: “Wait… real weapon? Yes I remember his training katana. But can I ask you a personal question: What is your background? Who are you? Why are you so strong?”

  Kogiri: “I didn’t expect that question. Uh, I don’t really like talking about my past. I just trained a lot and have good genes.”

  Najun: “Good genes? Which family do you come from?”

  Kogiri: “I actually don’t know. My parents never really told me our family name. I have a complicated past, but it’s not a proper family story like you’re probably imagining.”

  Najun: “I’ll believe you. Then can I at least know how you came to our family?”

  Kogiri: “That was a few years ago. I was wandering the world — unemployed, without steady work or a goal. In an iron factory, I met your uncle Ino. He saw potential in me and took me in. At first it was only temporary, but as you know, a few years have passed since then.”

  Najun: “I see. Do you plan to stay, or is it still temporary for you?”

  Kogiri: “Who knows.”

  Kogiri focuses back on driving and increases the speed a little. Najun has to hold on tightly so he doesn’t fall off the carriage. In his mind, Najun continues to speculate about what kind of person Kogiri really is. Is he the descendant of a powerful family? A legendary warrior pretending to be a carriage driver? Or maybe he isn’t even human?

  Najun: “[I should take a short break. I think I’ve exceeded my limit. I really did my best… or did I?]”

  Najun falls asleep from exhaustion. He completely passes out. But he isn’t the only one — Kogiri also falls asleep. Although the carriage could technically continue driving on its own at medium power, it’s difficult to let that happen. The carriage overturns and crashes in the middle of the forest. Najun and Kogiri appear unnaturally drowsy — it’s more like the effect of a sleeping drug or something similar. Naki and Saku remain unharmed inside the carriage.

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  Saku: “What happened out there? Did that stupid driver fall asleep?”

  Saku climbs out of the overturned carriage and looks around.

  Saku: “Where are those two idiots? Just wait until I get my hands on you.”

  She finds them — but they’re lying unconscious on the ground, scattered apart. Saku is confused that even the crash didn’t wake them up. No one is so tired that they wouldn’t wake up from something like this.

  Saku: “This isn’t normal. They were drugged or affected by something else. Maybe an ability of one of the Taira family members.”

  Her self-talk is interrupted by heavy footsteps in the forest. She nervously turns around but sees nothing. She holds her fan ready in her hand. Several cherry blossoms have already formed around her. Suddenly, something jumps down from above and knocks her unconscious with a blow to the back of the neck. All members of the group are now unconscious and completely defenseless. The mysterious figure takes all of them and disappears deep into the forest. Later, the person also retrieves the carriage. They are now in a cave-like place. Everyone except Naki is tied to small tree trunks. Naki is laid on a bed made of leaves and sticks.

  Now only three days remain until the start of the tribunal.

  Najun: “Ahh… where am I?”

  Najun is sitting on the ground, tied up, with a blindfold over his eyes. He hears heavy breathing in front of him — someone is breathing directly into his face. Then the blindfold is removed. At first he can’t see anything as his eyes adjust to the light. Then he sees a familiar face. A very familiar face. It’s Aihara — his father — or at least someone who looks exactly like him.

  Najun: “Father? What are you doing here? Why are you tying us up?”

  Before Najun can fully process it, he notices Saku and Kogiri beside him, as well as a revived Naki. They look at him with concern, as if to say, what are you talking about?

  Kogiri: “Calm down, Najun. It’s not what you think. That’s not your father.”

  Najun looks at Kogiri in confusion, completely lost, but listens to him.

  Kogiri: “That’s a man who looks like Aihara. He attacked us because he thought we were vandals. He used sleeping gas.”

  Najun: “But how can there be someone who looks exactly like Father? Is he some kind of doppelg?nger?”

  Saku: “They say there are some people in the world who look identical.”

  Najun: “Yeah, but what a huge coincidence that we’d meet him here. That stinks, if you ask me.”

  Naki: “I honestly don’t really believe it either.”

  Only now does Najun realize that his brother is awake again and feeling better. Inside, Najun feels balanced again — but he knows this isn’t the moment to worry about Naki.

  ???: “Hello. Unfortunately, I am not your father. You may call me Shachio.”

  Najun: “Why should we believe that you’re not our father, Shachio?”

  Shachio: “You’ll just have to believe me. I’m a simple farmer looking for his wife.”

  Najun: “You’re looking for your wife?”

  Najun looks skeptically at the others. He not only looks like his father, but also has the same goal as Aihara.

  Shachio: “She’s currently giving birth to our child. She should be somewhere in a mountainous area. I remember her saying I’d first have to pass through a large forest. I assume this is the one.”

  Naki: “Why were you separated from your wife during such an important situation?”

  Shachio: “My wife lives in her own world. A few days ago, she wanted to walk through this forest with a small group of servants to connect with nature. She believes it helps our child bond with the world.”

  Now everyone looks at him skeptically. They believe him less and less.

  Kogiri: “What happens now? Can you let us go? Or at least remove the restraints?”

  Saku: “Yes, let us go. My wrists already hurt.”

  Shachio looks at them silently and smiles. He turns away and walks around a bit, touching the large leaves of a small tree. He picks up dirt from the ground and throws it around. Suddenly, Saku’s throat tightens — as if someone were choking her. Shachio crushes a flower and turns back around. He no longer looks as kind as before.

  Saku: “I-I can’t… breathe…”

  Kogiri tries to free himself, but the bindings are too tight. He is also being choked now. Najun and Naki as well.

  Naki: “What’s wrong with you? Are you insane—”

  Shachio steps closer and kneels in front of them.

  Shachio: “I can’t let you walk freely through this forest while my wife is somewhere here, vulnerable. What if you really are vandals? And besides, I find it strange that I apparently look exactly like your father. Sounds a bit made up, if you ask me.”

  He tightens the pressure around their throats. Naki and Kogiri suspect this is another plan by the Taira family. He seems extremely protective of his wife — a bit too much for most people, but fundamentally romantic, as Saku would say.

  Najun: “[Am I imagining things, or is this the same ability Father has? He can do this too. Do people who look the same also have the same Birth-Techniques? That would completely contradict our system — the system of families and bloodlines.]”

  Najun can’t summon Bullet. He needs more concentration and calm than he currently has.

  Everyone is certain it isn’t Aihara. While Aihara can be strange when it comes to punishment or jokes, this goes far beyond that. They are closer to death than during the first attack of this journey.

  Kogiri: “We are on our way to Tongyo. We must attend a tribunal. We belong to a powerful family. If you kill us now, you will face serious consequences.”

  Kogiri’s words have an effect. Shachio stops. The group can breathe properly again. Shachio removes the restraints.

  Shachio: “I’m sorry about that. I really thought you meant us harm. I can be very protective — almost to a pathological degree.”

  Saku: “Oh really? You almost killed us.”

  Shachio: “As I said, I’m very sorry. That doppelg?nger story sounded unreal to me, and that’s why I reacted that way. If it helps: Tongyo shouldn’t be far from here. Return to your route and you should still arrive at your tribunal on time.”

  Kogiri: “Well then… thank you for sparing our lives.”

  The group gathers themselves and prepares to part ways with Shachio. Shachio packs his things and heads in the opposite direction.

  Shachio: “Your turbo carriage is over there. I hid it so you couldn’t escape immediately if you slipped away.”

  Shachio: “Oh, before I forget — don’t tell anyone that you saw me here. Not only because of my family, but also for my own safety. If you tell people you saw someone who looks like your father, that could put me in danger. I assume your father has many enemies if he belongs to such a powerful family that even has the right to a tribunal.”

  Everyone immediately agrees.

  Shachio: “Do you understand? Or it could put your father in danger if people think he was seen here. I’ll make sure not to be seen.”

  With those words, Shachio bids farewell to the group and disappears into the darkness of the forest. The group finds the carriage and immediately continues their journey. They all agree not to tell anyone about this and to avoid routes near forests from now on — as forests clearly only bring misfortune.

  Naki: “That was a strange encounter.”

  Saku: “That was a dangerous encounter.”

  Najun: “I think the only truly strange thing was that—”

  Naki: “Go on.”

  Najun: “It was strange seeing someone who looks like Father smile so often. But the moment he tried to kill us… he looked exactly like him. That’s the only strange thing about this meeting.”

  Naki laughs in agreement to break the uncomfortable atmosphere. Najun and Kogiri exchange glances as Kogiri looks back into the carriage. Both are relieved that Naki is awake again — because that means they won’t have another accident like that.