Both Tao and Mitsuri were frozen in place at hearing the title. "Grim reaper of dark". The legend of their village...

  Tao : you are alive!? We thought... We thought...

  Mitsuri : you were considered dead... After that night, everyone who survived left here... We were the only ones who stayed...

  Tao gestured at the ruin.

  "they said you fought the creature who terrorized and made... This"

  Mitsuri continued : and that you died while doing it...

  Sewn mouth : a pathetic lie... To save their dignity against the other assassin cults...

  Tao’s eyes widened at his words. He stepped toward Sewn mouth and clutched his shoulders.

  Tao : W-What do you mean!? You... You are a legend! A myth for the assassins! You can't just dismiss everything like that!!

  Mitsuri clutched Tao's shoulder.

  "Tao..." her grip tightened slightly.

  Before she could speak further, Tao swat her hand away in anger.

  "answer me grim reaper! Why are you dismissing your legend!?"

  Sewn mouth looked at him in eyes. His grip tightened over Tao's wrist.

  "I was a legend... Until I was a nothing..." his voice felt deep, cutting and ancient.

  "what... Do you mean...!?" Tao shouted in anger.

  Sewn mouth : SIT! Both of you...!

  Tao immediately moved few steps back in fear.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  They both whispered : Y-yes...

  As Tao and Mitsuri sat in front of him, Sewn mouth also sat in front of them. His sword resting beside him. Even the stones and trees nearby, seemed to be waiting for the truth to be told from the legend itself...

  Sewn mouth : I am but a thousand years old...

  Mitsuri : H-How's that even... Possible!?

  Sewn mouth : because I'm not a gifted human... I am a monster. A creature not from this world...

  He slowly removed his hood. Letting it fall to his shoulders. His horns completely visible under the light. Alongside his crimson eyes. His outer worldy dark skin and then, his clawed hands.

  Tao seemed to shiver slightly as he saw his body.

  "f-fascinating..." he whispered.

  Mitsuri's eyes widened : fascinating!? Tao he is literally a demon!!

  "hey... That was a bad insult Mitsuri... I'm a monster. Not a demon." Sewn mouth teased her.

  After a long silence, Sewn mouth raised his head, looking at the two.

  "are you both sure you want to hear it? The truth behind a lie you lived all these years?..."

  Tao : I... I think I am ready...

  Mitsuri : we are ready grim reaper. Tell us.

  Shishio : first... Call me Shishio. The name that this village gave me...

  Mitsuri : S-So... The rumors were true... I heard that hundred years ago... This village adopted something ancient...

  Tao continued : an entity of strength, and destruction...

  Shishio touched his blade, as if to confirm their words in his own silence.

  "yes... But that entity wasn't me... It was far worse... And far stronger than me..." his grip tightened around his sheathed blade.

  Tao : tell us! What happened that night!?

  Mitsuri : Tao! Stop pushing Shishio sama!

  Shishio had a faint smile on his face.

  Shishio : it's alright Mitsuri...

  He continued : this blade was given to me when I was seven hundred years old. With this, I became the grim reaper of dark. My ability, allowed me to turn the blade into a powerful scythe...

  Tao jumped from his seat in wonder.

  Tao : so that's where the title of grim reaper came from!

  Mitsuri : Tao... Control yourself...

  Tao smirked : sorry... I'm just joyful seeing my idol.

  Shishio's faint smile faded as he continued.

  "twenty years ago... The blood moon happened... And the village decided to celebrate..."

  "everything went well. We were having fun, everyone were laughing, and I, was playing with the kids..."

  He briefly stopped his words. Tears well in his eyes.

  Tao : Shishio sama...

  "only then... I activated my third eye... The scythe was in my hands... And I couldn't do anything..." he clinched his fists on his lap. His anger and shame, taking over every other emotion.

  "I... I killed everyone... Everyone except the children... I couldn't hold it back... The scythe... Controlled me... I was trapped in my body... Seeing every kill... Every death of every person I liked..." his tears from his eyes and for the first time, the curse didn't stop the emotions. As if it was also mourning with him.

  "You two... Were also playing with me that night... At age of three..." his head fell down in shame, unable to look at them. His teeth gritted each other in pain as his fists clinched further.

  Tao's eyes widened in panic and overwhelming sorrow. His hands gripped the ground, tears falling on the dirt. His scream filled the village. Every thought, every imagination of his idol, shattered and teared apart in a single moment.

  Mitsuri stayed silent. Her lips trembling as her tears fell freely on her lap.

  Tao : No no no! This is a LIE! You are lying!

  He crawled toward Shishio, grabbing his mantle. He looked at Shishio. A desperate plea in his eyes.

  Tao : NO! It's all lie! Tell me you are lying!! PLEASE!

  Shishio : I'm sorry Tao...

  Tao burst into tears again. His fist hitting Shishio's lap in pure agony and suffering. Mitsuri just gritted her teeth in anger, not being able to calm the only person that is important for her...