⚔️ KURAZEN
Chapter 2: The Crying Prophecy
The morning mist covered the village like a thin white veil.
Hayoto stood quietly outside his home, preparing for the hunt. He tightened the strap of his katana, checked his bow, and adjusted his gear with calm precision. His movements were steady—like someone already used to danger.
"Hey! Hayoto!"
A small voice called out.
A little girl ran toward him and stopped right in front of him, slightly out of breath.
"Will you catch a bunny… but alive? Please?"
Hayoto looked at her for a moment, then nodded.
"…Yeah. I'll try, Alice."
Her face lit up with joy before she ran off.
But the peaceful moment didn't last.
Villagers began gathering nearby, their expressions tense.
"Don't go into the forest alone," one elder warned.
"Zanami have been appearing more frequently."
"At least take someone with you," another added.
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
Then someone said it.
"Yuzu should go with him."
A boy slowly stepped forward from the group.
Messy hair. A bright red nose. And a face filled with pure fear.
Yuzu.
"…Why me?" he muttered weakly.
No one listened.
They pushed him forward.
"He's the one from the prophecy."
"They say he'll awaken Kurazen someday."
Yuzu froze.
"…ME?! That's not true!"
His voice cracked instantly.
"I'm just a coward! That's all I am! I don't have any power!"
His hands trembled.
"I just want a normal life… with Yanami…"
But the villagers didn't change their minds.
Moments later, Hayoto and Yuzu were seated on a Yali—a large beast used for travel, much like a horse.
It had been given to Hayoto by his father before he left for war.
Since then… no one had seen him.
No one knew if he was alive.
The Yali let out a low sound as it began moving toward the forest.
---
The deeper they went, the heavier the air became.
The forest felt wrong.
The trees twisted unnaturally, and the shadows didn't stay still.
Then—
Zanami.
One appeared.
Then another.
Then many.
Yuzu instantly grabbed Hayoto's arm.
"I-I hate this place…"
Hayoto glanced at him.
"…Are you really the prophecy guy?"
Yuzu snapped.
"Noooo!!"
"They got it all wrong! I'm just a coward!"
"I just want to live peacefully with Yanami!"
His voice broke as tears formed in his eyes.
Hayoto sighed.
"…What a crybaby."
Yuzu stayed frozen behind him.
---
A Zanami lunged forward.
Then another.
Hayoto stepped ahead—alone.
Steel flashed.
Arrows flew.
His movements were fast, clean, and precise.
One after another, the Zanami fell.
Yuzu could only watch from behind, shaking.
"…He's insane…" he whispered.
Within minutes, it was over.
Silence returned.
Hayoto stood alone among the fallen.
---
Deeper into the forest, they found a wild boar.
Hayoto didn't hesitate.
The fight was quick but intense.
Then—
The boar collapsed.
Yuzu stared in disbelief.
"…Let's go back," Hayoto said calmly.
---
The sun began to fade as they made their way back.
For a while, neither of them spoke.
Then—
"…We should fry it," Yuzu said.
Hayoto glanced at him.
"Huh?"
"The boar. Fry is better."
Hayoto shook his head.
"No. Stew is better."
"Fry tastes better!"
"Stew feeds more people."
They glared at each other.
"Crispy is life!"
"Nutrition matters."
"You don't understand food!"
"You don't understand survival."
The argument continued the entire way back.
---
Suddenly, a small movement in the bushes.
A bunny.
"WAIT!" Yuzu shouted.
They both jumped down and rushed toward it—
But it escaped instantly into the forest.
"…We'll catch one tomorrow," Hayoto said.
Yuzu sighed.
"…Yeah…"
The sun finally disappeared.
---
When they returned, the villagers rushed toward them.
"You're back!"
"What happened?!"
Yuzu leaned toward Hayoto, whispering urgently.
"…Please…"
"What now?"
"Say I killed the boar…"
"…Why?"
"I need to impress Yanami…"
Hayoto stared at him for a moment.
"…You're unbelievable."
Yuzu lowered his head.
"…Please…"
After a pause, Hayoto sighed.
"…Fine."
---
Hayoto stepped forward.
"…yuzu killed the boar."
The village fell silent.
Then—
"WHAT?!"
Shock spread everywhere.
But they believed it.
Because Yuzu—the one tied to the prophecy—was standing there.
From the crowd, Yanami watched quietly.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
She didn't believe it.
She knew the truth.
---
That night, the village gathered around a warm fire.
A large pot of boar stew was shared among everyone.
Laughter filled the air.
For a brief moment, everything felt peaceful.
Yuzu sat beside Hayoto.
"…Thanks," he whispered.
Hayoto didn't respond.
He simply stared into the fire.
---
"Hayoto!"
Alice ran up again.
"Did you get the bunny?!"
Hayoto looked at her.
"…No."
Her expression fell.
"…We didn't."
He crouched slightly.
"…Don't worry, Alice."
"I'll catch one tomorrow."
She looked at him for a moment—
Then smiled again.
"…Really?"
"…Yeah."
The night continued under the quiet sky.
For now, the world felt calm.
---
End of Chapter 2