Ponmi sat at the back of the wagon, her legs swinging as she sketched an icy castle in the pages of her book. Her fingers smudged the charcoal as she added jagged spires, lost in the quiet rhythm of the journey.
Across from her, her mother sat with a journal in hand, scribbling intently.
Her father, at the reins, hummed softly, guiding the wagon through the winding path.
Then-
The wagon lurched to a halt.
Ponmi blinked, her grip tightening on her book. Curious, she skipped forward, poking her head out the small window, only for warm blood to splash across her face.
Her giggles froze.
Her father's head tumbled from his shoulders, hitting the ground with a dull thud, rolling among the lifeless bodies that littered the road.
For a moment, her smile remained, lingering like an afterimage. Distant screams rang in the air, fading into a hollow silence.
Slowly, she turned.
Her mother lay sprawled across the floor, a blade in her lifeless grip, crimson staining her wrists.
Ponmi's hands trembled, her fingers curling into her dress as her wide eyes twitched. A looming shadow stretched over her.
A man stood there.
Tall and a wide-brimmed hat concealed his features. In his grip, a dark blade, slick with fresh blood.
The scent of torn flesh and iron filled the air, heavy and suffocating.
Yet amidst the horror, a strange warmth bloomed within her.
Ponmi parted her lips to scream, but no sound came.
#
Mr. Swordsman sat with his head lowered, his form cast in shadow. Across from him, chains rattled as Tame dragged herself forward, her body trembling.
"YOU MONSTER!!"
Her scream tore through the silence, her eyes burning with unshed tears. "DAMN YOU!!"
Mr. Swordsman remained still. His crimson gaze, darkened and distant, seemed lost in the echoes of a past that no longer felt like his own.
That day...
It felt so far away, like a fading nightmare blending into the countless others. Yet, no matter how much time passed, the truth remained unchanged.
"You killed her!" Tame cried, her voice breaking as she clenched her teeth. "The Weeping Swordsman—a man who fell from the heavens, the legend of the Nine Realms—nothing but a bloodthirsty murderer!"
Her chains tightened as she pulled against them, her fury pressing her forward. "I don't give a damn if you're an S-rank or if you came here to save me. I don't know how you've been able to escape justice for so long... But you won't be leaving here alive."
At last, Mr. Swordsman raised his head.
His crimson eyes locked onto Tame's.
"You think you can defeat me?"
Tame's fists shook, but she did not waver. "No. I've heard of your feats. How you levelled hills, burned forests, and slaughtered hundreds without hesitation. But… for the sake of that child you killed, the families you've torn apart, the adventurers who stood their ground only to be cut down—I don't care if I join them, so long as I take you with me."
In a voice barely above a whisper, Mr. Swordsman asked,
"Why do you fight for those you've never met? For people who are already dead?"
Tame exhaled sharply, her eyes unwavering.
"Because I'm human," she said. "And I can't let a monster like you keep walking this world, keep stealing innocent lives. Your death will be a blessing to the Nine Realms."
His chest tightened.
Her words cut deeper than any blade.
She's right. I don't even remember how many I've slain. My purpose has always been hatred… but why?
What changed me?
What made me this way?
He already knew the answer.
The very thing that granted him power. That strengthened his body and concealed his presence beneath a suffocating aura of raw menace.
His gift.
A tremor ran through him as his fist clenched against the cold stone floor. He slowly lifted his gaze to Tame, who still glared at him with unshaken fury.
With a single burst of energy, she was sent crashing to the ground.
Then—
Footsteps.
Heavy, urgent.
Monsters prowled the grand chamber, their grotesque forms moving in chaos. In the midst of it all, a familiar figure darted between them, blade in hand.
Pasta.
The boy chased the creatures with reckless enthusiasm, leaping between debris before finally catching sight of Mr. Swordsman.
He froze.
"You're not looking your best, are you, Mr. Swordsman?"
A slow exhale escaped his lips.
"Just… get me my blade, Pasta."
Pasta gave a wry chuckle, shaking his head as he stepped toward the fallen weapon.
"Glad you're fine too"
#
Ponmi sat quietly at the table, her pencil gliding across the pages of her sketchbook. She paid no mind to the creatures lurking in the darkness, their growls echoing through the chamber.
"Your three hours are up," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath. "Why are you still here?"
Oscar collapsed to his knees. His hands trembled as he pressed them together in a desperate plea.
"We're sorry," he gasped. "Please, just a little of the treasure. That's all we ask."
Ponmi's pencil came to a halt.
"The treasure?" she echoed, finally turning her head toward the glimmering pile of gold.
Her dark diamond eyes widened with fascination.
"Pretty."
A childish skip carried her to the mound, and she reached for a coin.
But her fingers passed right through.
Ponmi frowned. Again, she tried. And again.
No matter how many times she reached out, the gold remained untouched, slipping through her grasp.
Emilia handed the parchment to Bhaa and rushed to Ponmi's side. The monsters growled louder, their forms shifting in agitation, but Emilia remained undeterred.
Without hesitation, she took Ponmi's hand.
A flicker of confusion passed through the girl's eyes.
Though their hands did not truly touch, Emilia guided her, gathering gold coins and placing them in both their palms.
Ponmi's diamond-like irises shimmered as a delighted giggle escaped her lips. She tossed the coins into the air with glee, their golden arcs catching the light.
Bhaa soon joined in, laughing as he hurled handfuls into the sky.
Oscar, still kneeling, could only blink in stunned silence.
Then, as the laughter faded, Ponmi's joy withered.
She floated back, her hands clutching her chest. A strange, distant look clouded her eyes.
"I can feel it," she whispered. "You… you're friends with him."
Emilia's breath hitched. She turned away, her fingers curling into fists.
"Putting two and two together, I can guess what he did," she said, her voice wavering. She bit her lip, her eyes stinging. "I… I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say. Sometimes I feel like I'm finally understanding him. Like I'm getting closer. But then I realize… I still don't know him at all."
She exhaled, voice soft and strained.
"I trust him. But after all this…"
"You still can't believe it," Ponmi murmured, lowering her gaze.
Her small shoulders trembled.
"Mummy and Daddy were good people," she whispered. "So why… why did he do that? We didn't do anything wrong. Right? Right?"
Her voice cracked.
Tears welled in her eyes, spilling down her pale cheeks.
"S-so why did we have to suffer, why us? Why those other people? And why am I the one who returned with this burden? I want to go back, want to go back to Mummy and Daddy. I don't want to be here"
Emilia's lips quivered as the air thickened.
A strange pressure rippled through the chamber, distorting the space around them.
A chorus of voices, low and sickly sweet, slithered through the air.
"Kill him. Kill him."
"Then you can return home."
"Yes… Kill him!"
Ponmi's breath hitched. Her small hands clutched at her head as the whispers twisted into screams. Shadows writhed, slithering across the chamber as the castle trembled, its very structure warping.
Walls twisted. Floors shifted. The entire castle began to change, with upper levels sinking, lower levels rising, and corridors interchanging.
Ponmi's eyes snapped open, wide with horror.
"No! Don't give him the sword!"
She screamed as her body was pulled downward, phasing through the floor in a blur of motion.
Emilia bolted forward, racing down the spiral staircase.
Bhaa followed closely behind.
Still kneeling in shock, Oscar slowly turned his head—his lips parting as he stared at the untouched pile of treasure left behind.
"Don't mind if I do," he said, laughing to himself.
#
Monsters from every dark corner of the castle gathered in the throne room, their piercing eyes fixed on the lone figure standing on the other side. Ponmi hovered in place, her form trembling despite herself. Even in death, the mere sight of that man-made her breath hitch, a nightmare that refused to fade.
She had spent so long preparing for this moment. She sought out monsters and begged for their aid, and in return, they showed her kindness, pledging their strength to her cause. She had a reason. No, it was a duty. And yet, as the moment arrived, her heart ached.
Pasta unsheathed his blade, twirling it with a grin. "I'll back you up, Mr. Swordsman," he said, cracking his neck. "Let's teach this little brat and her monster army a lesson."
Ponmi clenched her teeth. "You can't touch me," she spat. "Your life force can't reach the dead. But that doesn't matter—I'll shatter it. Again and again, until there's nothing left."
Her ghostly eyes flared. "This time, I'll kill you without mercy, you evil swordsman!"
Pasta chuckled, unfazed. "Oh? Look who's finally acting her age. Scared now, huh?"
A metallic clatter rang through the chamber. The restraints that had bound Mr. Swordsman hit the floor, and with a push, he removed the cut section of his cage, landing with a dull thud.
Silence followed.
Dim blue light trickled into the grand throne room, and dull fireflies drifted lazily through the air, casting an eerie glow. It might have been beautiful—until more monsters emerged from the shadows, closing in around Ponmi.
She stood among them, her hands clasped together, gratitude shimmering in her tear-filled eyes. One of the monsters glanced back at her, giving a subtle thumbs-up before unleashing a thunderous roar. The others followed suit, shaking the very foundations of the castle.
Pasta watched the gathering of beasts, his gaze landing on a towering, three-headed goat. "That one's immune to poison, Mr. Swordsman," he said, gripping his sword. "I'll handle the small fry while you take that thing down."
"Stay back," Mr. Swordsman whispered, his grip tightening around his blade. "I'll handle them myself."
"They are more than last time can you handle it?"
Pasta turned to him, startled. His eyes, once a searing crimson, now burned with a deep azure hue.
Before he could react, a brutal force slammed into his gut.
Pasta's body rocketed upward, crashing onto the upper level of the throne room where Emilia and Bhaa had just arrived.
Emilia rushed to his side, steadying him. "Are you okay?"
"Gh... Y-Yeah," he groaned, clutching his stomach. "But Mr. Swordsman... something's off about him."
Emilia's gaze snapped downward. Below them, countless monsters swarmed to protect Ponmi, all standing between her and the swordsman.
Her fingers curled into fists. Just how much did she truly know about him? Even after everything, were they even friends?
Are we...?
She swallowed her doubts and gritted her teeth. "Damn it," she muttered, gripping the railing. "Don't do this, Mr. Swordsman!"
Pasta blinked in confusion as he looked down at the battlefield.
Bhaa stepped forward, his voice urgent. "Leave the kid alone swordsman!"
Ponmi took a step back, her confidence wavering. He can't touch me. Not while he still carries his life force. I'm safe. I have to be.
And then... It went quiet.
Mr. Swordsman disappeared.
Yet, he was still there. It was as if he no longer existed, his very life force vanishing completely, leaving behind nothing but an empty shell.
Ponmi's breath hitched. Suppressing one's aura was one thing—but to erase it entirely?
Impossible.
The monsters sensed her distress and surged forward.
Yet Mr. Swordsman remained unmoving, his fur-lined cape shifting slightly in the breeze. Then, his fingers traced the ragged fabric beneath his cape, gripping it for but a moment before he moved.
A single step.
In an instant, the throne room was bathed in flashing steel.
Blades cut through the air, and with a blur of motion, the monsters fell and slashed apart before they could even react.
Then, in a single bound, he soared toward the three-headed goat.
Steel glinted.
Wings, arms, and legs were severed in an instant.
The beast howled, its wounds already regenerating, but Mr. Swordsman didn't waver. He seized one of its heads and hurled it downward with crushing force.
The castle trembled as the creature crashed through the floor—plummeting into the darkness below.
As the monsters closed ranks before Ponmi, he strode forward with unhurried steps. Though his life force had vanished, the mere sound of his approach sent tremors through their very souls.
Emilia's voice wavered as she watched the merciless slaughter unfold before her eyes. "Sometimes..." she whispered, her fingers clutching the railing. "I forget just how terrifying Mr. Swordsman truly is."
Her breath hitched as she noticed something—something different in the way he moved. It wasn't just her imagination. His steps felt... unlike him. A shiver ran down her spine, and doubt crept into her heart.
"He's not going to do it, right?" she whispered, tears already welling in her eyes as she turned to Pasta. "Right, brother?"
Pasta blinked, confused. "Do what?" he whispered, staring down at the fight. He searched every corner of his mind for a solution, a way to help, a way to stop Mr Swordsman from whatever he planned on doing.
Still.
Was that even possible? Before him was a sight that even the storytellers wouldn't believe. A man fighting countless monsters with no life force, every movement and skill was his very own. Strength, speed, and instincts were not heightened just raw power.
"The gap keeps getting wider by the passing day," Pasta whispered, his fists clenched as he lowered his gaze. "I can't even help Emilia. Maybe he's right all. I am pathetic"
From a cell above, a pair of weary eyes flickered open. Tame gazed down at the pools of blood and flesh spreading behind the swordsman.
Her teeth clenched, her body trembling. This was the man I dared to challenge... A warrior spoken of in legend, untouched by defeat, and immortalized in the songs of bards.
A part of her had admired him like all warriors do.
But now?
Now, she saw no man before her only a demon.
And what she hated most was her own weakness. Her inability to save that child.
Ponmi, frozen in place, felt a bead of sweat trickle down her cheek as memories came rushing back. Blood stains the sand. A sword plunging through her chest. A nightmare she thought she had to leave with until she fulfils her duty.
"HOW?!" Her voice cracked with desperation. "HOW ARE YOU DOING THIS?!"
Blocks and debris fell from the roofs following Ponmi's command. They fired at Hades but he replied with a flurry of attacks, slicing each with effortless precision.
Ponmi bit her lips as she held down her dress.
It should have been impossible. No living being could suppress their life force so completely. No living being…
"What in hell are you?! Just die already!!"
More monsters charged, their roars shaking the throne room.
Yet Mr. Swordsman did not waver. He did not hesitate, cutting through them ruthlessly, and evading their attacks with inhuman speed.
The adventurers and merchants watching from the upper levels screamed, but he remained relentless, each step bringing him closer to Ponmi.
With every inch he closed, the voices in her mind grew louder, the echoes of the dead, the cries of those lost to the past.
Ponmi clutched her head, her screams mingling with theirs.
Until—
She met his gaze.
It felt colder.
Time seemed to slow.
Even if his sword couldn't pierce her, even if she was a phantom, a single snap of the neck would do more than enough.
Mr. Swordsman stepped forward. The ground shattered beneath his feet.
And with a burst of wind, a thick cloud of dust exploded into the air, swallowing everything in a blinding haze.
Hades' hat and fur cape lay discarded on the cold floor, his blade resting beside them. A faint blue light bathed his kneeling form as he held Ponmi close, his arms wrapped around her trembling frame as silent tears fell onto her small shoulder.
Ponmi's eyes welled up before she clenched her teeth. "I hate you," she whispered. Then, with a scream, she pounded her fists against his back. "I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU!"
Her blows seared through his tattered garments, burning into his skin. His back ached with pain, but he did not loosen his embrace.
"I'm sorry," he murmured, his breath warm against her ear.
She ignored his words, continuing to strike him.
Hades coughed violently, blood spilling onto the floor, his body wracked with agony.
"Just die!" Ponmi screamed—until she saw the crimson stain on her hands and froze in place.
Her entire form trembled as she collapsed to her knees, frantically wiping her hands on the floor. "No, no, no, no. Blood—please, no blood. Please…"
She clutched her chest, sobbing.
Hades sat before her, his bandaged chest seared with burns, streaked with blood and sweat.
Ponmi hiccupped between broken cries. "I just... I just want to go home. Please, let me go home," she said, wiping away her tears. "Mommy... Daddy... Please help me. He's too scary, Mummy. I can't do this. Please…"
Hades slowly reached out, his voice barely above a whisper. "Use this."
He offered her his sword, the blade glinting faintly in the dim light. His blue eyes shimmered. "The blood won't touch you this way... and you can go home."
Ponmi's lips quivered as she reached for the weapon, but her hands passed right through it.
Hades smiled softly. He reached out again.
She recoiled at first, but when he extended his hand a second time, his
expression open, sincere… she hesitated.
Then, for the first time in what felt like an eternity, she felt it.
Warmth.
A touch that reminded her she was once alive.
Tears stopped flowing as she grasped his hand.
Guided by him, her fingers curled around the sword's hilt. Slowly, she raised it, the blade trembling as she pressed the tip to his chest.
Hades lowered his gaze, his eyes darkening as he accepted his fate.
Emilia knocked him aside, sending the sword clattering across the floor.
Her voice echoing across the room. "I knew you'd do something this foolish! What is wrong with you guys and sacrificing yourselves?! Just why?!" She turned sharply to Ponmi, her eyes burning with defiance. "Whatever answer you're looking for, this isn't it! Revenge is not the answer!"
Hades collapsed and unconscious as Pasta and Bhaa rushed to his side, worry etched on their faces.
Emilia turned back to Ponmi. "I'm sorry for everything he has done," she said firmly. "He deserves to be punished for it. But I will not let you stain your hands with blood, or let him throw away his life. So rest now. Go home."
Ponmi's dark diamond eyes shimmered, then shattered like glass, revealing a bright green glow beneath.
"...Really? I can go home?"
Emilia lowered her head. "Your duty here is done. There is no one left for you to fight," she said, clenching her fists. "I don't know Hades, nor the things he has done in the past. But"
She bit her lip and shot her head back up to Ponmi. "I do know Mr Swordsman, he may act like he doesn't care but he's a nice person, someone who has saved countless lives, a man who's always there to protect us. I won't let him throw his life away when he'll become better someday"
A small, fragile smile graced Ponmi's lips. She turned toward the light, her form beginning to fade.
"I hope we meet again someday," she said, offering a gentle wave. "We'll play some more."
Emilia hesitated then lifted her hand and waved back.
As Ponmi vanished, Emilia turned to Mr. Swordsman's still form.
What have you been through? Why are you so afraid to live?
There was more to this. She knew it.
Did Bloodborne know? And if he did, had he punished him for it?
More and more questions swirled in her mind. But for now…
She chose to help.
Her brother was just as confused as she was, but even in silence, he helped.
With their combined effort, they freed Tame.
Then, together, they escaped the castle.
#
Mr Swordsman stirred awake in the wagon, his senses dulled by exhaustion. The first thing he noticed was the warmth pressed against him—Emilia and Pasta, fast asleep at his side. His entire body was wrapped in bandages, though the lingering burn of his wounds still gnawed at him.
Outside, voices murmured around a crackling campfire, their whispers drifting through the cold night air.
He shifted, trying to sit up—only for his weakened limbs to betray him. With a sharp thud, he collapsed onto the floor.
Tame stepped in, catching him with ease and settling him back against the wagon wall. Before he could utter a word, she pressed a jug of booze against his lips.
"You had me scared for a second out there," she muttered, taking a swig from her own flask. "It's good you tried to kill yourself."
Mr. Swordsman coughed, his throat dry. "How... am I still alive?"
Tame turned her gaze toward Emilia. "You're lucky, you know that? Having such wonderful companions. Even knowing you're the Weeping Swordsman, they still patched you up, tended to your wounds... and I must say, the young girl has quite the skill with bandages."
His eyes darkened. "...But," he whispered, locking eyes with her, "you still wish to kill me."
Tame exhaled, standing. "And get a bunch of kids upset? I'll pass on being that villain." She shot him a look over her shoulder. "I want to believe you've changed. But if you ever prove me wrong…" Her fingers ghosted over the hilt of her blade. "I'll gladly have your head."
Mr. Swordsman gave a slow nod. "What about the castle?"
"Reduced to rubble," Tame smirked dryly. "That treasure-hoarding friend of yours? Yeah, he's not looking so good. The others managed to escape in time, but he was too busy grabbing imaginary riches. The castle collapsed on him." She shrugged. "We'll take him back to Verdantia, and see if he makes it."
She turned to leave but paused at the wagon's entrance.
"Oh, and one more thing."
Her gaze sharpened. "I know you're strong and all, but don't underestimate the hunters from the Fourth." A heavy silence settled between them. "There's a reason the monsters are running as far away as possible."
Mr. Swordsman said nothing, simply nodding as she disappeared into the night.
He leaned back against the wagon wall, exhaling. His fingers brushed against Emilia's sleeve as she stirred beside him. For now, he remained between the two siblings, their warmth grounding him.
—
The next morning, Mr. Swordsman found himself under siege.
"How dare you pull such a reckless stunt?! Do you have any idea how worried we were?! Just look at you, all beaten up!" Emilia's voice rang through the wagon, her frustration spilling out in an endless tirade. "Can you even imagine what would've happened if you died"
She didn't stop. Not for a second, her voice threatening to collapse the wagon.
Pasta, meanwhile, buried his face deeper into his blanket, trying to steal a few more moments of sleep. Bhaa, unfazed, guided the wagon through the snow, quietly relieved that their swordsman was still breathing.
As Emilia's words echoed across the snowy plains, Mr. Swordsman leaned back, closing his eyes.
Secretly...
He enjoyed it.
For now, at least—this was a reason to stay alive.