Chapter 43: Echoes of a Shattered Past

“…Watasio, please stop staring at me like that.”

“…Please, do not keep staring at me like that.”

“Oh, I’m sorry. It wasn’t my eyes that caught sight of you…”

“Tch, never mind. No one’s ever seen me that way—I’ve grown used to it.”

“Tch, never mind. No one understands me. I’m accustomed to it now.”

A deep, indescribable scar haunted his left eye.

He had loved his hysterical mother despite her volatility, though she once struck him with a shard of pottery, declaring, ‘I can’t stand that pitiful look in your eyes!’ His maternal grandmother turned him away coldly whenever he visited, and his maternal grandfather clicked his tongue behind his back, deeming him useless.

His great-grandfather disowned him as the woman’s son, his great-grandmother had passed without a word, his paternal grandfather angrily refused to acknowledge him as a grandson, and his paternal grandmother even sent an assassin his way. His illegitimate half-brothers incessantly mocked him as ‘one-eyed’—the list was endless.

Outside the palace, Hiroshihi encountered two generals bearing news.

Under the vast sky, the two unabashed enemy commanders—a weathered veteran and a youthful one, whose strikingly similar features betrayed their kinship—stood before him.

“Ogenki desu ka. Long time no see.”

“How have you been? It’s been ages.”

The veteran general swept his beard aside and laughed heartily. Hiroshihi, honored to meet him, exchanged formal pleasantries before reaching for the horse nearby.

The horse’s neatly groomed mane and its sleek, dark coat attested to its noble breeding. As Hiroshihi ran his hand over its snout longingly, the old general grew agitated and raised his voice.

“Damn, these people are clueless! Hurry inside and tell your lord—if you want your princess, Kakesugi Tsuumi, back, do it quickly!”

“Indeed, the subjects here lack any sense! Rush inside and deliver the message to your lord—if you wish to reclaim Princess Kakesugi Tsuumi.”

“Oh, really? I’ve heard a thing or two about you myself.”

“Oh, is that so? I’ve also caught wind of something about you.”

Even before the famed enemy general who irked him, Hiroshihi idly massaged his jaw.

“Arrogant and undignified—you really have no sense of decorum. It suits you perfectly.”

“Arrogant and lacking manners—that description fits you to a T.”

“You little brat! What did you just say…?!”

“You little runt! What was that you just uttered…?!”

For a moment, as Hiroshihi provocatively scanned the imposing figure of the general, a sly smile played on his lips.

“Just kidding. Surely you’re not that worked up, are you?”

“Just a joke. Aren’t you getting a bit too excited?”

Hiroshihi hurriedly ushered them into the palace—after a long journey, a grand feast was underway inside.

Before Lara could fend them off, a swarm of palace maids surged in, seizing her to attend to her bathing and dressing. Her soaked dress needed drying, leaving her in no choice but to accept their help.

They fussed over her attire, debating what suited her best before dressing her in a crimson silk gown. After neatly securing a peculiar golden sash around her waist and smoothing the pleats under her arms, they finished their work with careful precision.

Donning a kimono—a style from another world—Lara immediately set about styling her hair. Instead of bluntly cutting her bangs, she adorned them with six golden hairpins.

Her side locks were curled regally like a warrior’s mane, and her back was intricately bound with golden cords and silk, accented by dozens of hairpins. The weight of her elaborate hairdo nearly made her head tip backward.

Guided by her attendants, Lara entered the palace’s inner celebration. A vast tatami floor unfolded before her, culminating at a table where three chimpanzee generals sat. The moment Lara stepped in, the eldest general turned his gaze sharply.

“Come here and pour some sake. Quickly!”

“Step over here and serve the sake. Hurry up!”

A drunken general opened his eyes lazily and motioned to Lara. Meanwhile, Kakesugi Touji, seated at the head, furrowed his brow. Though hidden under unruly hair, his dark eyes flashed with displeasure.

“Lara, your kimono is stunning. Please, have a seat here.”

“Lara, your kimono is exquisite. Sit down here.”

Kakesugi Touji beckoned her closer. Lara, moving gracefully in her geta, cautiously perched beside him. Feeling awkward amid the matured revelry, she focused on the delicate porcelain cup in her hand, where a soft blush of cherry blossoms played on its surface.

“Does the sake suit your palate?”

“Is the sake to your liking?”

“No, it’s delicious.”

Lara looked up with a gentle smile as she sipped the sake. At that moment, the veteran general, clearly intoxicated, widened his eyes in shock—he had overstepped by touching the King’s woman.

“I’m sorry. Please forgive my rudeness.”

“My apologies. Kindly excuse my impoliteness.”

“How rude. Is that really how your country apologizes?”

“Such disrespect. Is that customary in your land?”

As Touji’s weighty admonishment echoed, the old general lowered his cup and bowed his head. The atmosphere turned somber in an instant; though his face was set in stone, it betrayed no remorse.

Though already irked, Lara knew not to let emotions run wild in such a formal setting. Rising gracefully, she pressed the front of her kimono and offered a respectful bow.

“The sake’s made me lightheaded. I think I’ll take my leave.”

Seeing no reason to remain in such discomfort, Lara left for the courtyard without the aid of any maid. Fate had guided her to this place by chance.

Under the cascading moonlight on the courtyard, a towering cherry blossom tree stood proudly. Beneath its flurry of pristine petals, a solitary figure moved.

“Hah!”

After slicing the air with a long spear in a full circle, a tall, agile figure leaped lightly, then struck a pose as fluid as a fish gliding through water. Raising his spear once more and kicking high, none other than the red-haired chimpanzee Hiroshihi showcased his skill.

“Whoa—!”

At the sight of his precise spear techniques, Lara’s heart skipped a beat. They say humans share 98% of their genes with chimpanzees, and witnessing his agile moves made that claim seem indisputably true—just like a zoo performance.

Following the afterimage of his spear, cherry blossoms cascaded and beads of sweat fell, while his reddish mane swayed gently in the night breeze.

Then it happened. A clump of hair on his palm, meant to prevent slipping, failed him—causing the spear to break free and hurtle toward a man in the distance.

Lara turned to track the flying spear, only to freeze. In its path, a blue-furred chimpanzee—with one long lock covering its eyes—was reading a book. The idea of a chimpanzee reading was astonishing, but the greater shock was the danger it now faced.

“Watch out!”

At that shout, he jerked his head up to watch the incoming spear. Bending backward, he dodged it—only then noticing that it had struck a pillar behind him. Slowly, he straightened as moonlight bathed his flowing blue hair.

A clear, bright light gleamed in his right eye—a look of pure innocence. Though he had always been wary of her, he quickly let his guard down and approached at a measured pace.

“…Tell me, why would someone known only for useless talk rescue me?”

“…Why, of all things, would you save someone deemed worthless?”

Lara was stunned—almost convinced she must be mistaken. In his eyes, shimmering with tears, lay a sorrow she’d never before witnessed in a chimpanzee, leaving her breathlessly awed.

“…And why, of all things, would you save someone as insignificant as me…?”

“…Why would you rescue a nobody like me…?”

“Well, within the Greenbelt, protecting wildlife comes first…”

With a faint smile and soft voice, he stopped short and collapsed to his knees. His body went slack. For the first time ever, the woman who had given his life meaning reached out with such warmth.

“…I’ve never heard such words before in my life—not even from my own mother…”

“…Never before have I heard such things. Not even from my own mother…”

“Soon, you’ll be able to return to the wild. Then, you’ll even reunite with your mother.”

Seeing his tearful state, Lara’s heart ached as she gently patted the chimpanzee’s head.

Clang! The sharp sound of metal clashing echoed across the courtyard. Spotting Touji and Hiroshihi dueling in the distance, Lara immediately dashed toward them.

Though only briefly, spending time with them had warmed her heart—she realized chimpanzees were much like humans, capable of laughter, sorrow, and anger.

“Hiroshihi…! It’s time we settle this once and for all!”

“Hiroshihi…! Let’s wrap this up already!”

With fierce determination, Touji slammed the ground and charged at Hiroshihi.