Ayame past (2)

Sakura, Theresa and even Higokumaru could feel the intense hatred radiating from Kouro's puple eyes.

What's more, Higokumaru, who was a Herrscher who that ruled emotions could feel a very frightening hatred, like a boundless darkness that swallowed everything.

(E/D: The word 'Herrscher' means ruler. It can also be translated as 'Lawman' who rules by certain laws. Just like Mei, the Herrscher of Thunder, who rules over thunder and lightning, thus earning her the nickname 'Queen of Thunder').

Higokumaru had only ever felt this from someone who lived over 50,000 years ago, moreover, Kouro's puple eyes were exactly the same as 'that person's eyes'. Kouro's figure even overlapped with that person's silhouette and was slightly similar, but she shook her head to get rid of that thought.

"No, there's no way Kouro has a relationship with 'that person'. After all... 'that person' died a long time ago".

Kouro didn't know Higokumaru's complicated thinking, realizing his emotions were leaking out, he immediately apologized, "Ah... Sorry, everyone... I lost control for a moment."

The aura of hatred that radiated around Kouro disappeared after his apology, as if it had never existed in the first place.

Sakura and Theresa just nodded in understanding, different from what Kouro knew, the two of them had traveled the world for over 500 years.

They had witnessed the ups and downs of history both good and bad so Ayame's dark past which they had seen many times did not make them too surprised.

"Please continue." Theresa said.

"Before I continue, can you promise to keep everything you hear a secret?"

"We promise to keep it a secret." They answered solemnly.

Kouro took out a bottle of water and drank it before continuing. "I prepared the plan for three months, I collected evidence one by one, of course it was not easy to avoid their and Ayame's suspicions. But even so I still insisted on doing it, I also did not immediately reveal the evidence but kept it before I released it like a bomb."

"In short, after I collected enough evidence, I immediately sent the evidence to the local police, anonymously, of course."

Kouro paused and closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again and spoke.

"A few hours after I submitted the evidence, the police arrived at Ayame's parents' house to arrest them. And you know what they did when the police wanted to arrest them? Ayame's father ran away but was chased by the loan sharks and was horribly hit by a car and killed instantly. "

" As for Ayame's mother, she used Ayame herself as a hostage and put a kitchen knife to her neck to threaten the police. At that time, I could only see Ayame's expressionless face."

Kouro's eyes reflected the memory. In the first-person view, Kouro was staring from a somewhat hidden place watching several policemen calming down a haggard-looking woman.

"GET OUT OF MY F*CKING WAY OR I'LL KILL HER!!!" The haggard woman screamed at the top of her lungs, her eyes shining with madness.

Perhaps it was because she was too tired or because she had been depressed for a long time, especially since her husband had also died in an accident, adding to the stressful situation, the woman fainted from a heart attack.

He still remembered at that moment, Ayame could only stare at her mother who fell to the floor unconscious with a face full of pain.

Fortunately her life was saved, but unfortunately a few days later Ayame's mother was found to have committed suicide by hanging herself at the hospital.

Remembering all that, Kouro then blinked his eyes before continuing.

"Because I felt guilty about her situation, I often visited her in the hospital. One day, she asked me with a blank stare and a smile. 'You won't leave me either, will you?'"

Kouro stared at the floor beneath his feet before continuing in a weak tone. "I promised her that I wouldn't leave her, but... as you can see, I broke that promise. At that time, I chose to focus on my goals rather than a friend who needed me."

He looked down at his hands before saying in a self-deprecating tone. "Heh... From then on, I abandoned Ayame and my foster parents, just for the sake of something that was probably useless (training). Because of that, Ayame must really hate me. I did not expect that I would meet her here, moreover, she has turned into a Pseudo-Herrscher as well."

After Kouro finished his story, silence ensued along with a depressing atmosphere.

Sakura seemed to stare at Kouro for a long time before finally asking. "Do you regret your choice Kouro?"

Kouro touched his chest that was previously hollowed out due to Ayame's attack before shaking his head and saying with a serious expression, "No. The trouble I'm causing now is because of the consequences of my choice, therefore I deserve this wound and her hatred. "

Sakura and Higokumaru looked at him a little dreamily, they had met people who had personalities and thoughts like Kouro.

They were all great people whose names were written in history, but unfortunately their endings were always tragic because of the consequences of their choices.

"In the end you are just an scumbag who is not responsible for his own promises. " Theresa said, narrowing her eyes.

Theresa was sure that she had to keep Kouro away from her beloved niece so that she wouldn't be consumed by the pain of heartache!

Kouro did not deny her words and could only smile helplessly.

"Well... I am indeed an scumbag. "

..

After listening to Kouro's story, they then discussed how to deal with Pseudo-Herrscher.

Theresa looked at Higokumaru and asked curiously.

"Etto... Higokumaru-chan, can you tell me what you mean by 'purify' that you said earlier?"

"Ah! About that, actually, I have the ability to absorb a very large amount of Honkai Energy, so by purifying, I mean that I will absorb the target's Honkai Energy, but not to the point of threatening the target's life."

After Higokumaru answered, she looked at Kouro and Theresa and asked curiously, "What about you guys? Judging from your clothes, you look like you belong to a certain organization. Do you want to capture Pseudo-Herrscher?"

Kouro and Theresa shook their heads and replied, "We came looking for Pseudo-Herrscher to negotiate with her, whether she wants to fight Honkai with us or not."

Higokumaru and Sakura stared at the two of them in shock, after all, no organization would negotiate with a Herrscher, even if it was Pseudo.

"Since our goals are more or less the same, how about we work together?"

Hearing the proposal, Sakura and Higokumaru exchanged glances, Higokumaru nodded her head and after getting confirmation, Sakura accepted the deal.

"So what's the strategy?"

Kouro looked at Higokumaru first and asked, "Can your abilities be used freely?"

"No, my ability can only be activated when the target is incapacitated, exhausted and unconscious."

Kouro was certainly not asking about whether Higokumaru could fight, no matter how you looked at her and her cute appearance. She is a Herrscher, moreover, she was someone who was still alive after over 50,000 years had passed.

"Theresa-san, can you use your cross chain to restrain Ayame?"

"Hmph! Don't underestimate me, I can do it easily, besides, the chain won't break easily against a Pseudo-Herrscher."

Kouro then turned his gaze to Sakura, who was currently staring at him silently.

"Sakura-san, you—"

"I specialize in speed."

Sakura interrupted Kouro because she already knew the question while showing two katanas strapped to her waist.

"Um... In that case, Sakura-san will focus on defending Higokumaru and Theresa. I will be the bait to distract Ayame and after completely distracting Ayame. Theresa-san will use her cross chain to restrain her and lastly Higokumaru-chan will purify Ayame."

Theresa, Sakura, and Higokumaru had no problem with that.

Kouro glanced at his recovering HP and fatigue status and said.

"We'll rest for three hours first, after that, we fight against Ayame."

After his statement, Kouro looked out the window, the horizon revealing a soft ray of morning light.