The man stood between the wounded girl and the dying monster.
His sword dripped with dark blood, but his expression remained calm.
Renji stared at him.
The man looked younger than he expected—broad-shouldered, steady, and strangely familiar.
"…Is that really him?" Renji whispered.
Mizuki nodded slowly.
"Yes he is."
Renji's chest tightened.
For twelve years he had only remembered fragments—a vague silhouette, a deep voice, a large hand resting on his head.
But the man standing in front of him…
Somehow felt unmistakable.
The wolf's body collapsed completely.
But the girl lying on the ground wasn't moving.
Renji's father dropped to one knee beside her.
"Hey," he said gently.
The girl weakly opened her eyes.
Her voice trembled.
"…Sensei…"
Renji blinked.
"She called him Sensei?"
"He used to train the village hunters," Mizuki explained quietly.
Renji watched as the man examined her injuries.
The wounds were terrible.
Her lower body was torn apart by the wolf's attack.
Even Renji could tell she wouldn't survive.
His father clenched his jaw.
"…Damn it."
He reached into the pouch at his belt and pulled out a small glowing stone.
It pulsed with faint silver light.
Renji leaned forward slightly.
"What is that?"
"A spirit core," Mizuki said.
Renji looked at her.
"…A what?"
Before she could answer, the scene continued.
The injured girl weakly grabbed his father's sleeve.
"…Sensei…"
Her breathing was shallow.
"Am I… going to die?"
The man didn't answer immediately.
Instead, he placed the glowing stone gently against her chest.
"…Not if I can help it."
The stone began glowing brighter.
Strange symbols formed in the air around them.
Renji watched in stunned silence.
"What is he doing?"
"Something forbidden," Mizuki whispered.
His father placed one hand on the girl's forehead.
"I'm going to bind your soul to this stone."
The girl's eyes widened slightly.
"…Bind… my soul?"
"It's the only way to keep you alive."
Her fingers trembled.
"Will I… still be human?"
Your father hesitated.
"…No."
The wind grew stronger around them.
"But you will still exist."
The glowing symbols began circling faster.
The girl closed her eyes slowly.
"…Then that's okay."
Her voice was barely audible now.
"If it means I can live…"
"…I trust you, Sensei."
The light exploded outward.
Renji shielded his eyes.
The air vibrated with power.
For a moment, it felt like the entire forest was shaking.
Then—
Silence.
When the light faded, the girl's body was gone.
In its place floated a small cluster of pink light.
It hovered in the air gently, like a tiny star.
Renji stared at it.
"…That's…"
Mizuki nodded.
"…Me."
The glowing spirit slowly drifted toward your father.
He reached out his hand.
The light settled softly in his palm.
For the first time since the battle started…
He smiled.
"Looks like it worked."
Renji watched him carefully.
"…So that's how you became a spirit."
"Yes."
"But the contract part hasn't happened yet."
Renji looked at her.
"What do you mean?"
Mizuki pointed toward the memory.
"Watch."
Your father looked at the floating spirit quietly.
"…You'll need a host eventually."
The small light pulsed softly.
"As a spirit, you can't survive alone forever."
He closed his hand gently around the light.
"…But I think I know someone who can protect you."
Renji frowned.
"Wait…"
Your father looked toward the night sky.
"My son…"
Renji froze.
"…What?"
Mizuki glanced at him.
"This was twelve years ago."
Your father spoke softly to the glowing spirit.
"When the time comes…"
"…find him."
The spirit flickered curiously.
"He will need you."
The memory began fading.
The burning village blurred.
The forest dissolved into darkness.
Renji felt the ground disappear beneath his feet.
Then—
"Renji."
A distant voice echoed.
"Renji, wake up."
The world snapped back into place.
Renji blinked.
The inn room slowly came back into view.
Sunlight poured through the window.
He was sitting on the bed.
Mizuki sat on the floor nearby, looking exhausted.
She exhaled deeply.
"…That was strange."
Renji rubbed his head.
"What happened?"
"I tried to pull you out of the vision earlier," she said.
"But something kept you inside longer than I expected."
Renji looked down at his hands quietly.
"…So everything I saw was real."
"Yes."
The room fell silent.
After a moment, Renji spoke again.
"…He really planned all of this."
Mizuki nodded.
"Yes."
Renji looked toward the window.
"…That idiot."
Mizuki tilted her head.
"Calling a legendary hero an idiot is pretty bold."
Renji crossed his arms.
"If he had time to plan spiritual contracts and prophecy stuff…"
"…he could've at least visited once."
Mizuki didn't respond.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Then Mizuki stood up and stretched slightly.
"Anyway."
She walked toward the door.
"You've seen enough depressing memories for one morning."
Renji looked up.
"Where are you going?"
"Breakfast."
She opened the door.
"And after that…"
She glanced back at him with a small smirk.
"Your training begins."
Renji blinked.
"…Training?"
Mizuki's smile widened.
"You're the successor of an SS-rank hero."
She tapped the door frame.
"You didn't think I was going to let you stay weak forever, did you?"
Renji sighed.
"…I had a feeling you were going to say that."
Outside, the town had fully awakened.
And Renji's new life…
Was only just beginning.