"Let them go."
Hagoromo took a deep breath, his chest rising slowly as he struggled to suppress the turmoil inside him. In the end, he couldn't ignore what he was seeing.
"This is an order."
His voice was calm, but firm—carrying the weight of authority.
The samurai in front of him hesitated.
For a brief moment, conflict flashed across his face.
But in the end… he lowered his head.
"Release them."
With that command, the guards moved forward and unlocked the prison carts. The iron chains clattered to the ground as the doors creaked open.
Inside, several children sat huddled together.
They didn't move at first.
Fear had already taken root too deeply.
But when they saw Hagoromo standing there—calm, composed, and different from the others—they slowly stepped out.
Then, almost instinctively…
They ran behind him.
Clutching his robes.
Hiding behind his back.
As if he were the only safe place left in the world.
Hagoromo looked down at them.
Their clothes were torn.
Their faces were pale.
Their bodies thin and weak.
These weren't criminals.
They were just children.
Children dragged into something they couldn't understand.
Some of them avoided eye contact, keeping their heads down.
But occasionally…
They would look up.
And when they did—
There was something in their eyes.
Not just fear.
But hatred.
Deep.
Burning.
Unresolved.
That single glance made Hagoromo's heart tighten.
---
"Lord Hagoromo…"
The leading samurai spoke again, clearly uneasy.
"Taking these people as sacrifices… is His Majesty's command."
"I know."
Hagoromo didn't look at him.
His gaze remained on the children.
"I will explain it to my father."
His voice was steady.
"Until then… stop what you are doing."
The samurai clenched his fists slightly.
He didn't agree.
It was clear in his eyes.
But he had no choice.
The person in front of him wasn't just anyone.
He was the Crown Prince.
The future ruler of the Land of Ancestors.
No matter how unwilling he felt…
He could only obey.
"…Understood."
And just like that—
The sacrifice was stopped.
---
But strangely…
Neither Hagoromo nor Hamura felt any sense of relief.
There was no joy.
No satisfaction.
Only a heavy weight pressing down on their hearts.
Because deep down…
They knew this wasn't the end.
---
In the days that followed, the same scenes repeated again and again.
Each time sacrifices were prepared—
The brothers would appear.
Each time innocent people were dragged forward—
They would intervene.
Each time fear filled the shrine—
They would stand in the way.
---
At first, people didn't say much.
But as time passed…
Whispers began to spread.
Dissatisfaction grew.
"Too soft."
"Too compassionate."
"They're protecting rebels."
"They don't understand what it takes to maintain peace."
And eventually—
Their actions reached the ears of the ruler himself.
One day…
They were summoned.
The palace stood tall and silent.
As the brothers walked through its halls, a strange tension filled the air.
They were prepared.
Prepared for anger.
Prepared for punishment.
Prepared for disappointment.
But when they stood before their father…
Everything felt different.
Minamikawa Yuu sat calmly.
His expression peaceful.
His eyes steady.
There was no anger.
No rage.
Only quiet observation.
---
"Your actions…"
He began slowly.
"…are not wrong."
The brothers froze.
"Helping the weak… protecting those who cannot protect themselves…"
He continued,
"That is compassion. And compassion is not something to be punished."
For a moment—
Hope flickered in their hearts.
"But…"
His tone shifted slightly.
"If this continues…"
"It will create problems."
The air grew heavier.
"There are already people within the country who are dissatisfied."
"They believe you are showing too much mercy to rebels."
"In their eyes… these people deserve their fate."
The brothers opened their mouths, ready to explain.
But—
Minamikawa Yuu raised his hand.
Stopping them.
"Wanting change is not wrong."
His voice softened again.
"But your methods… are flawed."
Then—
He did something unexpected.
He took out a document.
And placed it before them.
"Since you wish to change things…"
"Then I will give you the power to do so."
The brothers looked down.
Their eyes widened.
It was an appointment order.
From that day onward…
They were placed in charge of all prisoners in the Land of Ancestors.
---
Authority.
Responsibility.
Power.
All placed directly into their hands.
---
For anyone else—
This would be a dream.
A sudden rise to the top.
A position of immense influence.
---
Even for them—
It was shocking.
---
"Thank you, Father!"
They bowed deeply, unable to hide their excitement.
This was exactly what they wanted.
A chance to fix things.
A chance to protect the innocent.
A chance to change the system itself.
---
And so—
They began.
---
Under their leadership, new laws were introduced.
Trials became stricter.
Judgments became fairer.
Prison conditions improved.
---
At first—
Everything seemed to work.
The number of prisoners decreased.
Unnecessary punishments were reduced.
Order improved.
---
But slowly…
Something began to feel wrong.
---
No matter how much they improved the system…
No matter how fair the trials became…
No matter how hard they worked—
There were always people being sent to the Divine Tree.
---
Every year.
Without fail.
---
And then—
They noticed something even more disturbing.
---
The number…
Wasn't decreasing.
---
It was increasing.
---
Even as crime dropped…
Even as society improved…
The number of sacrifices continued to rise.
---
That didn't make sense.
It shouldn't be possible.
---
So they began investigating.
Carefully.
Quietly.
---
And what they discovered…
Shattered everything.
---
Across the Land of Ancestors—
There was an unspoken rule.
Every region…
Had a quota.
A fixed number of people…
That had to be sent to the Divine Tree each year.
No matter what.
Even if crime was low.
Even if people were innocent.
Even if the system improved—
The quota remained.
---
And worse—
It increased every year.
---
In that moment—
A cold chill ran down their spines.
---
Everything suddenly made sense.
---
No matter how hard they worked…
No matter how fair they tried to be…
The outcome had already been decided.
---
Their efforts…
Meant nothing.
---
And then—
A memory surfaced.
---
The words of the Toad Sage.
---
"The true darkness… is hidden beneath prosperity."
---
Now—
They finally understood.
---
Standing beneath the towering Divine Tree…
Hagoromo looked up at its massive form.
His eyes filled with confusion.
With doubt.
With something deeper.
---
"Why…"
His voice was quiet.
Almost broken.
---
"Why would Father do this…?"
-
"Why send so many people…"
"Into that thing… every single year…?"
The wind passed through the branches.
The Divine Tree stood silent.
But for the first time—
It no longer looked sacred.
It looked…
Hungry.
--------------------------------
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