Morning sunlight streamed through the wooden windows, casting soft golden hues across the room. The scent of warm rice and miso soup lingered in the air, blending with the subtle crispness of the autumn morning.

  Ren sat across from Kaede, watching as she carefully scooped up a piece of fish with her chopsticks. She was focused, her expression calm, though he could tell there was something on her mind.

  "You’re quiet today," he noted, idly picking at his food.

  Kaede’s chopsticks paused mid-air before she sighed. "You’re leaving soon, aren’t you?"

  Ren chewed on his rice before swallowing. "Yeah. One last hunt, then my Inner Hunt."

  Kaede frowned, her dark eyes locking onto his. "And if something goes wrong?"

  Ren smirked. "Then I get to meet the gods early and give them a piece of my mind."

  "Ren." Her voice was sharp.

  He sighed, setting his chopsticks down. "Look, I’ve already made preparations. You’re safe, the house is yours, and I’ve set things up with Isamu and Mae." He met her gaze. "You’ll be fine, even if I don’t come back."

  Kaede’s hands clenched into fists. "That’s not the point!"

  Ren tilted his head.

  "I don’t care about the money, or the house, or whatever plans you made," she muttered, eyes downcast. "I just don’t want to be alone again."

  For a moment, Ren was silent.

  Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Then, his smirk softened into something less sarcastic, more real. He reached over and ruffled her hair.

  "I’m coming back," he said. "I promise."

  Kaede huffed, swatting his hand away. "You better."

  Ren chuckled, finishing the last of his rice before standing up. He grabbed his sword from the corner, strapping it to his back. "Alright, I gotta go. Try not to burn the house down while I’m gone."

  Kaede rolled her eyes. "You say that like I can’t cook better than you."

  Ren just grinned before heading out.

  Ren moved through the dense bamboo forest, his footsteps light against the damp earth. The wind rustled the leaves above, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow on the ground.

  He wasn’t hunting for just any creature today—he needed a yokai.

  Yokai weren’t as strong as essence beasts, but they carried enough essence to be useful. And Ren needed every last bit of essence before his Inner Hunt.

  He crouched near a moss-covered rock, fingers brushing against the hilt of his sword. His senses sharpened, the faint whispers of energy in the air guiding him toward his target.

  A flicker of movement.

  Then—

  A low, guttural growl.

  Ren’s eyes snapped forward as the creature slinked into view.

  It was a Tsuchigumo—a monstrous spider-like yokai, its chitinous body covered in pulsating red markings. Eight black, soulless eyes locked onto him, venom dripping from its mandibles.

  "Well, aren’t you an ugly bastard," Ren muttered.

  The Tsuchigumo hissed, its long legs clicking against the ground as it lunged forward.

  Ren sidestepped effortlessly, his sword flashing out in a precise arc. The blade carved through one of its legs, ichor splattering against the ground.

  The yokai shrieked.

  Ren didn’t hesitate. He twisted his grip and drove his sword into its underbelly, essence crackling through his veins as the yokai’s body trembled.

  A final, dying screech—

  Then, silence.

  Ren exhaled, watching as the Tsuchigumo’s body disintegrated into essence. His Mandate pulsed, absorbing the energy.

  Then—

  A notification flickered across his vision.

  [ Essence Accumulation: 100/100 ]

  His heart clenched.

  His Inner Hunt was about to begin.