The wind whispered softly as Rei stood atop the broken rooftop, a patch of solitude in the heart of a ruined district. The sky above shimmered with stars, pale light cutting through the night's darkness.
Rei's eyes were hollow. His fists clenched around the iron railing.
"...Isamu," he murmured, voice breaking like the wind, "I couldn't save you."
Footsteps echoed behind him.
"You're here," said a familiar voice.
Rei turned slightly. "Tenma..."
Tenma, the quiet observer, the man who rarely spoke without purpose, stepped forward. His face, half-lit by the moonlight, wore an unreadable expression.
"Isamu's gone."
Rei didn't answer. He only stared upward again, searching for meaning in the stars.
Then Tenma's voice cut through the night like a blade:
"Die... or kill."
Rei blinked. "What?"
"I mean," Tenma said, stepping beside him, "you saw it with your own eyes. Ash. He killed Isamu. Even when you wanted to stop it."
"No," Rei said, shaking his head. "Ash… he's not like that."
"You sure?" Tenma asked coldly. "Do you want to know his real identity?"
Rei turned sharply. "Real identity?"
Tenma looked him dead in the eye.
"He's not just Ash. He's the reincarnation of someone... someone who once ruled. Someone who once killed without mercy. He is Prince Kalen Volrik."
Rei stared, stunned. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Tenma's tone deepened, laced with ancient truth. "You think this is fiction? Some anime plot? No. I've seen it. I've lived it."
"Tch…" Rei scoffed, trying to push the thought away. "That's insane—"
"Then explain it," Tenma interrupted. "The first time you became Almirah's vessel—when your body broke, when your soul faded—who saved you?"
"…Ash," Rei admitted quietly.
"But he didn't save you," Tenma said. "Not completely. You still nearly died. And now? He killed Isamu. Coldly. With no remorse."
Rei's breath trembled. "No… that's not true. That's not him. That's not Ash."
"It is," Tenma said, stepping away. "That was never Ash. That was always Kalen Volrik. And the sooner you stop pretending, the sooner you'll see the war that's really coming."
The silence that followed was unbearable.
The wind rustled through Rei's hair as he stood frozen on the rooftop, Tenma's words still echoing in his mind.
"That was never Ash. That was always Kalen Volrik."
"No…" Rei whispered, barely audible. "He's Ash. He has to be Ash."
Tenma's voice stayed firm, unwavering. "He killed the real Ash, Rei. He reincarnated into that body. Haven't you noticed? His eyes don't hold the same light anymore. His smile—fake. His silence—haunted. He's not your friend anymore."
Rei's lips trembled. "You're lying…"
Tenma shook his head. "You just didn't want to see it. You felt it too… didn't you? That moment when he killed Isamu. That wasn't justice. That was execution."
Before Rei could respond, a familiar voice called out behind them.
"Rei… what are you doing here?"
It was Misaki, standing near the door that led to the stairwell. Her voice was cheerful, dressed in joy, unaware of the weight in the air. "Come on! The celebration's starting! We finally defeated the hero hunters!"
Rei looked at her, his expression still half-lost in Tenma's words.
"I'll come," Rei replied, forcing a smile.
"Then hurry up, slowpoke!" Misaki said brightly, turning around and waving as she walked back down the stairs.
Rei took a breath and glanced back once more.
Tenma didn't follow. He just said with a heavy gaze,
"This is the last time I'll say it... Believe me, Rei. He's not who you think he is."
Rei lingered a moment longer, staring at Tenma, at the sky, and then at the city lights glowing below.
Then, wordlessly, he turned and descended the stairs, walking toward the celebration—where laughter waited.
But behind his eyes, a storm had begun to form.
The hotel banquet hall sparkled with lights and cheers as heroes, citizens, and allies gathered around large circular tables, enjoying the feast of victory. Plates clattered, music played low in the background, and laughter floated in the air like confetti.
Rei stepped inside slowly, his expression unreadable. Misaki spotted him near the entrance.
"Rei! Come here!" she waved him over excitedly.
He walked over without a word, taking a seat beside her, his movements tired and cold. He picked up a piece of grilled chicken, eating in silence.
Moments later, the doors opened again.
Ash entered—his posture confident, flanked by his mother, father, and older sister, Rin Kurogane. His black formal outfit gleamed slightly in the lights, and his expression was calm. Regal, almost unnatural.
Rei turned his head slowly.
To him, it was like watching a prince walk in.
Ash noticed Rei, grinned, and came over to sit beside him.
"Yo, Rei," Ash greeted with casual warmth.
Rei didn't answer. He just continued eating the chicken quietly.
Ash laughed lightly and placed his hand on Rei's back.
"You still mad at me or what?"
Rei suddenly shrugged the hand off.
"Don't touch me."
Misaki, caught in the awkward tension, quickly interjected, "Rei, enough…"
Ash blinked, then turned to Rei's mother, who was seated across the table.
"I didn't do anything," Ash said politely.
"You must have done something," Rin Kurogane said, her voice sharp, suspicious.
"Sis! I told you, I did nothing," Ash protested.
But Rei's voice came out cold, loud enough for all at the table to hear.
"Come on, Prince Kalen Volrik."
The entire table fell silent. Forks froze mid-air.
Ash turned slowly, his eyes wide.
"What… what did you just say?"
The rest of the group looked confused.
"Wait, what are you saying?" Luna asked, her brow furrowed.
"Who is Prince Kalen?" Koharu added. "He's Ash. What's going on?"
Rei stood up, his voice steady, his eyes locked on Ash.
"No. He is not Ash. He is Prince Kalen Volrik. He killed our Ash. And took his body."
Gasps rippled through the table.
Ash's hands trembled slightly on the table.
"Wh…what are you talking about…?"
"You're a reincarnation, right?" Rei said, stepping closer. "You act too mature. You feel too different. You're not him. You're someone else wearing my friend's skin."
Natsuki narrowed her eyes. "Now that he says it… yeah, I noticed too. You've changed. You used to laugh like an idiot. Now… you're quiet. Almost calculated."
Ash's mother stood up, her eyes blazing with fury.
"No… NO. You killed our son! You killed Ash!"
Ash's father stepped forward, his voice cold. "Answer us. Who are you?"
Ash closed his eyes.
"Tch…"
Then, slowly, he stood up. He looked around the room, at each person—at Rei, Misaki, his parents, and the entire team.
"…Yeah," he finally said, voice steady. "I am Kalen Volrik. I was born again in this world… in Ash's body."
Rei's mother collapsed into her chair, trembling. Misaki stared at him in disbelief. Luna's hands tightened into fists.
"You were lying to us… all this time?" Koharu whispered.
Ash didn't flinch.
"I didn't lie. I became Ash. His memories, his heart… they live in me. But yes… I was someone before. A prince. And now…"
"You're not one of us anymore," Rei interrupted, his voice breaking slightly.
Ash's smile faded.
"I never wanted this secret to come out like this."
"You didn't have the right," Rei said.
The hall was no longer a celebration. It was a funeral for trust.
The silence in the hotel banquet hall was like a blade.
Ash—no, Kalen Volrik—stood under the ceiling lights, his hands clenched, eyes downcast but his back straight. The truth had shattered the joy of the evening. Everyone stared at him—some in disbelief, some in betrayal, some in rising rage.
Ash raised his head slowly, his voice low but firm.
"I didn't ask to be born like this. I didn't choose to take Ash's body… But when I woke up in this world, I had his memories. His love for you all. His dreams. I became him."
"Shut up!" his father roared, stepping forward, eyes blazing. "You think that gives you the right?! That you can wear my son's face and pretend to be him?! You are NOT Ash!"
Ash flinched.
His mother was already crying, clutching a handkerchief, her shoulders shaking.
"I know this is hard to accept," Ash tried to say. "But I didn't kill him. We… we became one. I didn't mean to—"
"LIAR!" his father yelled. "You killed my son! You stole him from us!"
The room trembled with emotions as anger crackled in the air.
Even Rin Kurogane stepped forward, her eyes narrowed.
"All this time… I thought something was wrong. You changed. You stopped calling me sis. You looked at us like strangers. And now I know why."
"I am Ash," Ash tried to defend. "You think I don't remember crying with you? Laughing with you? Fighting beside you?!"
Rei stood still, his eyes on Ash. "You didn't protect Isamu. You killed him."
Ash's face twitched.
"I didn't want to… but he was going to kill you."
"No," Rei snapped. "You killed him because you wanted to end it fast. You didn't believe in him like I did."
Kaien crossed his arms, saying nothing. Misaki looked torn between the two. Koharu held Luna's arm, her eyes wide.
"Ash…" Misaki finally said, voice soft. "Why didn't you tell us? If you're really still you… why hide this?"
"Because I was scared!" Ash shouted, finally cracking. "Scared that you'd all look at me like this! Like a monster! I didn't even understand who I was at first. I just wanted to stay close to everyone!"
"You've been lying every day," Luna said, coldly. "That's worse than any monster."
"I didn't lie," Ash said, fists trembling. "I just… I couldn't lose you all. I couldn't lose… me."
"You already lost us," his father said sharply. "You are NOT my son. And I want nothing more to do with you."
Ash's eyes widened.
"Dad…"
"You're not my son," his father repeated, voice trembling. "You're just Prince Kalen Volrik. A stranger."
Ash took a step back. The rejection hit harder than any blade.
He turned to Rei, his eyes desperate. "Rei… you're my best friend. You understand, right? You remember the park? The bike? The guild test—"
"That was Ash," Rei said coldly. "Not you."
Ash's face broke.
He turned to Misaki, to Koharu, to Luna, one by one.
"Please… I'm still here. I'm still Ash."
But none of them answered.
Ash stepped back slowly, eyes shining—not with power, but sorrow.
"…I guess it doesn't matter who I am anymore."
He walked out of the room, disappearing into the hall's shadowed corridor. No one stopped him. Not even Rei.