Chapter 38 – The Root of Loyalty
It wasn't that the Takumi family's intelligence division had grown complacent.
On the contrary—they moved like shadows, sharp and disciplined.
Every shift among the Dai clan, every whispered rumor inside the Ministry of Justice, even the covert maneuvers from the Abe family… none of it escaped their watch.
But even with all the sensitive intelligence they gathered,
not a single word ever reached Hideo Takumi.
The reason was simple:
They didn't think it necessary.
To most within the inner circles, Hideo was just a troublesome youth—a failed product of noble blood.
They hadn't realized yet that the "worthless heir" they dismissed... was no longer the same person.
And besides, their young master had been extremely busy lately.
Sometimes he locked himself in the reading room, poring over dusty alchemy manuals and ancient spell theories.
Other times, he sat cross-legged in silent meditation, studying unseen currents of spiritual energy and forgotten formation patterns.
When not buried in scrolls, he experimented with herbs, crafted rudimentary potions, or quietly observed the house guards during their drills.
And when there was nothing urgent?
He would simply lie down, surrounded by books, sipping tea, basking in absolute peace.
For Hideo, the perfect life was simple:
"I just want a quiet life. Read books, take afternoon naps, and have enough money to ignore anyone I don't feel like talking to."
But the world rarely grants such luxuries.
Behind the calm exterior of the Takumi estate, many believed the family had long since withered.
"Jun Takumi? Too honest for dirty politics. Too rigid to survive in power games."
That was the common judgment.
What they didn't know was that Jun Takumi's silence... was the sharpest defense of all.
And Hideo Takumi?
No one even considered him a threat.
They only saw the remnants of the reckless, foolish youth from before.
Not even their allies realized—
the real storm was already brewing from within.
Out in the training grounds, Hideo sat against a wooden post, lazily watching the small formation of house guards.
Sweat gleamed on their brows as they practiced drills and defensive maneuvers.
Their moves were still rough, but a certain fire had begun to take root among them.
Among the trainees... was Zane.
Once cheerful, a little too talkative, always quick to joke.
Now?
He trained harder than anyone.
But there was a distance in his eyes—a wall between him and even Hideo himself.
And Hideo, who had grown increasingly skilled at reading the silent language of people, couldn't help but wonder.
A few days later, after a grueling training session, Hideo found Zane resting under a great tree.
Hideo sat down beside him casually.
"You've changed," Hideo said without warning.
"Something's different about you. What is it?"
Zane was silent for a long time.
But finally, he spoke.
"Master… you may not remember, but I'll never forget."
Hideo frowned slightly. "Forget what?"
Zane stared at the ground, voice low.
"Before I ever knew who you were—before I even knew your name—I was nobody. Just a thug making a living through violence. Beating people up for money. Until one day... I was left to die after a job went wrong."
His fists clenched tightly around his knees.
"I thought it was over for me."
Zane's voice grew rough.
"But then you appeared.
You didn't say a word.
You just threw a healing potion at me… and walked away."
He paused, swallowing hard.
"I didn't even know who you were.
But I lived because of you."
Hideo said nothing, quietly listening.
He couldn't remember such a moment—
or rather, the soul now inhabiting this body had no memory of it.
"I tried to find you afterward," Zane continued.
"But you were like a ghost—no clues, no trail.
All I had was a blurry memory of a young man who saved me without asking for anything."
He took a deep breath.
"I went back to the streets for a while, doing dirty jobs… but the debt I owed kept haunting me."
"So I changed. I started from the bottom.
I worked as a gardener in the eastern estates under the Takumi family name."
Hideo raised an eyebrow. "A gardener?"
Zane chuckled bitterly.
"It took six months just to get transferred to the outer guard ranks. But during that time... I heard the rumors."
"A disgraceful noble.
Spoiled.
Worthless."
"I almost believed them."
He paused, looking at Hideo.
"But every time I saw you pass by—even with that lazy, careless air—I felt something was off."
"It wasn't the way you acted.
It was the way you watched."
"There was something deliberate about your silence. Something… that didn't match the rumors."
Zane exhaled slowly, as if lifting a heavy burden off his chest.
"And then you changed. No more foolish parties. No more mindless troublemaking.
You started reading. You started disappearing from the eyes of others.
You started training the guards... but differently."
"You spoke little—but every command was precise. Every instruction... deliberate."
Zane smiled faintly.
"That's when I knew.
The one who threw that potion—was you."
"And even if it wasn't... It doesn't matter."
"I made my decision a long time ago.
I'll follow the one who gave me hope… when I had none."
Zane looked up, meeting Hideo's eyes directly.
"If you call, I'll answer. If you stand, I'll fight."
Hideo lowered his head slightly.
"I… I didn't save anyone," he said honestly.
"Maybe it was instinct. Reflex. I didn't even know who you were."
Zane just smiled.
"Doesn't matter, Master. You still led me here. And I'll follow you—no matter what."
Hideo fell silent.
Something warm—and unfamiliar—stirred inside his chest.
"I don't want to be a hero," he said quietly.
"I don't want war. I don't want fame.
All I ever wanted... was a quiet life.
Books, naps, and enough gold to live unseen."
Zane nodded.
"Then I'll protect that peace, no matter the cost."
Their eyes met.
No grand oath.
No ceremonial vow.
But between them...
something stronger than loyalty was born.
And from that small spark—
the beating heart of the Vanguard of Takumi began to take shape.