Yasu woke up on the fifth day with a heavy heart.  The last time he saw Konda was two days ago when he asked for Konda's help.  Since then not a shadow of Konda could be seen. Yasu felt disheartened. How could he get his revenge if he can't even meet General Ren and Doctor Shiro.  

Yasu packed up his belongings and checked out of his room.  He sat at his table and ordered food and tea while he waited.  From sunrise until midday, there were no signs of Konda, General Ren or Doctor Shiro.  

He hadn't begun his revenge, yet he felt so tired and alone.  This hard road he chose to take was taking a toll on his mind.  

Yasu drank the last drop of his tea and paid for his meal.  He thanked the server and the proprietor before getting his horse from the barn.  Yasu left Three Horse Inn without looking back and made his way towards the north gate.  

He had tried and failed to meet the ones he wanted to see the most.  Although he failed, he will try again and again, no matter how long it took to see them again.  

Yasu passed through the two check points and left Hima behind.  His unsettled heart caused him to urge his horse to gallop faster and faster.  He wanted to feel the wind in his hair and let the dark thoughts fly away.  

After four hours of travel, Yasu ran into trouble.  Up ahead Tsuki warned him of a merchant group in the middle of a robbery.  

[Yasu!  The merchant group has hired several skilled guards for protection, however there are more bandits than guards.  Over half of the bandits have some fighting skills. Not only that, but there are several hidden bandits hiding in trees, shooting arrows at the guards and the merchant group.]  

"Tskui, this is the first time in five days that you've spoken to me.  After leaving my side outside of Hima, spending five days in the forest, you finally know how to come back home?"

[Did Yasu miss this little Goddess?  I won't leave your side for such a long time, next time.]  

"Tsk."  Yasu tsked at her.  He didn't believe her.  As long as she could absorb more spiritual essence, she would leave his side in a heartbeat.  

Yasu stopped his horse and decided if he wanted to be a good person.  He could be a hero and join the fight or he could go deeper into the forest and make a large loop, passing by the merchant group.  Leaving the merchant group to their own fate.

If he helped, there was a chance that it would bring more trouble for him.  If he left without looking back, his guilt would nag at him. His family had taught him well and didn't want his family to look down on him.  

Sighing heavily, he encouraged his horse to make their way towards the forest.  If he was going to help, he needed to take out the hidden bandits first. He shouldn't have thought so hard about what he should do or shouldn't do.  In the end, he would help them because it was the right thing to do. Even if doing the right thing would cause him a headache in the future.  

Yasu made his way deep into the forest and began to flank the hidden bandits in the trees.  Thanks to Tsuki's help, Yasu shot down each bandit. He watched as they fell down from the trees with a loud thump.  The lifeless body was already dead the moment they hit the ground.  

Yasu then made a wide circle to the other side of the road, avoiding the fighting in the middle of the city road and flanked the other hidden bandits.  When he shot them down, it was only then that he showed himself and began killing the bandits.  

"Who are you!"  The brawny bandit shouted as he saw his men being slain so easily.  "Bastards like you should mind your own business!"  

"Ha!"  Yasu snorted.  He was in a foul mood earlier that day, now that he can vent his anger on these bandits, maybe he'll feel better.  "And bastard bandits like you should find honest work instead of robbing others!"  

Yasu didn't hold back and quickly killed the man in front of him before charging at the brawny man who called him a bastard.  

Yasu ran and slashed at those who came after him, but he quickly dispatched them.  

"I'll kill you myself, bastard!  How dare you kill my brothers!"  

"Then come!  My sword is calling for your blood!"  Yasu shouted.  

Their swords clashed loudly against one another as they fought.  Yasu brought forth more internal force from within and slashed his sword once again.  This time, his sword sliced through the brawny man's sword and also sliced his chest.  

Blood sprayed out all over Yasu as Yasu attacked the man in front of him.  Although he wounded the bandit, the bandit was not dead yet. Yasu's sword slashed the bandit's sword arm.  Everyone watched and gasped in horror as the bandit's arm fell to the ground.

"Ahhh!"  The brawny man cried out in pain.  

"For stealing belongings that don't belong to you, you don't deserve to keep your hands."  Yasu said as he chopped off the bandit's other hand.  

The brawny bandit cried pitifully as he knelt down in agony.  

"So noisy."  Yasu commented as he swung his sword one last time.  The sword went through the bandit's neck so quickly and easily that it took a moment for everyone to realize what just happened.  It was only when the bandit's head fell over that the rest of the bandits screamed out in horror.  

"Monster!"  

"Run!"  

"Run away!"  

The surviving bandits shouted all at once.  They quickly retreated, but the ground began shaking as a platoon of soldiers chased after them.  

"Soldiers!"  

"We're saved!"  

"Help us!"  

The merchant and his guards shouted as they saw the soldiers run down the bandits and kill them.  After killing them, the soldiers slowly surrounded the merchant group and Yasu.  

The whole time Yasu was lost in his thoughts.  Had he become a monster? He was quick to kill others without feeling remorse or guilt.  He had slain so many of them without a thought nor any effort. He had taken their lives right before his eyes and with his own hands.  His clothes were drenched in blood and yet he felt nothing towards them.          

How is it that he could feel sorry for himself and yet cannot feel sorry for other and their troubles?  Those bandits were husbands, sons and fathers. There were other ways to deal with the bandits. He could have injured the bandits, capture them, then send them to the authorities to deal with.  

However he chose to fight and kill them for their crimes.  He now had enhanced abilities thanks to Tsuki. With those enhanced abilities he has an advantage to slay his enemies, but he had used those abilities to kill bandits without mercy.  

He had become a monster.  A monster born from fire and baptized in water.  A monster that takes lives.  

"Yasu."  The gentle voice called out to him, breaking his dark thoughts.