Capítulo 24: Lucien’s Death.

When tensions escalated between Kushi Village and Kurenai Village over profound beast hunting rights, they devised a safe to them-brutal to others solution. The villages would let their mortal warriors clash, and the winning side would claim more hunting space.

However, if the losing side disputed the outcome, the village fortress clans would wager on a deadly contest: the two daimyojos would compete to slaughter the most mortals on X-You Mountain. (1)

The villages saw nothing wrong with this approach, believing the Tama Artists would preserve their lives. Mortal men would perish, but they could be replaced with overseas slaves. The mortal women would select their preferred partners, and the family with the most children in five years would be rewarded with riches.

However, If the conflict still persists, the daimyojos from the Katsuragi and Ragishi Clans would engage in a mortal duel on X-You Mountain. As a last resort, the villages would go to war, a catastrophic event unseen since the time of the first sennin. (2)

Lucy recalled the events that led to his aunt's downfall. Originally, Akane, the eldest sister, was destined to become the daimyojo of the Katsuragi Clan. However, her younger sister coveted the position and orchestrated a sinister plan.

On a particular day when she came to laugh at how Akane turned, she confessed:

"Do you think not awakening as a Tama-Artist was a normal occurrence? No, it wasn't! You do remember that the day before your awakening, I brought you a basket of fruits, saying we needed to mend our relationship. There was a despondency satsuma in there, which I had peeled myself!"

Over the years, Lucy learned from his mother about how daimyojos would kill people without betting an eye, and how she was grateful she never became one.

He also remembers the words about the despondency satsuma, clearly in his mind:

"It's a black mandarin on the outside, but if you peel it, it looks just like a normal mandarin. Eating it would make one unable to become a Tama-Artist, along with their descendants. I know a pitiful soul who spent her life savings to buy a despondency satsuma, just to stop her big sister from becoming a Tama-Artist."

Lucy connected the dots, realizing his fate was sealed when he saw his aunt floating in the air over a year ago. He remembered his mother's words: daimyojos observe mortals before making their move, and they would slaughter them to determine the strongest village.

With this knowledge, Lucy trained day and night, honing his hammer skills, aiming to catch his aunt off guard and kill her before she realized his intentions.

Lucy's plan was set in motion when he ignored Shoji's taunts, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. He signaled Sora to attack, allowing his hammer to fly toward his aunt's position, ensuring a fatal blow, before she could react.

His plan had succeeded, and now it was his time to die, just like everyone else on X-You Mountain.

Lucy's gaze shifted to a figure descending from the sky – the daimyojo of the Ragishi Clan from Kushi Village.

Though she was too far away to read her expression, Lucy was certain of her identity. Gripping his silver hammer, he waited for her to touch down so he could attack - maybe luck would be by his side again.

However, before she even got close, her body exploded silently, leaving no flesh or blood behind.

The blast captured the attention of every mortal remaining on the mountain. However, Lucy's gaze shifted to the clapping sounds echoing through the silence.

A pink-haired girl, Sakura, whom he had saved earlier, was now applauding. As she laughed heartily, her body transformed into Lila, dressed in a yukata.

Lucy's expression remained unfazed, his brow furrowed in a frown:

"You're the one who turned the scholar into a Tama-Artist, letting him test his Tama on Miyamoto-san."

At the mention of his name, Shinji ceased his antics and rushed toward the stunned Lila, yelling, "Stop this baseless accusations! How can I Kill Miyamoto-dono?!"

Lucy gazed at him coldly, "The same poison you used on Miyamoto-san was the one that killed Katsura, and you're the only one who attacked him!"

Shinji reached Lila, his expression turning into a dark smirk:

"Yes, I used the Tama Lila gave me to create the poison that Miyamoto-san ate with the porridge I gave him. So what about it?"

Lucy maintained his cold demeanor, gazing at Shinji.

"You're delusional. You think you've endured more pain than others, and you dream of making everyone equal, forcing them to see the world through your twisted lens. You want to be the only symbol of hope in people's hearts, and you'll eliminate anyone who gets in your way. However..."

Shinji's face twisted in a mix of joy and rage, his eyes intensifying as he waited for Lucy's next words.

Lucy continued, "...you fell in love with Tsukino."

Shinji lost his composure, "Unbelievable! Why would I fall for someone like her?"

Lila responded in Lucy's stead, her voice cold as ice, "Who are you trying to fool? If you didn't love her, why did you save her whenever Shoji kissed her? Don't you plan to kill her brother to make her hate you, hoping your feelings for her would fade away?"

Shinji bit his lower lip in frustration, unable to retort. Lila shrugged, her gaze turning cold on Lucy.

"As the Shojo of the Kurenai Village, I must take you down. You're a great source of hope to the mortals, who might lead a revolution in the future, just like Miyamoto Musashi." (3)

Lucy laughed heartily at her words, the idiot who wanted to cause a revolution because he had became a Tama-Artist was next to her.

His laughter ceased, his expression turning cold.

"Stop using justified reasons to kill people. Say it like it is – Lucien, your father, and sister sent me here to finish you. I fooled everyone in Kurenai Village, along with the scholar, to satisfy my koyokusha body." (4)

Lila's face turned bright red with rage, but her body quivered in fear. She recalled the feeling she had when Lucy saved her as Sakura.

She thought, 'Lucy is indeed related to that person... she must have exchanged the item she gave him with the mask he's wearing now.'

Composing herself, Lila let out a joyous laugh, delighted with the turn of events.

"If I kill you, will she shed tears for you?"

Lucy smiled, "You'll have to try to find out."

Lila pointed her index finger at Lucy, "Any last words?"

His expression remained unmoved, "Tell my father that I'll come for him, for what he did to my mother."

Lila sneered, "How foolish. I'll make this painful and slow."

A blue light escaped her finger, piercing Lucy's stomach and leaving a gaping hole. He fell lifelessly to the ground, his dim amber eyes fading as the only cloud in the sky drifted away.

'That looks like Mother... everything reminds me of her these days.'

Tears welled up in Lucy's eyes as he recalled the old good times; she would sing soothing sounds, as she brushed his hair. With every tear, it almost felt like her hands were caressing him.

Snort came from his nose, 'I know you won't be proud of how I turned out, but I miss you, Mother. Every second without you has been torture. You were my everything, and instead of saving you, I, I, I... killed you.'

His face twisted in sadness, and he sobbed, 'I miss you... if I could turn back time, I'd hug you tightly and tell you how much I love you.'

As his tears continued to flow, memories of his current encounters flashed before him.

'Just like you said, Mother, I made a friend... and if she follows my advice, she'll survive the slaughter about to happen in this forest.'

He thought of the girl he liked, 'I never got to know her name... it's probably for the better. We were from different worlds... if we were to reunite, you'd nag me about it, Mother.'

A blood-stained smile emerged on his lips, accompanied by snorts and tears.

'Oh Saint Peter, bring my mother light, and take me to hell instead. She suffered so much; she deserves a better afterlife.'

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(1) - Daimyojo - the daughter of a daimyo (leader of a clan)

(2) Sennin - For now, just know - a very powerful person.

(3) Shojo - A female leader of a small village.

(4) koyokusha body - pleasure body, a body that gets strong through having fun