Shinji Matou at Your Service

Chapter 637: Chapter 637: The Banished Darkness



Yes, Tohno Makihisa was torn.

If it had been his former self, in his prime, decisive in his actions, he wouldn't have hesitated. He would either use his ability to brainwash Kohaku, turning her into a real puppet (Makihisa had this ability, as he had altered Shiki's memories), or he would kill Kohaku directly to eliminate any future threat. Kohaku, after all, was still very young and not particularly powerful in combat, making her easy prey for Makihisa.

But things were different now. He was weakened, both physically and mentally.

It has been said that as people grow older, they begin to reflect on the past, especially on past mistakes, and start to let go of previous obsessions. Although Makihisa was not yet fifty, he had developed a similar mindset. In the past, he had betrayed, slaughtered, and harmed many people for ambition, to protect his family, and to gain status. His hands were stained with blood.

Did he regret it?

He did not. If given another chance, he would do the same.

The world of mystery, due to the presence of extraordinary powers, is more ruthless and hierarchical than the mundane world. And in Japan, due to its geography and history, it was even more severe than in Western societies.

Living in such a world, part of such a dangerous family, if one did not want to be crushed into the dust, one could only strive to climb up until becoming a colossal figure that no one could easily shake.

Makihisa had done this.

He led the Tohno family to become the leader of the Mixed-Blood faction, becoming a giant in the Japanese mystical world and the manager of the Tokyo area.

He became the most outstanding head of the long-standing Tohno family.

So, he did not regret it.

However, despite not regretting it, he did feel some guilt toward those he had hurt. As time passed, this guilt grew deeper and heavier—despite having mixed in demonic blood, he had not entirely lost his humanity. This was also why Touko finally decided to take action.

Touko, who aspired to become immortal and had already stepped into the realm of the soul, walking the path of longevity, cherished most the brilliance of humanity, the radiance of the soul. Everything she did was for this radiance.

her in the end.

After secretly observing his daughter and the Kohaku and Hisui sisters, and confirming the feelings between the three, Makihisa made his decision.

He was dying, with little time left. But these children were still young; they deserved a better, brighter future. They shouldn't be destroyed by his darkness and mistakes. He decided to use his nearly extinguished life to do something for these children, as a meager atonement.

On that day, Makihisa, after a long time, left his sickbed and gathered his family, clan members, and servants for a banquet. After the banquet, he invited her alone, and they drank together until late. No one knew what they discussed.

Afterward, Makihisa called Kohaku to his room, just like on the night of her eighth birthday when the nightmare began.

The difference was that Makihisa did nothing to Kohaku this time. He just had her sit down and then knelt on the ground with a thud. He began to recount his past, with no embellishments, no excuses, just an honest narration in his old and trembling voice.

After saying everything, he prostrated himself on the ground. It wasn't to seek Kohaku's forgiveness but to hope that she would focus all her hatred on him. Whether she wanted to kill, skin, or torture him, Makihisa was willing to endure it, just to prevent her from venting her anger on Akiha. Because Akiha genuinely cared for Kohaku and considered her family. To protect Kohaku from further harm, Akiha had specifically named her as her maid.

Kohaku sat in the chair, dazed, without the smile imitating her sister's, her eyes lifeless, as if she had returned to being the puppet she once was.

She just sat there, quietly, without moving.

Makihisa also knelt there, waiting, without moving.

No one knew how much time had passed when Kohaku stood up and walked silently towards the door. In the end, she did nothing.

Just before Kohaku left the room, Makihisa called out to her. Kohaku turned around woodenly, and then she saw Makihisa collapse to the ground in a strange posture.

His right hand had pierced through his left chest, still holding fragments of his heart—he had committed suicide.

In his dying moments, he uttered his last plea: "Do not vent your anger on Akiha, and do not let the flames of hatred spiral out of control and affect your sister Hisui. Leave a place for yourself and everyone to live."

He lay there, looking at Kohaku, the girl he had personally sent into hell.

Looking, looking... until he died without closing his eyes.

There was another long silence, deathly stillness.

Suddenly, Kohaku let out a heartrending wail, then began to punch and kick Makihisa's corpse as if she had gone mad.

Blood soaked her clothes, and stained her hands, feet, face, and her pink hair. She resembled a vengeful ghost, relentlessly venting her hatred on her nemesis until dawn, until she exhausted her strength and collapsed in a pool of blood beside the unrecognizable Makihisa.

A long, gentle sigh echoed. The partition door of Makihisa's bedroom opened, revealing two long-haired women, one mature, the other still somewhat youthful: it was Touko and Akiha.

Touko silently left the room, giving space to this most innocent girl.

As the door closed, she heard the suppressed sobs, the grief of losing a loved one, and the relief of finally being able to express the pain for that pitiful girl.

A spark of fire lit up, thin wisps of smoke rising as Touko who could see the brilliance of the soul held her beloved Dragon Smoke in her mouth, eyes tightly closed.

She saw the final transcendence of the dissipating soul, the chaotic and filthy colors gradually fading, leaving behind a pure resolve, infused into the body that had been hurt countless times.

She saw a soul covered with the flames of hatred gain a different kind of coolness. Though still weak compared to the flames of hatred, as long as there was a spark, a hope, she would one day find her way and no longer be lost.

She saw a girl with the same qualities as herself, constantly tormented by imposed wills, enduring many hardships yet never forgetting her true self, ultimately blooming with a unique brilliance.

"How beautiful."

With her eyes closed, pushed open the window, letting the morning light into the house, dispelling the darkness that had long lingered, allowing the fresh air to flow through the mansion, carrying away the accumulated gloom of many years.

This ancient family had finally freed itself from the entanglements of past karma and embarked on a new path.

The daylight was bright, clear as glass.

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