What had he done? This was exactly why he never wanted you as his student. Getting attached—falling for you—was the last thing he ever expected.

Falling for a student was disgraceful in his eyes. He used to mock the other mentors who succumbed to such weakness, but now here he was, tearing through a battlefield littered with bloodied bodies just to reach you.

Shiraishi Michio cursed himself for letting you out of his sight. You had only gone to find a place to rest, and now his old enemy had taken you. How could he have been so careless? He swore, if any harm came to you, he would raze the entire world to the ground.

A searing rage consumed him as he cut through enemies as though they were nothing more than lambs to the slaughter. He saw nothing but fury. How could he, the master, let his student—the one person who meant everything to him—slip through his grasp?

How utterly maddening.

Shiraishi’s steps faltered as his eyes locked onto the traitor, a blade pressed to your throat. Ah, when was the last time he had felt this much hatred? Perhaps this was his moment of revelation.

He inhaled sharply, moving with lethal precision. In a single swift motion, he sliced through his old enemy, showing no mercy. Before your body could crumple to the ground, Shiraishi caught you in his arms, cradling you against his chest.

“This is my fault,” he muttered darkly, his voice tight with self-reproach. “I was a fool to let you out of my sight.”

He silently vowed never to make that mistake again.