TWCT 06

Chapter 6

 The Shadow That Attacks the Village
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Men clad in shabby armor kicked down the village gate and stormed inside.
There were about ten of them.
They drew their swords, nocked their bows, and sneered coldly.

“Heh, just like the rumors said. This village doesn’t even look like it’s gonna fight back.”
“Yeah, they’re all crawling on the ground already.”

Their gazes turned toward the villagers—still bowing prostrate to the dirt—and then toward me.

“…You’re the one making them do that, huh?”

Takamiya Yūto: “……”

My chest tightened.
Because of my skill, the villagers couldn’t even resist—they had fallen to their knees, completely submissive.

“Do it!”

One of the bandits shouted and swung his sword.
At that moment—

‘Command confirmed—Subjugation commencing.’

A voice echoed deep inside my head, and everyone suddenly lifted their faces.
Their eyes were vacant for a brief instant—then changed to those of people waiting for my orders.

“…Get up.”

As I murmured, the villagers stood up in unison and, without a word, began walking toward the bandits.

“Wh–what the hell!?”
“These guys… all at once!?”

Farmers with hoes, children throwing stones, merchants brandishing wooden clubs—
People who should have been powerless moved like a perfectly trained army and rushed at the bandits.

“Gah!”
“Stop! Let go of me!”

The bandits were pinned down one after another, slammed to the ground in moments.

“…You really made all of them obey…”

Liene murmured beside me.
In her eyes were astonishment, fear—and a faint glimmer of relief.

“This… is my skill.”

Even as I said it aloud, a chill ran down my spine.
Whoever I meet becomes subservient to me.
It doesn’t matter if they’re good or evil.

Before I knew it, one of the bandits was trembling, his voice quivering.

“…E-even me…?”

Yes.
He, too, was now on his knees, head bowed.
The word “Master” echoed faintly in my ears.

“…”

Liene looked up at me.
Fear flickered in her eyes.

“Yūto… your power is…”

I couldn’t find any words to answer.
I just clenched my fists.

“Stand down.”

At my command, both villagers and bandits stepped back and knelt in perfect order.
It was an eerie sight—
But undeniable proof of my power.

Night drew near.
Though the village regained its calm, the unease in my chest refused to fade.

(…How am I supposed to face this power from now on…?)

With that question still burning inside me, I stared into the flickering firelight.

Author’s Note

Thank you for reading!
In Episode 6, Yūto uses his subjugated followers for the first time to drive off the bandits.
His power compels both good and evil alike—what kind of shadow will that cast on his future?

Next time, we’ll explore what becomes of the subjugated bandits,
and the changes beginning to stir between Yūto and Liene.
Please look forward to it!