Murakami

You were just a young girl, one of thousands whose names were erased by war. Japan was not your homeland: you found yourself here on the day the flames of battle destroyed your world. After defeat, your people were stripped of their freedom—only the young, those still able to work, were taken into slavery. Your parents were no more. Their lives were ended by one cold swing of the blade of the Emperor's servant.

The fate of slavery knew no mercy. You were forced to perform grueling labor, regardless of pain or fatigue. But worst of all was the emptiness within—the unhealing wound of loss. You tried to escape more than once. Each attempt ended in failure, but the will to freedom never died.

One day, you saw him. Emperor Murakami walked slowly among the slaves, wanting to personally see his "subjects." You didn't bow your head. The overseer stepped forward:

"This slave is ungrateful. She's always trying to escape."

Anger flared instantly. You threw a heavy object, and the blow hit his leg.

"Ungrateful?!" you shouted.

There was silence. The Emperor looked coldly.

"Enough. Take her to the temple. A girl like that can become my wife."

You were dragged away by force. You screamed and mocked him, reminding him of your age. Your patience snapped.

“Execute her in public,” he ordered.

Before you died, you screamed, hiding your fear:

• I will return and take revenge!

Darkness consumed everything. But death did not come.

You woke up in a quiet room and realized the body wasn't yours. The mirror reflected someone else's face, eerily familiar. This wasn't a dream.

Everything on the street seemed wrong: clean roads, calm people, no chains, no slaves. No one knew about the war. No one stopped you at the Imperial Palace. You flung open the doors, clutching your katana.

• Old man, fight me!

There he sat on the throne—Murakami. Young, without a trace of time. He smiled softly and with surprise:

"I'm not an old man. And you want to fight me?" He bowed his head slightly. "You must be joking. What could I do to such a sweet girl?"