Animal Tamer's Dominion
Chapter 59: Reconciliation (2)

Chapter 59: Reconciliation (2)

Kenji stepped onto the balcony, the night air cool against his skin. Haruka stood near the railing, her arms folded, golden eyes reflecting the moonlight in quiet contemplation. She hadn’t moved since walking away, as if the world around her was just background noise.

For a moment, Kenji simply stared. How had it come to this?

Even after Fubara’s words had shattered his illusions, even after realizing how deeply his past had shaped him—apologizing was still terrifying.Not because of pride, but because what if—just what if—he had hurt Haruka in a way that couldn’t be undone?

Taking a deep breath, he approached.

"Haruka."

She didn’t turn.

"Do you have a moment?"

Still, silence.

Kenji clenched his fists.

"Please, just hear me out."

Finally, she sighed, shifting slightly.*"Kenji, if this is another half-hearted apology, you can save it."

Her words hit harder than any blade.

"No, it’s not. I promise,"

Kenji leaned against the railing, his gaze drifting toward the stars. The last time he had been this vulnerable, he had been standing before Yuji and the rest—the ones who cast him aside.l

"I realized something today." His voice was quieter than usual, steadier.

Haruka remained silent, but he knew she was listening.

"You were right about me. I’ve spent years convincing myself that becoming an adventurer was my choice—that I did it for myself. But deep down?" He exhaled sharply. "I was chasing ghosts."

Haruka finally turned her head, her pink eyes sharp but no longer cold, instead, it held a slight inquisitiveness in them.

"Ghosts?"

*"Yuji. The others. The people who betrayed me. You see Haruka, I’m not from this world,"

As she heard those words, her eyes widened in shock. Did she just hear him say he wasn’t from this world.

Kenji’s grip tightened against the railing, as this was the first time that he was telling someone else about this. It was a bit overwhelming.

" We were transported into this realm as heroes. It was also the day that I realized that my best friends just used me to get higher in the company ranks. But when we were transported into this world, I thought that there was a chance to turn things around, until the revelation that I was actually a mistake. An unwanted rag-along, as the rest of the team were A rank and above with legenday classes, while I was there only F rank Animal Tamer,"

"I didn’t just want to prove them wrong—I wanted to be them. I wanted to be strong like them, respected like them, important like them. Even after they threw me away, I kept following their path."*

Haruka’s brows furrowed.

"Kenji..."

"I was blind," he continued, his voice carrying something strange—something broken. "And because of that, I kept making mistakes. I kept shutting people out, kept proving my worth over and over, like I had to earn my place. Like being abandoned once meant I would always be abandoned."

The words hung between them, heavy, real.

"I hurt you because of that. I hurt you because—" Kenji inhaled, his voice steady despite the emotions clawing at his throat. "Because part of me still believed I had to do everything alone. That if I relied on anyone, I’d just be weak again."

Haruka’s gaze softened, but she didn’t speak yet.

Kenji sighed, finally turning to look at her directly.

"But I don’t want to be alone. I don’t want to keep pushing away the people who matter to me, just because of my past." He hesitated, then forced the words past his lips. "I don’t want to push you away anymore."

Haruka studied him for a long moment.

Then—finally—she exhaled.

"Kenji."

This time, there was no anger in her voice anymore.

"You are an idiot."

Kenji blinked.

"Excuse me?" Was my apology still not heartfelt enough for her?

She sighed, turning fully to face him.

"You really thought I wanted some shallow apology?" She shook her head. "I wanted to understand you. I wanted to know why you kept fighting, why you keep pulling away, why you act like trusting people is a curse instead of a blessing."

She stepped closer.

"And now, I finally do." She said, a smile creeping up her face.

Kenji swallowed.

"So... does that mean you forgive me?"

Haruka gave him a rare, amused smirk.

"I don’t forgive stupidity. But I do forgive you."

Kenji let out a breath he didn’t realize he had been holding.

---

For a moment, they simply stood there, the night air wrapping around them, the stars watching silently overhead.

Then, Haruka spoke again.

"Next time, don’t just push me away when things get hard okay? You have nothing to lose, and no one to prove"

Kenji nodded.

"Next time, I won’t, I promise."

She crossed her arms, eyeing him.

"You swear it?"

Kenji let himself smirk just a little.

"I swear it."

Haruka studied him for a moment longer, then sighed, shaking her head.

"Alright. Then I guess I have no choice but to stick with you."

Kenji chuckled.

"I wouldn’t have it any other way."

And under the silver glow of the moon, a bond was reforged—not just in words, but in truth.

•••••

The balcony was still bathed in soft moonlight, the air thick with quiet understanding between Kenji and Haruka.

And then suddy—the door slammed open.

"MASTER! I HAVE RETURNED WITH A VENGEANCE!"

Kenji barely had time to react before Fubara burst into the room, arms spread wide, his robes flowing dramatically behind him as if he were some victorious warlord.

Leo, Leia, and Pheia jumped in shock, then immediately burst into laughter, their tiny forms bouncing with excitement as Fubara struck a pose of sheer exaggerated triumph, as if he had just won a large and meritorious competition.

Haruka sighed, rubbing her temple at this sudden distraction. She was just getting her thoughts in order after Kenji had told her that there was another world, so this sudden distraction Immediately caught her off guard and annoyed.

"What now, Fubara?" Kenji asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

Fubara grinned.

"A cooking duel, of course!"

Immediately he heard that, Kenji knew what he meant, and this immediately made him groan.

"Absolutely not. There’s no way i’m doing that again!" Kenji said resolutly. While he had been with Fubara, this shameless old man would occasionally challenge him to another cooking duel, so as to once again reclaim his title of master in the cooking arts. But as always, Kenji would just make a simple meal from his original world and would make Fubara cry out in defeat.

Eventually, Kenji got tired of it, as he would keep disturbing him almost every day for a challenge, soon making Kenji frustrated by the idea of a cooking challenge.

Leo gasped as he heard Kenji’s response. He had thought his dad’s would have Immediately agreed, as he loved to tell them stories of how much of a great cook he was, occasionally getting them a bit annoyed also.

"What?! Dad, you have to do it!"

Peia crossed her arms.

"You always talk about how good your cooking is, so prove it."

Leia, wide-eyed and eager, simply grabbed Kenji’s sleeve and shook it relentlessly.

"Cook! Cook! Cook!" They said simultaneously, hyping him up into accepting the challenge.

Kenji sighed deeply, staring at Haruka in hopes of some kind of escape, but she merely raised an eyebrow, amused, as she turned her head to the side, not wanting to get tangled up in this mess.

"Looks like you’re cornered." Fubara said, grinning from all ears.

Kenji sank into his chair in defeat.

"Fine. But when I win, I want absolute silence about this event for at least a week."

Fubara ackled,"HA! As if you could defeat me a second time, Master!"

•••••

The arena: Kenji’s modest kitchen.

The judges: Three merciless six-year-olds and one highly amused fox-woman.

The stakes: Fubara’s pride.

Kenji rolled up his sleeves.

Fubara slammed a pot onto the counter.

"Let the flames of destiny decide!" Fubara exclaimed, lightening the fire.

---

Fubara worked with intense focus, ingredients moving in a rapid blur—fresh fish, rare spices, delicate sauces.

Kenji? Cool, collected, deadly precise.

He boiled noodles, carefully seasoned chicken, and crafted a peppered sauce with the kind of mastery only a true legend could wield.

Oil sizzled. Knives sliced. Steam rose like battle smoke.

Leo, Leia, and Pheia watched like awe-struck spectators witnessing an ancient rivalry reignite.

Haruka? She was enjoying every second of this ridiculous battle.

---

Soon, the plates were set.

The judges took their bites.

The room fell silent.

Then...Leo slammed his hands onto the table.

"Dad wins!"

Leia took another bite, thoughtful.

"Definitely Daddy."

Pheia? She had already finished Kenji’s meal and was reaching for more.

Fubara fell to his knees, grasping the edge of the counter dramatically.

"CURSE YOU, MASTER! HOW DO YOU ALWAYS WIN?!"

Kenji smirked, leaning back.

*"You were never going to beat me, old man. Times have changed, the old should retire" he said mockingly with a quick grin.

---

Haruka chuckled softly as Fubara pretended to weep, dramatically clutching his apron as if mourning his lost glory.

"One day!" he wailed. "One day, I shall defeat my master!"*

Kenji merely sighed, shaking his head as the children cheered his victory, their laughter filling the house with warmth.

Tonight, there were no battles to fight, no burdens to carry—just family, laughter, and a rivalry renewed in flames and flavor.

The house had settled into a quiet hum of nighttime warmth, the echoes of laughter and friendly rivalry fading into the stillness.

Kenji gently tucked Leo, Leia, and Pheia into bed, their tiny forms nestling beneath soft blankets, exhaustion finally claiming them.

"Sleep well,you little monsters."

Pheia murmured something inaudible before immediately dozing off, while Leo and Leia barely mumbled their goodnights before turning away, lost to sleep.

Kenji smiled slightly, brushing back a stray strand of Leia’s hair before finally standing and exiting the room.

The house was peaceful now.

But that peace wouldn’t last.

---

Kenji sank into the worn-out armchair, stretching his legs as Fubara and Haruka settled onto the couch across from him.

At first, there was nothing to say—just the quiet crackling of the fireplace, the distant howl of the wind outside.

Then, Kenji spoke.

"Fubara... have you ever heard of the Crimson Veil?"

Immediately, the atmosphere changed, as it seemlike one had just dropped a bombshell.

Fubara’s playful smirk vanished, his posture stiffening ever so slightly, as he sat up in his seat, with his back now properly straight.

Haruka’s gaze flicked toward him, pink eyes narrowing just by a fraction.

The air felt heavier.

For a moment, Fubara didn’t answer.

Then, slowly, he leaned forward, clasping his hands together.

"What do you know about them?" he asked, voice lower than ever. Kenji was sure he had never seen Fubara in such a hushed state before.

Kenji crossed his arms.

"Not much. Just that they’re dangerous, and apparently, they had bandits guarding a mine full of dreadiron. Other than that? Nothing."

Fubara exhaled through his nose, rubbing his chin.

"You’re lucky, then. Most people who ask about the Crimson Veil don’t live long enough to regret it."

Kenji didn’t flinch, though Haruka’s expression turned serious.

"That bad?" Kenji asked.

"Worse," Fubara murmured.

He leaned back, staring at the ceiling as if recalling old memories.

"The Crimson Veil isn’t just some gang of criminals, Kenji. They’re an organization—silent, patient, and deeply embedded in places most wouldn’t expect. Some say they control entire cities from the shadows, pulling strings that even kings fear to acknowledge."

Kenji frowned, his mind shifting to the bandits he had fought in the mine.

"Then why would they bother controlling something as minor as bandits in a mine?"

"You think dreadiron is minor?" Fubara scoffed. "Kenji, dreadiron is one of the few materials capable of withstanding the power of divine entities. If the Crimson Veil was collecting it, then it wasn’t for profit—it was for something far worse."

Haruka finally spoke, her voice cautious,"But what?"

Fubara hesitated.

"That... I don’t know."

Kenji narrowed his eyes.

"You seem to know a lot, but you don’t know their motives?"

Fubara shook his head.

"That’s the thing, Kenji. No one knows. The Crimson Veil doesn’t flaunt their goals like some overconfident warlord. They move in silence, in secrecy, leaving behind only whispers and corpses. And if someone does know? Well..."

His fingers drummed against his knee.

"Let’s just say they wouldn’t be around to share that information."

Kenji felt a slight chill crawl up his spine.

For the first time since hearing their name, the Crimson Veil felt like a real threat.

Not just a bandit group.

Not just a gang.

Something more.

Something bigger.

Something far beyond what he had expected.

The fire crackled softly, flickering shadows dancing along the walls.

Kenji exhaled, rubbing his temple.

"So what you’re telling me is, I just pissed off a cult that operates in complete secrecy, collects dreadiron, and possibly holds more power than I realized?"

Fubara smirked faintly.

"Yeah, pretty much."

Kenji groaned.

"Fantastic."

Haruka was still watching Fubara carefully.

"But you’ve encountered them before, haven’t you?"

Fubara’s smirk faded again.

"I’ve seen things. Heard things. Never directly crossed them, but I know when someone’s gone too far. You?"

Haruka’s gaze darkened.

"I’ve heard whispers, too. Nothing concrete. But if they truly are after dreadiron... that means whatever they’re planning, it involves something powerful."

Kenji leaned back, staring at the ceiling.

"Then I better start figuring this out before I end up on their list."

Fubara chuckled dryly.

"You might already be on it, Master."

Kenji scowled.

"You’re really bad at making people feel reassured, you know that?"

Fubara winked.

"It’s a gift."

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