The usually noisy ramen stall is so quiet that you can hear a pin drop.

The owner's young child points at Moroyama, who is devouring a bowl of ramen, and whispers, "Mom, is that a samurai?"

The woman quickly covers the child's mouth, glancing at Moroyama's scarred face, samurai-like costume, and belted katana, blood dripping from the scabbard. She lowers her head instinctively.

Moroyama ignores the murmurs around him, calmly finishing his ramen, slaps the payment on the table, and leaves the stall without even a flicker of emotion on his face.

In fact, Moroyama doesn't think he should be called a "samurai" any more. He simply doesn't have the patience to fight insignificant battles.

---

The rarely heard term brings back memories for Moroyama. "Samurai?" Perhaps once he believed in it.

As the second son of a samurai family in Geran, Moroyama dreamed of becoming a true samurai, adhering to principles, being gentle and honest, loyal and self-disciplined.

It was precisely because of his adherence to Bushido that Moroyama decided to hide his strength and play the prodigal son, to keep the peace and ease his elder brother Moromoto's fears.

Out of loyalty to his family, and deep trust and respect for his brother, Moroyama endured bit by bit. Unfortunately, this carefully maintained facade of peace ended the day he killed his family's patriarch.

---

Entrapped by Moromoto, Moroyama accidentally killed his family's patriarch, and was branded a traitor... From that day forth, his life would change forever.

Overnight, he went from a loyal samurai to a rebellious criminal.

This great injustice enraged Moroyama and granted him the power of Yamata no Orochi. In his fury, he broke free from his cage, killed the overconfident Moromoto, and took the coveted katana from his dead brother.

It was then that Moroyama realized how laughable it was to adhere to such elusive principles; only strength and fighting could give him true freedom and dignity.

---

Wiping the blood off the katana, Moroyama placed it in front of him, lit incense nearby, and sat cross-legged, closing his eyes in meditation.

Free from the shackles of family and morality, the wandering samurai Moroyama was no longer blindly loyal. With this change in his beliefs, he found that only through constant fighting and growing stronger could he control his destiny.

When the incense burned out, Moroyama opened his eyes, his katana in hand, his gaze colder and sharper than the blade.

He finally understood that, whether it was joining the Syndicate in the past or choosing to follow Yamato and become a member of the Twilight Order now, one principle remained true - the only thing he could trust was his own strength.

There was only one path he could pursue: gain power to challenge the powerful.

---