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Thinking about it, Scepter 4 had come a long way.
If anyone so much implied back then that he would be spending most of his adult life serving one organization under two kings, Zenjō Gōki's younger self would totally incapacitate the idiot of a person who even dared imply it in the first place and slice them straight to oblivion.
His adult self might have grown up a bit more mature and more attuned to desk work but his younger self’s devotion to his first king was unyielding even bordering on crass at times. He didn’t earn the title“Ogre” for show. Which also kind of raised the question among his peers at the time how someone with an attitude like him ever became a Blue, much less the Blue King’s right-hand man. Yes, he was an outlier, but in his defence, most of Scepter 4 during that time were judgmental pricks.
Zenjō doesn’t really care much about what people thought of him. He doesn’t even like people in general. In fact, there were only a few people who managed to establish any sort of relationship with him back then —whether it be of friendship or out of respect. It took a lot for Zenjō to learn to be more civil when he first joined Scepter 4, and that was only because his king had asked him to.
“Seriously, just ignore them.” He remembered Shiotsu trying to rein him in from lashing out at the so-called pricks. “They’re just jealous of you. They’re just going for the low blow.”
“There won’t be a low blow if I quickly put them in their place.” Zenjō gritted. “I could probably take them all and gut them with my sword.” He turned to his king’s amused figure. “Why the hell did you even make them your clansmen Habari? You could do better. That thing they’re calling swordsmanship? They’re just swinging their swords like fools! Even a child could do better. And you guys call me a loose cannon.”
“You are, though.” Shiotsu unhelpfully commented.
“Shut up, Shiotsu!”
Shiotsu raised an eyebrow, indicating his point. Zenjō glared at him.
Habari chuckled at their antics. “Enough of that you two.” He turned to Zenjō who grumbled. “Zenjō, Shiotsu is right. Just ignore what the other clansmen say about you. Whatever they say, you are my right-hand man just as Shiotsu is my left. I apologize on behalf of the other clansmen’s narrow-mindedness.”
“You don’t have to apologize for them.” Zenjō said. “I just don’t get why you chose them.”
Why you chose me, came the unasked question.
Habari just smiled at him. “Everyone in Scepter 4 is here for a reason, Zenjō. I’m sure you’ll figure it out.”
After everything, Zenjō wished he never did.
Scepter 4 has only had two kings. One a bitter memory, the other an unfathomable enigma. Zenjō doesn’t know what the Dresden Slate has for criteria in choosing Kings but in his experience in serving two Blue Kings, both are idealistic, stubborn individuals.
“You could do much greater things with a proper sword you know. Won’t you join Scepter 4?” Habari had said, the first time they met.
“Ah, I have no need for such pleasantries —I am here, after all, to welcome you back.” Munakata had said, the first time they met.
Zenjō had said no both times. But fate is a funny thing, he ended up on Scepter 4 both times.
How two different people can be so similar is still a mystery to Zenjō.
Habari Jin was the definition of a straight arrow. Honest and straightforward. His strong sense of justice and selflessness was what attracted Zenjō to him in the first place. A headstrong leader looking to change the world for the better. To Zenjō, he was a King worth his loyalty, someone he gave the highest respect -as a leader and as a friend. Habari’s only flaw was his bleeding heart. He gave and gave, to the point his life was sacrificed for the sake of everyone else. His death only resulted in the corruption of his clan and left Zenjō scarred both physically and mentally.
Meanwhile, Munakata Reisi, though sharing Habari’s sense of justice, is a complex puzzle to Zenjō. The first time they met, Zenjō was a spitfire and the man was unfazed. Honestly, Zenjō was still not over Habari and suddenly, this brat , the new Blue King , shows up? What was he supposed to feel? Munakata had just given him a scrutinizing look and had the gall to smile like he knew everything. Although, now that he knew better, Zenjō was sure Munakata knew everything . Munakata was certainly no Habari, that’s for sure. And for the most part, Zenjō disliked him. His vow to kill Munakata if he ever showed any weakness is definitely a testament to that. At least, at first.
He had to admit, Munakata had a way with things. In less than a year, he managed to root out the corruption defiling Scepter 4 and smooth everything out with his quite young, newly formed team. Seriously, how Munakata managed to recruit them at all is a mystery. He certainly knew how to pick them.
In the end, Zenjō recognized Munakata as his King too.
Blue Kings and their tendency to have double suicide with the red ones and making him as the fail-safe. No wonder their subordinates get scarred for life.
"I'm sorry for making you do this Zenjō. I really am." Those were Habari's last words for him.
"Alright then, kill me as you see fit." Those were Munakata's words to Zenjō's condition in rejoining Scepter 4.
Zenjō doesn't want another Habari.
Zenjō doesn't want Awashima to experience the same pain he went through. The pain of losing his king at his own hands.
The burden of killing a king doesn't really go away. Munakata should've known that too well hence his failsafe, Zenjō. But he should have known better that Awashima's loyalty for him wouldn't allow that same exact scenario to play unless it was by her own terms and her own hands.
"Can I really do it, Zenjō-san?" Awashima had asked him.
Zenjō knew she was asking herself rather than him.
After all, he had asked himself the same question years ago.
Luckily for Munakata, he managed to live through the ordeal. At the least, all he got was a well-earned slap from his lieutenant.
And Kusuhara Takeru was still and will always be a touchy subject. He was his only student after all.
"Zenjō-san, thank you."
Now, he was still in Scepter 4. The Dresden Slate is no more but there are still strains out there to stir trouble. He would have to see what path the current Scepter 4 will pave for the future.
“We will advance with the sword in hand for our cause is pure!”