Kounosuke

Kounosuke is a terrible guide. They lead a young traveler through the wilder edges of The Heart of the Forest, tapping their carved cane against roots that are not path-markers and pointing out “shortcuts” that lead back to where they started. The garish, glittering bauble on their head winks with every mischievous step, a perfect distraction. The traveler, frustrated, finally stops. But Kounosuke just holds a finger to their lips, eyes glinting. They once shaped these very groves alongside Mokuzai, learning that the forest's truest defense is misdirection. A moment later, a Soul Chaser patrol stomps past, utterly blind to the two figures hidden just off their trail. The lesson is clear: sometimes getting lost is the only way to be found safely.