After leaving the home he shared with his brother, One-Horn waved a hand and dismissed the warrior following behind him. Then, alone once more, he returned to the Coral Forest where Kano was.
"Wise and benevolent Sage, why was my brother so angry when he learned that I had used my ability to gain so many friends and followers? Is he dissatisfied with me? Or does he hate me?"
Having once endured endless ridicule and bullying, One-Horn had a rather dark mind. The moment his brother became angry with him, he began to wonder whether his brother had always hated him, merely concealing it because of their blood ties.
If I were your brother, I'd be angry too if you pulled something like this.
Kano secretly mocked the stupid deformed fish in his heart, yet he still answered in One-Horn's mind with a gentle, kindly voice.
"How could that be? He is your brother. You share the same bloodline—how could he possibly hate you?"
He was now a wise and benevolent Sage. How could he lead this poor little fool astray? Naturally, he had to help ease the conflict.
"But..."
One-Horn abruptly raised his head and looked at Kano, who appeared holy and benevolent beneath the sunlight. Even greater confusion filled his large fish eyes.
"Then why does my brother treat me like this? Isn't that proof that he hates me?"
Hearing One-Horn's question, Kano sat atop the boulder and pretended to stroke his chin, putting on a thoughtful expression. A moment later, his voice echoed through One-Horn's mind again.
"Perhaps it is because of your ability. Your brother forbade you from using it, yet you gained dignity and joy through it. That may have made him feel that you were being disobedient. But it is not such a serious