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ลำดับตอนที่ #23 : Chapter 5 - Dreams and reality
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Chapter 5 - Dreams and reality
Part 1
After changing the train at Kawaguchiko[1], one of the
lake belonging to the Five Lakes of Mt. Fuji, Ayano and Ren took a taxi to the
Tsuwabuki residence. Before the private road that led to the residence they got
off and forcibly climbed over the iron fence with a clearly written ``NO
TRESPASSING`` sign. After that was supposed to be a straight path.
Staring quite anxious at Ayano going forward, planing in a rude
entrance, Ren asked.
"Still, is this OK? Approaching so boldly?"
"Then, do you want to try sneaking in? Climbing over the
wall and slipping through the defense system and try to finally arrive at
Ayumi-chan without the Chijutsushi noticing, do you have that confidence?"
"...........no"
That was impossible. The opponents are Chijutsushi. If they step
on the ground of the premisses they will be noticed without mistake that
instant.
"Right? That's what you call unsuitable orientation. For a
Enjutsushi to take covert action is the same as telling the sun <
"ha........"
They kept walking without change ten odd minutes. The sun faded
out and around the time the world became engulfed in darkness the Tsuwabuki
residence made an appearance before those two. Both of them looked up at the
magnificent manor.
"First of all, we made it in time, huh?"
"Yeah."
Gazing at the majestic style entrance, Ren replied.
"So, how do we get in?"
Ayano was still looking at the gate. An inter phone was not
found. It did not seen likely the sound of a knock would reach.
".......shall I burn it?"
".......Nee-sama......"
At Ayano's bold words, Ren murmured in a lamenting voice.
"How can you make up your mind to go that far?"
"How, you ask........my disposition, I guess?"
"Please don't be so proud of it.......even if we don't do
such an excessive thing, it's not that high we can't climb over, right?"
Leaving the gate aside, the height of the wall that followed it
on both sides was, at best, approximately 3 meters. Certainly it wasn't a
height that couldn't be climbed over.
"Well, I hope that's safe."
Ayano nodded and bent over in order to jump over the wall. At
exactly the same time.
Raising a dull creak, the thick doors slowly opened.
"..............."
Ayano and Ren exchanged glances and both shrugged their
shoulders.
"We are being let in."
"How thoughtful."
Exchanging a sarcastic smile both stepped inside the grounds.
And then - they met the receptionist.
Approximately twenty minutes before
In the large underground gave, Yuuji looked up at the crystal
pillar encasing Mayumi. Guiding the above moonlight the crystal produced a
faint radiance shining in the darkness.
In the surroundings other Chijutsushi were hastening the
preparation for the ceremony. But, he completely disregarded that clatter,
turning his glance on Mayumi - and only her.
"You're really earnest, aren't you?"
A whisper shook his ear. Unaware of Kureha's presence standing
right behind, Yuuji was not surprised anymore. Managing that level of presence
was a matter of course. He knew it first hand.
"What?" he asked without turning around.
Kureha did not blame him for it. She informed him of what he had
to do.
"We have a guest."
"Who is it?"
"Two fire presences. I still don't feel the wind. But if
it's that man, he is quite capable of following us around without anyone
noticing."
Talking serious words with a smiling face Kureha gave an order
again.
"Go meet them. I'm leaving the rest to you."
"I will return before long."
Including a quiet self confidence, Yuuji consented. Without
change, he started walking to the gateway but after going forward several steps
he turned around.
"Can you answer me one thing?"
"Say it", Kureha generously nodded.
"Why did you seek so much power and violate the taboo? Your
ability was supposed to be the most powerful in the entire family."
"Why?"
For a moment Kureha had a blank facial expression, as if taken
by surprise. Nevertheless she immediately raised her even lips, expressing a
somewhat otherworldly archaic smile.
"Why? Isn't that obvious? Because I didn't have you."
".....ha?"
Yuuji frowned in doubt. But, Kureha did not permit further
questioning.
"Go."
With a quiet and yet resolute tone she ordered. Yuuji had no
right to oppose her.
".......yes"
With a small nod, Yuuji started walking once more. After looking
hard at that retreating figure until it disappeared from her field of vision,
Kureha looked up at the younger sister sealed in the crystal.
The shape of the girl sleeping inside the shining crystal was a
fantastic spectacle that gave one the impression of a scene from a fairy-tale.
Placing her hand on the crystal, Kureha looked up at Mayumi with a gaze full of
affection.
"You didn't notice, did you? How blessed you were. How
loved you were. I too, love you so very much. That's why - that's why I will
let you go while being so blessed."
Visibly pouring out the peak of her emotion, Kureha pushed her
forehead against the crystal pillar. After savoring the icy texture for a few
seconds, she turned to the Chijutsushi underneath and informed the most
high-ranking practitioner among them:
"I will temporarily excuse myself. Continue the
preparation."
"Yes"
The practitioners nodded without showing surprise. Kureha could
be said to be the one supervising but she couldn't directly participate in the
ceremony. Therefore, if no unforeseen situation happened, the fact that she was
not there was not a particular impediment.
Throwing a glance at the practitioners continuing to work,
Kureha went towards the cave's interior. Arriving at the deepest part, where
not even the light from the crystal pillar reached, she softly began to float.
It didn't have the sense of speed similar to Fuutsushi flying by
wearing wind. It was a gentle float as if the body would be slightly
lighter than the atmosphere, giving the impression of a balloon or a blimp.
Going beyond the ceiling of the cave, Kureha continued
ascending. She quietly penetrated a shaft that opened in the ceiling, far from
any light source, a gap unnoticed by anyone. Rising about four or five meters
in the pit, Kureha chanted a small incantation.
"Light"
After frequent twinkling, the soft light born in the air
illuminated the pit's appearance.
The pit had a diameter of roughly ten meters and a clean,
bowling round shape. It seems it doesn't connect with the above ground but it
is fairly long. No matter how you think about it, it wasn't made by nature. And
in the center of it, there was a rock.
A cluster of rocks arranged in a rough elliptical shape.
If you consider this is a huge cave underground, it's not
something especially unusual. That is, if you consider the fact that it is
floating in the air without any kind of support.
"Fu fu"
Expressing a light smile, Kureha is approaching the rock lump.
And then she motionlessly stares at that surface. Because it was flowing in the
air, it was clear that was more than a lump of rocks.
On the surface the full length portrait of an elderly man was
thrown into relief.
Enjoyed from the bottom of her heart, she gazed at the man's
carving - it's hardened closed eyes, its expression warped with anguish. And
then, she spoke:
"Greetings, Father."
For a while there was no reaction. Still, gradually, little by
little, the rock lump began to shiver slightly.
Visibly moaning in agony, visibly twisting his humiliated body,
the rock lump continued its frail oscillation. And then -
"O.......oo.....ooooo......you......yoooooouuuuuu......"
The man's eyes, engraved in stone opened. That eye, glares at
Kureha floating in front and from the inorganic throat, curses spun out.
"You......Kurehaaaaaa.......haw dare......how dare
you........to your father......"
That thing was once referred to as Tsuwabuki Iwao.
Kureha and Mayumi's father, the man praised as the strongest
practitioner of the family - the man who, it was reported a week before, was
recuperating in his own room because of illness - right now was reduced to a
lump of rocks.
"Ah, that felt good."
That look full of hatred made Kureha's lips curve with
contemptuous ease.
"If you have no answer, I believe it's time for you to
die."
"Damn you....you....betrayer....."
Iwao groaned his words as if spitting blood, but he couldn't do
anything more than that. No matted how much power he possessed once, now he
can't move a finger and was nothing but a pitiful prisoner who had no choice
but to spit out his grudge.
Kureha sneered at that unsightly appearance.
"Having said you are the strongest Chijutsushi, how silly
of you unable to separate from the ground. Ignoring the poison that desecrated
the body, you had no choice but to assimilate rocks within reach to save your
life. That is truly unsightly."
She ridiculed him, enjoying herself from the bottom of her
heart.
It happened a week ago.
Iwao and Kureha - the parent and child mutually hating each
other, finally crossed swords in the big cave that was the sacred ground of the
family. Without a particle of leniency, both let out certain kill blows.
Thus Kureha's <
"Is that all it takes?" asked Kureha, visibly
disappointed.
"Known as the strongest, Father's might, is it really only
this amount?"
"You.....fool...."
His lungs becoming useless, together with the vividly red blood,
Iwao spit out curses.
"The Tsuwabuki Family's.........disgrace......."
"..........."
Kureha's reaction, regarding the abuse she got used to hearing
was the throwing of a small knife, dripping in poison, with one uninterested
long breath.
"Kuuuu........guh.....ahhhhhh"
Towards the suffering Iwao, Kureha sneered cheaply, merely
saying over her shoulder.
"I was thinking you will let me hear a somewhat fresh
utterance - but enough. Please die."
Kureha prepared the poisoned blade for the sake of this day. The
fact that the strongest Chijutsushi was killed by poison - when thinking of so
much disgrace, her body was trembling in a dark joy, but now it didn't even
matter.
But, before Kureha's eyes, preparing to deliver the final blow,
something she didn't anticipated happened.
A huge stone pillar rose from the ground, connecting Iwao to the
solid earth.
"........eh?"
Kureha promptly smashed the stone pillar. Immediately
suppressing any kind of link with the ground, only the spearhead of the stone
pillar was sized by Iwao and taken in, floating in the air.
Calculating the quantity of <
"I was somewhat surprised. That you were left with such
power - did he die?"
Iwao's vigor was only supposed to restrain the poison's progress
with all his might. So, when he revealed such a bold move, it wouldn't be
unusual for him to die the moment it was put in operation.
Still, just to be sure, ready to smash the mass of rock floating
in the air, Kureha frowned truly in doubt.
"Oh - "
Softly dancing in midair, she is drawing near the mass of rock.
And then she saw that, sticking on the surface.
".........pfuu....ahahahahahahahahahaha!!"
After becoming speechless for several seconds, Kureha's body was
convulsed with laughter to the point of breaking. In the corners of her eyes,
even tears were floating.
"Oh.....oh Father.....what a....what a...."
The lump of rock suspended in the air. On that surface was
clinging Iwao, changing into stone.
Kureha ridiculed that miserable shape to her heart's content.
The aim of her Father, she was seeing through it now for sure. Mustering the
remaining strength for one resuscitation move.
But at the time it was defeated, Iwao took extreme means for the
sake of surviving and changed himself to rock. Poison doesn't run in rocks.
Rocks do not die. By means of changing into an inorganic substance one second
before his death, Iwao suspended his own time.
"Good grief, what a filthy way of living or perhaps not
knowing when to give up, apparently not killing you instantly was the correct
decision. You have shown me such a pleasant performance."
No matter how much he was being ridiculed, Iwao could do nothing
anymore. Already without energy to even turn back but even assuming he could
turn back, immediately the poison would be taking his life.
Unless Kureha doesn't take down the mass of rock, he has no
choice but to carry on living changed to rock for eternity.
"I understand. In deference to the hatefulness of that
resignation, I will let you live a little longer. That is, until the moment I
fulfill my longstanding desire."
Despising her father's anguished face, Kureha laughed loudly one
more time.
Thus, Iwao managed to survive one more week. If, in this state,
it's accurate to say he is living.
"You.......do you understand what are you guilty of?"
Including an endless curse, Iwao muttered. Surely, that voice
didn't hold a simple personal grudge but was pregnant with the sense of duty,
as head of the family.
Keeping the beast's force in the bodies of the family who sealed
it at the cost of it's members' life.
The union with the sealed demon beast - that was the source of
Kureha's power - that was the reason that made Iwao decide on his daughter's
conviction.
For the Tsuwabuki Clan, who have been sealing the demon beast
for more than three hundred years, that may be called the most serious taboo,
above all else.
But, at Iwao's outcry, almost vomiting blood, Kureha laughed
lightly.
"But, wouldn't it have been wasteful? Although the long
awaited power is just in front of me, to just put it back to sleep......."
"You......you.....fool......!"
In response to Iwao's wrath, the rock cracked here and there and
broken pieces scattered.
A deed similar with scraping his body, but even so, his anger
didn't subside.
"What do you plan to do by locking me up in such a place?
Don't tell me, you want to release the demon beast?"
"Of course not."
The angry roar that once made the entire family yield was let go
past, like a gentle breeze. Kureha shrugged her shoulders.
"We are carrying out the ceremony smoothly. That is
correct, with the power of two sacrifices, I will show you a seal stronger than
ever."
"...two......?two, you said......!?"
"Yes, two. Ayumi and Mayumi. The only daughter you love, I
have decided to use her on this occasion."
The other daughter, the one who was not loved, raised words of
cruelty, together with a cynical smile.
The man's face, carved in stone, was warped with fury.
"I don't allow it! That alone I won't allow! I won't let
Mayumi become a sacrifice!"
"Then, what will you do? Can you do something with
that body locked in stone? Are you some acquittance of Sanzouhoushi[2]?"
"Guh.....mee....."
At Kureha's mockery, confident in her overwhelming superiority,
Iwao groaned.
"Why?" he asked, his voice carrying the sound of
supplication.
"Even if it's only Ayumi, she ought to be feasible for a
satisfactory seal. To even use Mayumi, what is your purpose? If.. if you wish
for the family's hegemony, then - "
"I don't."
Kureha coldly discarded Iwao's proposal.
"I have no use for such a thing. My goal is consistent with
what I said earlier - the effective practical use of resources."
"Wh..at....?"
Frowning, Iwao asked back, in doubt. But midway he perceived
something and his body - or perhaps the mass of rock trembled as if stuck by
lightning. Opening his narrow eyes to the utmost limit, he stared at Kureha's
thin smile. As his doubt turned into conviction, that look was painted with
nothing but pure horror.
"Y - you....you....never - !"
Abstaining from that light smile, Kureha indifferently starred
at her father, trembling with fear.
"Fu, fufufufu - "
That irrepressible chuckle reverberated in the gloomy prison.
Part 2[edit]
"As I thought, you came, huh?"
Ren didn't show any surprise, seeing that Yuuji was expecting
him very matter of course.
It was very simple.
If it happens someone would stand up in front of him and block
his way, that would be no one else but Yuuji.
However, having come this far, Ren had no intention of
prolonging the fight. This boy that dislikes conflict opened his mouth in order
to somehow settle this peacefully.
"Good evening."
"..............."
Yuuji's severely strained face, relaxed for a moment, visibly
tired. He asked in a somewhat reluctant manner.
"You....why did you come here?"
"Well..."
What does he want to do, the answer he finally arrived at after
thinking about it, Ren spoke it slowly as if trying to ascertain its value by
putting it into words.
"I want to meet Ayumi-chan once more. I have no intention
of getting in the way of the ceremony this time so, won't you please let us
pass?"
It was a proposal full of candor. However it's not always true
that tractability is a necessary virtue at any age.
"...huh"
Yuuji gave up as hopeless Ren's childish bullshit and instead
focused on Ayano who was looking at both of them from a little distance.
"And you?"
Ayano waved her hands, appearing to say <
"Ah, I am Ren's escort. Think of me like nothing but
air."
"As if!"
Yuuji became exasperated faced with these two whose remarks made
it seem they didn't understand the situation.
"Get out, both of you! We're kind of busy, you know!!"
"...I'm afraid that is impossible."
Finally gave up on this pointless conversation, Ren reversed his
submissive attitude. Obviously, with a battle attitude.
"I'll meet Ayumi-chan once more. I decided so. If you get
in the way-"
"What a talkative chap."
Yuuji coldly interrupted Ren's statement.
"If you can't win a theoretical argument, only then are you
ready to dirty your hands? That degree of resolution is pointless. Just go back
home before you hurt yourself."
Those words were so full of confidence you wouldn't even
consider he lost just yesterday. Taking that slight as a personal offense,
Ayano raised her eyebrows with a twitch.
"Hey, why is this guy so proud?"
She came forth with loud footsteps. Enraiha has yet to be drawn
but it's clear from her attitude she's asking for a fight.
Her scarlet gold aura gushing out, Ayano declares proudly.
"Do you want me to teach you in detail what happens when
you let your big mouth run about in front of two direct descendants of
Kannagi?"
But, she couldn't advance any further. Raising his hand, Ren
obstructed Ayano's way.
"Please wait."
"Wait a minute, do you still want to..."
Ren shook his head at the scowling Ayano.
"No, it's not like that- "
And then, he faced Yuuji.
"I'll do it. Onee-sama please stand back."
"............"
In silence, Ayano alternatively looked at both Ren and Yuuji.
They seemed to be locked on each other.
To force one's way through in that atmosphere requires a great
deal of nerve, courage and insensibility.
Letting out a bored sight Ayano gave up on intervening.
"...Well, we still have a bit of time."
Besides, the opponent already lost once. There's no problem,
even if she were to remain a spectator.
"Be careful."
And with that, she took her distance from the two.
She was prepared to jump in at any moment but, for the time
being, she is entrusting Ren.
"Do your best."
Even if she knew he couldn't hear it, still, Ayano cheers for
Ren a little.
"Could you please step aside ~ you do know you can't win
against me?"
Even if he thought it was pointless Ren tried to persuade him
just once more. To say it plainly, it became nothing more than a provocation
and Yuuji, without moving a single muscle, rejected that proposal.
"Enough of that repetitious talk!"
Placing killing intent on his frozen voice, Yuuji loudly roared.
"Just try to kill this me if you can!"
" -!!"
Feeling Yuuji's <
"Using that cheap trick?"
Together with an angry roar, a huge amount of pebbles - enough
to fill his vision - approached Ren. Because each and every one was fired with
bullet-like speed, receiving that attack, the human body would become more than
just covered in holes but crushed like minced meat and the corpse impossible to
identify.
"Yaaa!!!"
Raising a high, clear soprano yell Ren swung down his right
hand. The golden flame that gushed out burned the countless stones to nothing.
However -
"Am I being pressed down?"
In Ren's pupil both surprise and shudder dwell. Those pebbles
are really forcing back the fire torrent. Although he's not yet using his whole
power, he included enough of it to thoroughly defeat someone like Yuuji from
last night.
"Kuuuu- "
In a panic, Ren raised the heating power. But, faster than that,
Yuuji made his move. Drawing nearer while concealing himself in the stream of
throwing stones, he suddenly appeared before Ren's eyes.
" -!!"
He was completely taken by surprise. Without wasting time on
interception, he was forced into close combat.
Barely managing to avoid a straight hit from right overhead, he
wasn't able to avoid a left middle kick that was sent from the opposite angle.
"Kuuuu!!"
Although just barely managing to defend himself, Ren, shorter
and younger, couldn't stop the kick of a highly trained adult. His arms
sustained the damage but were blown off, and he was thrown in the fence.
"Ren!"
"I'm...fine..."
While shaking his head, Ren stood up. It didn't seem Yuuji would
pursue. Taking a short distance, he calmly observed the degree of damage he
inflicted.
Is this what it comes down to?
Voiceless, Ren groaned.
For a spirit practitioner, from the power they are manipulating
- for an Enjutsushi fire, for a Chijutsushi earth and rocks they don't receive
any damage.
For this reason, they can jump right into the Jutsu they created
and be able to use it as camouflage or protective wall.
It's not really an original move. You could say it's one of the
basics.
And yet, up until now Yuuji didn't try to use it, in spite of
the fact that when thinking about the physique difference, close combat is
advantageous.
Before, he had an aim. Not just to defeat Ren but to verify that
"when facing an Enjutsushi a Chijutsushi is superior."
He was being conceited.
But Yuuji right now held no arrogance. Not as a Jutsushi but as
a single human being, he used all his power to defeat the enemy - that's all he
was thinking.
In general, rather than the fact that he had become more
powerful, his stubbornness in paying no attention to his behavior was far more
dangerous to Ren.
Agreement or no agreement, he was being taught a lesson about
the strength of a person ready for death.
"But even I cannot yield on this - I'm not going to
lose!"
"Shut it, brat!"
Both their will powers turned to force and clashed. The
devastating fire storm swallowed all the cracks produced one after another. Weaving
their way in the explosion made by the red hot plasma and gigantic rocks
crashing into each other, their fists met.
It seems it was a negligence. In regards to the result of the
hand to hand fight, without even thinking about it, it will remain the same. It
was obvious.
A twelve years old child versus an adult male. If it comes down
to who has a more trained body, Yuuji's is superior. It was impossible to lose.
Therefore, he must have been negligent.
So, at the time his thrust, powerful enough to pulverize the
brain and splat spinal fluid everywhere was beautifully evaded, Yuuji lost
sight of Ren's figure completely.
One moment later, when he spotted him again, Ren slipped his
extended arm in Yuuji's blind spot and his elbow hit him in the pit of the
stomach.
That kinetic energy resulted from a rush similar to
teleportation was all poured in one blow. That shock, stronger than his drilled
abs crushed Yuuji's stomach and escaped trough his back.
His heavy built body lightly danced in mid air. Beside the fact
that Yuuji would have fallen down eventually Ren concentrated his consciousness
and power.
"Gooooooo!!"
Four thin refined heat rays accurately shot out the joints of
his legs and shoulders. Yuuji's body fell like a puppet and rolled down in one
of the craters one of them made. There, Ren delivered the final blow.
The giant fireball he brought down from overhead completely
covered the crater like a lid. And then - one instance later it exploded.
Ayano, overcome with surprise for a little while, finally spoke
with a stunned expression.
".......even without the direct hit, don't you think this
is overkill?"
The last blow Ren fired avoided to directly hit like last time
and only gave the shock wave damage. But even so, if a normal human were to
receive so much shock he would have died ten times already. It was that degree
of detonation.
"No, but it should be powerful enough to beat a
Chijutsushi."
"I think that at that level you won't have that
problem..."
While answering, Ayano peered into the bottom of the crater.
Starring inside the dust, she saw a shadow that for some reason did not seem
human.
"Wow this is amazing. All his limbs are still
connected."
"............Nee-sama, if you have something to say, how
about you say it clearly?", Ren replied with a sulky voice at Ayano's
heavy sarcasm.
While saying that, the dust cleared and the state at the bottom
could be seen much easier. Yuuji's face could be clearly seen.
"Oh, unexpected but he's still human-shaped."
"........Nee-sama......"
Ren took offense but like Ayano said, Yuuji's body retained it's
shape well enough. Without becoming flat and crushed by the pressure he was
firmly and roughly left behind. It seems that one way or another he survived.
"Well, I wonder if I should say you crushed him just right.
To heal it all maybe one or two months will do the trick I guess."
"Yes."
While it seemed his broken bones cured unexpectedly easy, the
four holes that opened at the base of his limbs evaporated both his bones and
flesh. As one would expect it was impossible to immediately regenerate those.
"Well then, let's go forward."
"Yes."
Deciding that Yuuji became powerless, those two head towards the
interior of the mansion. But, as if choosing the moment the pair turned its
back to the crater, a voice stopped them from the back.
"Wait..."
".............eh?"
Hearing the chilly, dry voice Ayano's facial expression changed.
In a strained voice, she asked Ren.
"The voice right now, who was it?"
"...................."
Without replying Ren pointed his gaze at the bottom of the
crater. Ayano too understood. That was Yuuji's voice. But, that voice was too
calm. As if the person uttering it had no injuries.
Raising his head from the bottom of the crater Yuuji stared at
Ren. His hip joints had holes in them so it should have been impossible for him
to get up. His fighting strength was supposed to be zero. And yet...
"How about you stop? From here on it's a matter of life and
death."
Yuuji ignored Ayano's pointless proposal. His eyes were firmly
set on only Ren.
"As I thought, I can reach you , the way I am right
now."
With a serene facial expression, unbecoming of a severely
wounded person, Yuuji murmured so. Sensing a certain something from those
words, Ayano ordered Ren with a sharpness different from before.
"Ren, give him the finishing blow. Enough to obliterate his
very cells."
"Killing him would be useless."
While being just as vigilant, Ren rejected Ayano's order.
Although understanding that something will happen if he was left unattended, he
still couldn't do it.
Even if I kill in order to meet her, Ayumi-chan won't be
pleased.
No matter how much he himself wanted to do it, that was
insignificant when compared with making her sad.
"Alright."
Suddenly, Yuuji murmured in a low voice. The pair of eyes that
were supposed to stare at Ren, before one knows were looking up at the sky
overhead. For some reason that gaze reminded Ren once more of Ayumi's, the
first time he met her. As if that was the last opportunity, the earnest pupil
looking up to the moon.
"Alright. I'll join your scheme. Whether it's my life or my
soul, take whatever you need. So - so, in exchange - "
The hand that was supposed to be paralyzed was grasped tightly.
Bearing up in tragedy, opening his eyes, literally throwing everything away
Yuuji shouts:
"Give me power!!"
"Shall I give you power?"
In front of Mayumi sealed in the crystal pillar, Kureha whispered
so. But, obviously there is no way to earn power free of charge. Compensation
must be given.
If you choose to loose your humanity...
Thus, Kureha didn't hide even that. For the first time he
understood.
That no matter what compensation she wanted, Yuuji had no right
to refuse.
In fact, Yuuji didn't hesitate. About fusing with a demon beast
and becoming one being with Kureha. Violating the family's greatest taboo and
becoming a criminal that could never be permitted.
But that was not the only danger. The power that exceeds the
vessel becomes an excessive burden for the body. Different from the way Kureha
did it, spending time on getting accustomed to it little by little, if he were
to receive a large amount of power at once, the power will force the body to
change.
"If you so wish, the Majyu (trad: demon beast) will give
you an infinite amount of power."
Kureha warned him carefully. That point at least was honest.
'"But a power that becomes too great will snatch away your
human form. And eventually, even your human heart. Try to be careful. Fall back
before recovery becomes impossible."'
But simultaneously, Yuuji was convinced that Kureha wished him
to go beyond recovery. For his power to rampage and to be turned into a monster
that was her real purpose, or at least a part of it.
But that's fine.
He will protect Mayumi. That was his one absolute mission. If
it's for that reason, he doesn't regret throwing away everything else.
That's what he decided. On that day, five years before -
Ojou-sama......if it's you.......certainly.........
The last moment as a human, when he decided his fate, he thought
back that moment.
Gachin!
That kiss tasted like blood.
The grand vigor made their teeth clash and the lips in-between
cut. The crash and pain made them see sparks.
"Hyaaa...."
He was trying to complain but the stiff lips couldn't
successfully pronounce it. When holding his hand to his lips, his palm became
wet with a lukewarm liquid.
While quipping the blood from his soiled clothes with a
handkerchief he overlooked the small attacker.
That side deemed to have received considerable damage, squatting
down and moaning.
Trying to get rid of his clumsy voice, Yuuji talked with
caution.
"What are you trying to do so suddenly, Ojou-sama?"
Thereupon, Mayumi boldly stood up and stared at Yuuji with eyes
wet from tears.
"That was my first kiss. Take responsibility."
"Wha......."
That was absurd. That was excessively pushy. But the bewildered
Yuuji was relentlessly driven into a corner by Mayumi.
"What's this, this is not manly at all. If you say such
mushy words I'll tell Father Yuuji forcibly kissed me."
"Ha - have mercy!"
Reminded of Iwao's face doting on his daughter, the muscles on
Yuuji's back trembled. If she were to say such a thing, there is no doubt about
it, he would get the capital punishment.
"It's not like my responsibility came off, right? What are
you telling me to do?"
"Stay close to me."
At Yuuji's distracted shout, Mayumi answered in a frighteningly
quiet voice.
".......eh?"
"Always stay close to me. Don't leave even for a second.
Don't think about anything else and look only at me."
That was a strange way of talking. Considering only her words,
they seemed full of passionate courting but her tone had no particle of
sweetness.
They were like the urgent words of a seriously ill person that
held its last wish on death's door.
Yuuji turned a pained expression upon Mayumi.
"........Did you find out?"
"That this year thirty years will have past?"
Mayumi answered the question with another question. But the
question itself became a clear response to Yuuji's.
From the last ceremony thirty years passed. The mountain's
spirit, although calmed down at the moment could activate at any moment. In a
not too far future, the ceremony will invariably take place. And just like
before the Chijutsushi's life will be sacrificed.
"Do you know what the Head is trying to do?"
"It's impossible.", Mayumi answered bluntly.
I would rather not harbor such half hearted hopes - from her
tone the murmur of her true heart could be heard.
"It's something that was never possible before. It's almost
certainly impossible now. Someday I will loose my life to calm the mountain.
The same way as until now, right?"
"Ojou-sama........."
"It doesn't mean I don't want to. After all, that is our
mission. This is what we exist for. However."
Completely changing from her crushed to death tone, Mayumi
talked on and on bursting out.
"But it's still frightening! It's not like I'm not afraid
of death. I cannot help but feel like running away. Why does it have to be me?
Why do I have to die no matter what? WHY?"
"O- Ojou-sama......."
Taking a sidelong glance at the nervous Yuuji, troubled because
of it, Mayumi promptly regained her calm. Weeping off her tears she said in a
broken tone.
"I feel so refreshed after letting it out."
"....eh?"
"After all, I wished for someone I can be with this way. I
cannot entrust it to a loose-tongued servant, nor can I worry my father even
more."
"...........because of that, it was me?"
Mayumi nodded at Yuuji's disappointed tone.
"That's right. I picked you. For the years until I die, I
will be given your life. Look only at me, worry only about me, live only for
me. I already gave your remuneration, so you don't have a say in this."
".........is the remuneration the earlier head butt?"
"A kiss, it's a kiss!"
Mayumi answered back very seriously.
"The sacrifice of my purity should obligate you, so I won't
do it ever again. That was my first and last kiss. It was something extremely
rare so be grateful!"
"................."
Yuuji didn't answer.
From his standpoint he couldn't refuse but an almost adult man
being glad because a thirteen years old girl kissed him would be problematic
from another point of view.
Mayumi's glance, when looking up at the bitter Yuuji, gradually
became uneasy. Looking hard at him with upturned eyes, she said in a sulky
tone.
"It's not that long a period. No matter how much Father
will delay it, it's at the most five or six years. If it's only that much
selfishness, can't you put up with it?"
".................."
With a sigh, Yuuji accepted the girl's persuasion.
It can't be helped. It's also the responsibility of adults to
listen to children's whim. In the near future, Mayumi will become the sacrifice
and she is certainly a pitiful child.
"I understand. It's fine if I become Ojou-sama's sandbag
right?"
That was a very irresponsible response but even so Mayumi bowed
her head, eyes sparkling.
"Yes, that's right! You will listen to everything I say!
And, if I ever try to run away - "
Hearing that unpardonable speech, Yuuji's alertness
strengthened. If she were to say <
But Mayumi said so:
"If it comes to that, you have to catch me no matter what.
Don't you ever let me escape."
"..............!!"
Yuuji stared hard at Mayumi catching his breath. He backed off,
pressed down in front of those direct eyes that didn't have a particle of a
child's dependance.
Arriving at this moment, he finally noticed his own
misunderstanding.
Mayumi didn't seek a target for her childish egotistic anger.
Accepting the family's real responsibility, she searched for someone who could
support her weak self that could be crushed at any moment.
Feeling ashamed of his own ignorance, Yuuji knelt in a formal
posture.
"Mayumi-sama, from this day on I offer you all of my
loyalty."
"..........Thank you. It will be relied on."
Mayumi too, accepted it in a ceremonious tone. But, suddenly her
attitude changed.
"Hey, Yuuji."
"........what?"
With a smile meant to tease Yuuji's upturned face, Mayumi
whispered.
"If it turns out I don't have to become a sacrifice - at
that time let's continue that kiss, shall we?"
At Mayumi's words said with a little shyness appropriate for her
age, Yuuji replied smiling.
"Yes - With pleasure."
In the five years that followed, Mayumi didn't speak of that day
once. By any chance, perhaps she forgot. Perhaps that was a meaningless
promise, something that suddenly came into a child's mind.
But even so that was the day Yuuji decided. Even if it's all the
family, even if it's the head standing at the peak of it, he dedicates all his
loyalty to Mayumi only.
Whether it is the relationship between a man and a woman, the
contract between a master and servant, the pledge of a knight to protect the
noble lady or if it was something different altogether, Yuuji didn't think
about the nature of their relationship, not even once. Because such things
didn't matter.
There was only one valuable thing. To protect Mayumi and Mayumi
only. Only that decision, sacred above all else.
No matter what he has to throw away, even if he were to
sacrifice all else.
I will definitely protect you!!
Due to the influx of power, both his heart and body changed. But
that most important emotion could never disappear from inside him.
No matter who tried to, only that couldn't be snatched away.
Part 3[edit]
The ground was violently rumbling. Even if it's Ayano or Ren,
unrelated to the Spirits of the earth, they understood the show of high density
power, the activation of the earth pulse to the extent of seeing its radiation.
"Wait a second........this is......."
Seeing the endlessly congregation of enormous power gathering at
one point, Ayano's face became stiff.
"Ren! Without delay - "
"I told you that's no good!"
While answering in that manner, Ren's complexion was bad
nevertheless.
At the bottom of the crater shrouded in dust, a power like that of
a volcano on the verge of erupting was coming together. The focal point of it
it's probably Yuuji.
However -
Can he control this kind of power?
The aggregate amount of the converging power clearly reached
tenfold of Yuuji's original strength. It doesn't seem he can control it very
well.
He took a defensive stance against a probable spontaneous
discharge but no matter how much time passes, the fearful shock doesn't come.
Rather, the ground's vibration and the influx of power are in the process of
being stilled.
" Which means....."
Timidly shifting his attention, the dust acting like a screen
vanished in an instant. At once the field of vision cleared and the bottom of
the crater became visible.
"...........uaaa!"
He let out an exclamation unintentionally. A three meter tall
giant was standing there.
It's surface was thoroughly covered in hard stone. Or perhaps it
was made of stone to the core.
Its hands and legs, its head, the basic components were
human-like but all its separate parts were angular. Its extremities were very
thick and its fists much bigger than its head.
Although resembling, that silhouette had delicate deviations
from the human form, and if a similarity must be found, maybe a robot appearing
in an anime would be closest.
"................it feels like something really amazing
appeared, right?"
While throwing a sidelong glance at the dumbfounded Ren, who
murmured so, Ayano asked for confirmation.
"Do you still want to go at it alone?"
Ren nodded with no hesitation.
"Well, I'll see how far I can go. If it becomes dangerous
please save me, OK?"
Ayano responded at Ren's joke-like smile, deadly serious.
"That's what I was planning to do but...do try not to
instantly die."
"...........I'll be careful."
While overlooking the rock giant standing in the crater, Ren
thought so.
That must be Yuuji's former self but...did it retain any
consciousness?
The answer appeared instantly. The giant that up until now stood
still, started to move as if inspecting its body.
Holding his hand before its face, gripping his fist and relaxing
it. Doing it all over again with the other hand, lowering his gaze and
inspecting his body and feet.
And then circling his head, it made a complete rotation. He
carefully observes his back.
"...............I see."
From the giant's mouth a dry murmur escaped. Although somewhat
lowered and cracked, that was definitely Yuuji's voice.
"Is this......power......?"
The face made of rocks showed a self derisive smile. Without
knowing why, Ren clearly understood that.
The rock giant - Yuuji lifted his head and seized Ren. And then
he said:
"Are you laughing at me, reduced to this appearance,
brat?"
"..................."
"But I don't regret it. If this will protect Ojou-sama, I
don't care about being degraded to a monster. This is my resolution! Do you
think you can break it!?"
"........................"
Ren didn't say a word. For the sake of that one important thing
to throw away everything else, not looking back at the fact that he himself
would become a victim, he had no choice but be overwhelmed by that sort of firm
determination.
But although he was speechless, somewhere in his heart, he
thought about denying such a thing.
Is <
So far, Ren was mostly in the place of the one being protected.
Protected by Kazuma, protected by Ayano, by a lot of other people, always being
protected.
This uncomfortable feeling he didn't feel from them, he felt it
now from Yuuji. Especially Kazuma. For that brother of his to say Even in
exchange of my life, I will definitely protect you!, he just couldn't
imagine it.
Is it because he's strong? No. It's not just that. Between this
man and Onii-sama something at a fundamental level is different......
He had the feeling he understood something.
<
And that was -
"Let's go!"
But, the answer he finally grasped, was washed away in a torrent
of earth and sand. Sensing a terrific force, Ren released the flame with all
its power.
"Kuuuu!"
The backlash that almost blew him away was firmly withstood by
his legs. He was being pressed down.
Experiencing for the first time in his life loosing by misusing
his powers, Ren felt horror.
The moment he tried to concentrate his mind on straining his
power even more, Ayano's voice shouted in his ears.
"Behind you!"
"!!"
Reflexively, Ren jumped forward. Simultaneously he expended a
flame barrier at the back. However, breaking through even that barrier the rock
fist hit Ren's back.
Chasing Ren, that flew like a shell, the rocky build was changed
into a hurricane. Catching up with Ren flying in the air in the twinkling of an
eye, the giant's leg that wasn't by no means inferior to his hands, flung Ren
up, right overhead.
"Kuuuu......"
The only thing that Ren could do in the space between Yuuji's
leg and his own body was to interpose a small fireball.
The detonation of the fireball slightly decreased the kick's
power, but Ren's body soared even higher in the sky.
"Guuu...haaa...."
Even higher than his body, his consciousness that flew beyond
the clouds was restored by the wave motion of a mighty power. The ground's
ominous howl could be heard.
Something with an unbelievable amount of attack power is coming.
This is bad....if I don't counter-attack it........
Although thinking that, his muddy consciousness can't
concentrate to the level of invoking the Juutsu. At his wits end, he had no
choice but to wait for the fatal attack.
But -
"Gobaah!"
The one blew away was Yuuji. A sharpened wind blade cut through
the rock on both his arms and diagonally slashed deeply in torso, from the
shoulder downwards.
".....eh? Wh - what......"
At the excessively convenient development, for a second Ren's
brain failed to understand. Continuing to fall down in a daze, he doesn't
notice the earth is rapidly closing.
But a soft wind stopped Ren gently. A strong arm caught his body
fluttering like a feather, embracing it.
The sensation of that arm, Ren recognized it as something very
familiar. Without having to look at his face, he understood.
"You guys, what are you doing at this place?"
A composed voice with no feeling of tension whatsoever. A
presence always firm. There is no mistake. And yet, fearful of the one in a
million chance, Ren nervously looked up to the man's face.
The usual cynical smile was right there.
"Onii-sama!"
"Yo. First of all, it's good you're alive. Don't be so
reckless."
With the usual mood, Yagami Kazuma smiled.
"So, what are you guys doing?"
Once again, Kazuma asked in wonder. But at that point, Ayano was
drawing near with a changed expression.
"Kazumaaaaaaaa!!"
"Hey, what's up? You seem kind of angry for some
reason."
"That's because I am angry!", Ayano retaliated as if
trying to hit him.
"Where have you been until now? You don't even answer your
phone!"
"Where you ask, because of my job I was here all this time.
Now that you say it, I did close my phone."
He took the phone from his pocket and turned it on. Both the
incoming log and the answering machine were buried with phones from Ayano.
"You.........this is quite a breach of
manners........."
"Then answer it already! Leaving that aside, whose job is
it?"
"This things."
Kazuma pointed at a place on his left, obliquely upwards.
Following the line of that finger Ayano recognized it for the first time.
"Long time no see!"
A small fairy waved her hand. Remembering the large turmoil that
thing created Ayano instantly flipped out.
"Ahhh! Yooouuuuu!"
"Kyaaa - so scary. Help me Kazuma ♥."
As expected Tiana hid behind Kazuma. But suddenly Kazuma's hand
reached out and grabbed her body and carelessly flung her aside.
"I don't remember being requested to be your bodyguard."
"Eh! Such a thing - . If I die the compensation
will......."
"You're not the one who will pay the compensation. I will
claim it directly from the fairy's patriarch."
"Auuuuu...such a thing.....Uhyaaa!?"
Tiana barely managed to avoid the flame sword swung from the
back with no hesitation. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Ayano, Enraiha set
up, aiming at her. Her eyes were serious.
"Don't you move, you evil fairy!"
"Kyaaa!"
The pair that started playing tag was strangely watched by
Kazuma and Ren.
"She's so easy-going, really."
"Errr....Onii-sama, that is........."
"Ah, you were fortunate enough not to see it before. That's
called a Pixie, a sinful living thing whose tiny body is loaded with cunning.
If you get involved with it you will meet misfortune like a certain idiot, so
be careful."
Kazuma's irresponsible explanation raised voices of protest full
of anger. Two, to be exact.
"What are you saying!"
'"What are you saying!"'
At the complete harmony of voice and thought, Ren
unintentionally sniggered. Controlling both of them trying to complain about
it, Kazuma pointed forward.
"Well, the comical story ends here. That thing is still
alive."
There, a Yuuji turned to stone tumbled. There was no indication
of him starting to move but it seems he wasn't dead yet. The evidence for it
were both his cut off arms that already connected and the wound from the
diagonal slash was rapidly being closed. Ayano snorted her nose in
dissatisfaction.
"Why did you fail killing him? Were you going easy on
him?"
"It was unexpectedly tough. But that's not particularly
troublesome."
Kazuma lightly shrugged his shoulders and molded a wind blade
that will certainly kill him this time.
"Please wait. I am that person's opponent."
"You are? By yourself?"
Ren nodded twice.
For a short while Kazuma compared Ren and Yuuji, looking sullen,
but as if being pushed back by Ren's determined face, he accepted that
proposal.
Letting Ren down from his arms, Kazuma informed him shortly.
"Do your best."
"Yes!"
Ren vigorously replied and started walking towards Yuuji, whose
body was still creaking, but after advancing a few steps he looked over his
shoulder.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Say it.", Kazuma coolly nodded.
"Onii-sama, do you think you could die for the sake of
protecting me?"
"No."
"Why is that?"
"Because my life is mine and mine alone. I wouldn't do it
for anyone and burdening someone with it is unthinkable."
Without a speck of hesitation, Kazuma declared so.
"Beside, if I were to die while protecting you, that would
be boring. Everyone might as well become happy."
"....................."
After a few seconds of silence, Ren nodded expressing a really
gentle smile.
"That's right. That's so right."
"I know right?"
"Yes! I'll be going now."
"All right."
Kazuma waved his hand at the running Ren, and focused his gaze
on Ayano standing beside him.
"What.....?"
Looking at Kazuma with a gaze full of meaning, Ayano asked with
an even stronger doubtful look.
"No way - have you heard it all since the beginning?"
"What exactly?"
"...................."
Of course, she understood that couldn't possibly be true. No
matter what reason, Kazuma wouldn't overlook Ren when in danger.
Clearly Kazuma didn't know anything, and despite that, it seems
he saw through everything and with merely a few words he disentangled Ren's
bewilderment.
The moments you can sense the greatness of this man's capacity
are always like this. In spite of his usual devil-may-care attitude, when it's
important he's more reliable that anyone else.
If he were normally like this I.....
She suddenly realized that Kazuma was still focusing on her.
With a gaze full of wonder, as if seeing a new species.
While she herself was agitated to this extent, Kazuma seemed
calmed in all respects. Finding that difference really irritating Ayano turned
away in annoyance.
"How shitty."
Part 4[edit]
"I thought something was weird - "
In response to the tsunami-like torrent of earth and sand that
closed it, Ren used a high-density barrier that will protect only his
circumference.
"I thought something was weird - "
The earth spears that tried to grow almost like snakes
underneath his feet, he dodged with light back-steps. Just as he thought. Even
if his brute strength was in a different league, his aim was off. He didn't
control the vast power newly obtained. If he were to use that gap, this was an
opponent he could defeat.
"The uncomfortable feeling I couldn't put into words. What
was the meaning of it, I understand it now. Accepting to become the sacrifice
is not strength. Throwing away your own self is not kindness. Your words are
only trying to justify your own weakness!"
"Wh....at....!"
The stone face was warped in anger. The angry roar changed to
shock wave, the ground and the atmosphere trembled.
"You're saying this is weakness in front of me!? Without
the resolution to dirty your hands, without being able to decide what you
should do, a brat whose only loitering around!?"
"If so, what are you doing? Do you think Mayumi-san
will be glad to see you in this ugly shape?", Ren vehemently retorted.
"To protect someone is not to let them live. It is to not
make them sad. It's to make them happy! Only for them to live, that's
pointless!"
Let's all become happy - as a matter of course, Kazuma said so.
That's right, it was something obvious. Very ordinary,
unsurprisingly mundane - because it was the most valuable, he made efforts to
protect it.
"Is Mayumi-san the kind of person to survive as long as you
become a sacrifice? Is she the kind of human being fine with being the only one
to survive? If that's not true, if your existence has even a bit of value to
her, than you can't die! You can't let her be burdened with your life!"
"Th- that's only whitewashing prattle!", Yuuji shouted
entrusting it to anger but -
"A man who lost his sense of reality has no right to get in
my way!", Ren retorted on the spot.
"<
Right now, Ren is perfectly overpowering Yuuji. The Ren who embraces
his ideal persistently and Yuuji who lost to reality trying to reach his goal
to the utmost limit - the judgement on which one is correct we leave it to the
individual but, as far as empty theory goes, Ren's side has more force.
"I - I won't let anyone become a sacrifice. Without loosing
anything, I will protect everything - and then I will save Ayumi-chan!"
No matter how you look at it, the reckless discourse that
doesn't seem at all practical but for some reason Yuuji felt like he lost the
mental battle.
"Ohh - "
While viewing the battle between those two, whose eyes became
strangely subdued, Kazuma quietly clapped his hands. And then, turned his
attention on Ayano.
"So, Ayano - "
"What?"
"I demand an explanation of the situation. Why is our
Ren-kun fighting the rock doll at this kind of place and it's forcing the
grassy-smelling <
"Rock doll you say............that's kind of a
human.........."
Kazuma unnaturally forced his eyes wide.
"That thing? That's an excellent shark skin you can see
right there. Please teach him at least some skin care tricks."
"......................."
Seeing Kazuma acting too much like he always does, spontaneously
Ayano crouched down, greatly perplexed.
".............how should I say this, you're very good at
spoiling such a serious atmosphere?"
"Flattery won't get you anywhere ♬."
"I'm not flattering you!"
The retort at full power was obviously ignored by Kazuma.
Playing innocent in front of the previous conversation, he asked a second time.
" - so? ♬"
"...............to put it simply, Ren fell in love at first
sight with the girl who will become the sacrifice. And now, he apparently
decided he wants to save her."
Ayano roughly explained all that happened until now.
"Hmmm - did Ren reach such an age?"
Without thinking deeply enough Kazuma nodded but when he finally
noticed his complexion changed.
"Which means...hey!? That thing - "
"He knows."
Ayano coldly controlled Kazuma's words.
"Both me and Ren, we know it all."
"Is that so?"
"That's right. That's why don't you ever say that thing.
At least not in front of the kid."
"........................."
Kazuma didn't reply.
A heavy silence was flowing.
The rock asked.
"Do you understand what are you saying?"
"I think so.", the boy replied.
"Do you think you can do it?"
"I have no choice but to do it."
The rock was silent. The boy too, had nothing more to say.
No, just one more thing.
"Please move aside.", he told him quietly.
"I already lost my reason to fight with you anymore. Leave
the rest to me."
"That's impossible.", Yuuji coldly declared.
"The reason to fight didn't change. To protect Ojou-sama I
will kill you. No, I will kill all of you. That is my responsibility."
"Why - "
"You're noisy."
Ren understood it was meaningless to repeat his words. It was
impossible to change Yuuji's will. For the sake of going forward he has no
choice but to bring him down.
Resolving himself, Ren changed his stance. Yuuji too, polished
his power for the sake of his strongest attack.
"If you are serious, defeat the likes of me with one blow.
If you can't do it, it means all you said are thoughtless words."
Ren was quiet. He was concentrating on the enemy in front of
him.
He must win. But just winning is not enough. To make his ideal
reality, he need a superior power from the one until now.
Power - I want power.
At the same time, both thought the same thing. Because even
their goal was the same, to reach a conclusion ordinary methods were mutually
exclusive.
"!!"
"Oooaaaaaaa!!"
There was no need for a signal. As if mutually arranging it,
both of them squeezed out the maximum level of power. A surging sea of earth
and sand covered the field of vision. That was an overwhelming mass. The most
steady <
The mountain is only one - it was something that descended all
at once. It couldn't be opposed with a half-hearted flame.
As for Ren -
From the palms he pushed out, a flame of pale golden was
released. Different from the usual dazzling radiance. It's color very pale, the
flame was hazy as if the movement of the atmosphere could erase it.
The flame met the earth and almost like an illusion slipped
through it.
The flickering flame definitely burned something inside Yuuji
and came out through his back. And then, as a matter of course the stream of
earth drew near Ren.
Gooouuuu!!
The wind knocked it all down.
"Good grief - ", Kazuma said with a bitter smile
"If you want to do such a thing say it first."
"It's because I was sure you will save me..."
Ren was furiously panting because of weariness but even so he
showed a bright smile.
And then, only one person who had yet to understand the
situation remained.
"Wa - wait - what happened just now?"
"........................."
Staring at Ayano with a gaze full of eloquence, he
ostentatiously sighted.
"Wh- what........?"
"You see, Ren changed that man and only purified the
foreign element. Without affecting anything else."
"..............eeh?"
"See for yourself."
Kazuma pointed at the fallen, unmoving Yuuji.
"He's still alive."
Looking at him, Yuuji's rock shell crumbled and from inside his
human skin started to show.
Without a single damage to his body he was purified by something
that only burned the negative influence, something that even Ayano couldn't
use, the highest class of craft.
"Ren......did that?"
Looking at Ren full of wonder, at the kid she treated as her
brother, the one she thought of as not yet half a man, she was embarrassed but
still smiled proudly.
Kazuma looked down on Ayano with a smile carved from sarcasm.
"You, even if you succeeded Enraiha if you're slacking off
Ren will take the position of the next Head from you. Or rather - if you were
without Enraiha right now wouldn't Ren be the stronger one?"
"Th- that not true!!"
Ayano reflexively retorted but truthfully her self-confidence
was pretty much shaken.
Before one knows........I can't be negligent around him...
She looked hard at Ren with half-opened eyes. Noticing that
look, in a panic, Ren showed a forced smile.
"Ah....that's not true. I'm still no match for Onee-sama,
yes."
"You're such a good kid."
While grinning, Kazuma gently patted Ren's hair. Ayano's eyes
became dangerous once again.
"Ni- Nii-sama please don't provoke her!"
"Provoke her? I only said my honest impression but
whatever. More importantly- "
Once again brushing Ren's head, Kazuma praised his brother with
a serious look. Saying only this:
"You did well."
"Y- yes!"
Ren nodded with a delight shining in his sparkling eyes. But,
his facial expression immediately tightened.
"But, this is not over, Nii-sama, Nee-sama!"
Including a firm determination, Ren looked at both of them. In
silence both of them waited for the continuation.
"As I thought, I can't tolerate Ayumi-chan becoming a
sacrifice. But using another sacrifice to appease Mt. Fuji is also
unacceptable. That's why, I am thinking of defeating the origin of it all, the
demon beast. So please lend me your power."
"Yeah."
Kazuma agreed very naturally. It almost seemed as if he didn't
understand the situation, it was that kind of careless response.
Ayano starred into Ren's eyes and asked just to make sure.
"Do you understand what you're saying? To pick a fight with
that?"
She pointed out ahead, where obviously there was a mountain. In
a sense, the highest authority of Japan. 3776 meters above the sea level. Tall
above all else in this country, an existence larger than anything else.
Having come this far, that greatness, mass, the existence itself
was one power.
When looking up, everyone would think so. It's impossible to
rival it - no. It's even impossible to fight it.
Climbing to the top of the mountain, people that pretend to have
overcome it, there are plenty. But, that's just a big lie. No matter how many
time humans tried to investigate the peak, stomping on it, kick at it, they
moved back after only five centimeters of ascending and the mountain didn't
move. It remained unchanged.
It's unthinkable to challenge it.
Very big, eternally rising above, the mountain stood there
majestically. However -
"That's right. Do you have any questions?"
Even knowing that reality, Ren's decision didn't change. Ayano
looked at Ren, looked at the mountain for a second time, and shook her head as
if resigned.
"There's no helping it. I'll keep you company. I'll teach
the mountain's spirit the fact that Enraiha burns through everything."
"I'm so glad you brought something good."
"Just shut up already!"
At Kazuma's sobering response, Ayano unsheathed Enraiha and
tried to hit him with a horizontal mow.
With a bitter smile, Ren started giving directions to his
brother and sister who like always started their comic duo.
"Well, let's continue. If we don't hurry the ceremony will
begin."
Ayumi-chan, wait for me. Because I am coming to rescue you.
Shouldering a solid determination Ren
stepped forward to the center of the mansion.
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