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Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 12 Chapter 3

2016-08-27T21:41:57Z

Drejzer: fixed a typo

==Chapter 3 – Contact==

===Part 1===

What kind of contact should they accomplish with the other forces.

――Kazuki was thinking that what would be the most important thing in this battle of Ragnarok was that point.

In front their eyes [another world] that was even more prominent than all the Haunted Grounds they had seen until now was spreading out.

What greeted Kazuki and group was the rainbow colored ground and a rainbow colored forest.

When the world received the light of the sun, each and every angle reflected completely different colors, everything was shining rainbow-colored. Rather than calling it fantastical, it was rather a psychedelic scenery.

“Is this also the magic power of the manager……?”

“It’s like [Choueki Tanka Chibou] eh.”<ref>The kanji for the word means long side vermilion haze earth face</ref>

Shouko said to herself.

“Choueki……?”

“That kind of unexplored region exists in China. It’s not a Haunted Ground but comes to be from natural origin. The ground has layers made from minerals with different reflections, it shines a rainbow when bathed in light……it’s a place called mother nature’s miracle, something like that yeah.”

“I heard that in Mauritius there is also that kind of place.”

Akane-senpai nodded while taking a pinch of the soil under her feet.

“It’s not tinged with magic power……. This place isn’t a Haunted Ground, its nature without abnormality. I wonder if this might be iron oxide or sulfur.”

After that she directed her extensively knowledgeable observing eyes to the trees of the forest.

“This tree……perhaps it’s rainbow eucalyptus.”

“Rainbow……what’s that?”

Kazuki’s eyes blinked while getting tongue-tied by the amount of knowledge Akane-senpai had.

“There is a variety of eucalyptus that will become various colors depending on the time the bared texture of the bark is peeled. Though the work itself is the same as the changing of colors of leaves in autumn.”

In other words this strange scenery was by no means something mystical.

There was flapping sounds, small birds were flapping their wings towards the sky from the trees of the rainbow colored eucalyptus.

They weren’t Demon Beasts, it seemed that normal birds were living here.

This place wasn’t a Haunted Ground. If he thought about it, existences like that of Demon Beasts would be a hindrance for the decisive battle. There shouldn’t be such a blunder at the stage prepared by Basileon. In exchange they were firmly imprisoned inside the fairytale-like scenery that existed in reality like inside a jewel box.

“I guess that the people of the ancient times looked at this kind of scenery and became illusioned that the world had mysteries. From there mythology was born……. I wonder if this can be said to be as the origin of illusions……that is to say the archetype of mythology.”

It was truly fitting for the stage of the decisive battle.

When Kazuki became convinced of that, the land shook fiercely.

“Earthquake!?” When he thought that and looked around, the sea surface and the ship were gradually sinking below.

That wasn’t it. It wasn’t the ship and the sea that were sinking.

The ground they were standing on was the one rising up.

When they looked down to the sea, there was a gigantic shadow on the surface there. When they looked up to the sky, the clouds were gradually approaching. The wind was becoming stronger with a whistling sound.

Atlantis was heading somewhere, liberated from the yoke of the sea and land.

The wall that had finished its duty disintegrated into rainbow lights and vanished.

While flying to the sky, the surrounding clouds were tinged with rainbow colors. Glowing clouds――this too was a natural phenomenon.

“Continent of the sky huh…..what an outrageous plan again……”

With this it could be said that Atlantis was even more released from outside interference.

The other countries should have landed here too.

……And then, the problem was how they would come into contact with the other forces.

He looked at his surroundings once again. His attention was taken by the rainbow colored trees and ground, but the surroundings were enshrouded by light blue magic power and they couldn’t see through the path ahead very far.

He wondered how wide this forest was.

Far at the distance, there was a faint outline of a mountain visible from here.

Mountain――thinking with common sense, if there was a mountain on a battlefield then first and foremost they should take position there.

However with this much magic power cloud enshrouding the space, even if they looked down from the top of the mountain then he guessed they wouldn’t be able to find the other forces or launch attack magics from the mountain. On this Atlantis, the mountain didn’t really have any value strategically.

First, the problem was how they should move, of course they had talked about it with each other beforehand.

{The basics of a battle royale is to let the running about enemies destroy each other}……such opinion was also expressed but this battle was not a complete battle royale because there existed alliance relationships.

If Japan was moving about from place to place, it would make it disadvantageous for the other Cosmos Side countries. If only the forces of the Chaos Side survived because of the effect of Japan moving about then it would be bad.

Continuously running around also meant continuing being a solo force. If they kept operating as a solo force, then they wouldn’t have any chance of victory if they encountered two forces that successfully united.

Rather he thought that they had to quickly come into contact with another force. It would be good if the first force they encountered became an ally, but even if the force that they encountered was an enemy force they could just finish it as an equal battle one on one.

However, Atlantis was vast and it was unclear just how vast. Even if they moved about blindly it didn’t seem likely that they could easily encounter another force. They needed some kind of magic.

“Fuuka-senpai, please do it.”

Kazuki requested one of the senior knights for a magic.

“Uh huh……” Fuuka-senpai nodded a little.

Yamashita Fuuka. She wasn’t their senior in the knight academy, she was an older girl of twenty years old that was already working as an active duty knight in the knight order. Her appearance with her black short bob hair and quiet demeanor, then the black mantle that was her Magic Dress that she wore gave her the air like a fortuneteller from somewhere.

“……O flickers of torch, o string of constellation. Please guide me to the thing that I seek……”

Behind Fuuka-senpai, the avatar of a Diva with a lion face <Purson> was floating up.

“{{furigana|Direction Witch|Witch’s Guidepost}}”

Fuuka-senpai pointed straight at Kazuki. Thereupon red light was overflowing from Kazuki’s left ring finger.

The red light pulled a trail behind while flying to the other side of the forest.

The track of light was floating in the air like a string and remained without vanishing.

“So it’s fine if we follow this light isn’t it?”

Fuuka-senpai nodded repeatedly.

“Purson is a Diva that located the sought object of the human target. [Direction Witch] is showing the location of the thing that you are currently looking for the most.”

“I thought that the guidepost would surely be stretching towards me~”

Mio said with a carried away face.

“……It won’t show the location of the thing that has been obtained.”

“Ehehe, I already belong to Kazuki~” Mio was wriggling happily.

“You are an airhead even in the decisive battle aren’t you.” Koyuki retorted with an exasperated face. Koyuki was cool when they weren’t alone.

“The location of the thing that I’m currently looking for the most is it……it might be Britain or Germany then.”

It might be Britain where Arthur was or Germany where Beatrix was.

Or possibly……Loki Einherjar where Kaya was.

Although he was thinking that logically they should merge with an allied country first……instinctually he felt like he was looking for the conclusion with Loki and his group above all.

“One’s feeling is something not understood even by oneself. That’s why the destination that this magic showed won’t be known until we actually go there to see. ……Furthermore Purson’s own subjectivity is strangely mixed into the verdict result. When I once used this magic when I wanted to eat delicious ramen, for some reason I arrived at a tonkatsu shop instead.”

“Is this really okay……”

Nevertheless it was far better compared to loitering around without any hint.

It was lucky that a Diva that could use this kind of magic was included in his camp.

“Then next is Yuika-senpai, please.”

Kazuki called out to another senior.

It was someone clad in bird feathers, a Magic Dress that looked like a karasu tengu.<ref>Japanese apparition, a crow billed goblin</ref>

“You are the king so it’s fine even if you don’t call me senpai you know-!”

“I don’t have the courage to call someone older than me without honorifics.”

“What a modest king huh……you are saying that even though at the battle election you beat me black and blue.”

Kazuki made an awkward wry smile. Nakasaka Yuika-senpai was the second year student he fought at the first round of the battle election.

She was also one of the people selected into the one hundred of the <Imperial Guard Knights> from the knight academy.

He saw just how much she had raised her strength in the short time since then.

“I’ll do it, Valefor!”

Yuika-senpai made the avatar of the Diva <Valefor> who had a bird appearance to emerge.

“See through the path of a thousand ri, expose here the evil that is lurking in the darkness……{{furigana|Detect Ambush|Wisdom of Coward}}!”

Yuika-senpai’s eyes were strongly shining with magic power. “I can see it!” Senpai raised her voice.

“Valefor is a bird Diva that the thieves came to love since ancient times, this magic secures super sense towards the presence of allies and opponents. ……Um, the magic power cloud that is extremely thick is jamming the effect a little but it’s okay. I can sense until ten kilometers ahead. I won’t even miss any footstep. I’ll shoulder the role as the scout.”

Scout――the role of someone that went ahead of the main group and performed reconnaissance of the path’s surroundings.

“Please don’t force yourself. I hope senpai can stay in the range where I can detect your whereabouts.”

“How much can my king sense me? I wonder around how much my positivity level to you is.”

“……It’s 58. With this positivity level inside this magic power cloud, surely it’s quite a vast range.”

“So it’s to that degree.”

Yuika-senpai clearly expressed her dissatisfaction. Although her scouting ability was high, but that power wouldn’t be able to be used to the best of its ability if she didn’t take quite some distance from the main group.

“No, that’s quite a high number you know. Honestly it makes me nervous somewhat.”

“You are saying that it’s quite high comparatively to how we didn’t even exchange that much talk until now?”

Yuika-senpai said as though she had seen through inside his heart.

Kazuki was startled. Certainly he was perplexed from that thinking.

“You see, I lost to you at the battle election, watched your activity in the East-West War. I admired you and wanted to become stronger. You taught us the meaning of battle as candidate knights. You gave us the true meaning to our lives. Perhaps it feels a little weird that your are liked by some girls that you don’t really know and you can also see the number of that positivity level, but see…… we liking you isn’t something that is that unnatural you know.”

Certainly……if he used his imagination he got it that it was a natural feeling.

The number of 58 wasn’t something excessive by any means.

“Furthermore that applies even more if it’s a cool younger boy.”

Yuika-senpai added that with a little reddened cheek.

“I too was thinking that I want to be useful in real battle so I trained intensively until today. With that I became the best among Valefor’s contractors like this. And then I thought that the show time of Valefor is exactly right now. On this kind of battlefield where we don’t know what is ahead, scouting is horribly important.”

“……I also think that how we come into contact with another force is the most important matter.”

If their side could discover the enemy first, they would be able to do anything from an ambush to a surprise attack.

In the case the enemy also deployed their scout, they had to discover that scout first and remove them.

The difference in scouting ability would dictate the hegemony of the battle.

“I think that right now in this moment, is the meaning of my existence.”

Yuika-senpai declared that she was resolved.

That was why even if it was accompanied by some danger, she wanted to force herself?

“That’s not allowed. I won’t permit senpai to distance yourself too much from me. We don’t know just what kind of magic exists out there. I think that Japan’s strong point is the power of bonds and cooperation. We won’t win if we lose sight of that.”

“……But, I have confidence in Valefor’s ability……”

Even now Yuika-senpai was murmuring. However when Kazuki put strength into his eyes, she reluctantly nodded.

“Please go ahead while confirming our direction. I’ll raise my right hand and give the signal when the distance with senpai is just barely inside the effect range of the power of bonds. That’s the range senpai can move the farthest as the scout. Please don’t go more further than that from us.”

Yuika-senpai nodded once before rushing out to the forest ahead. Her characteristic back figure with the bird feathers fluttering behind was soon swallowed by the magic power cloud enshrouding the rainbow forest and she soon vanished from sight.

Kazuki could feel Yuika-senpai’s presence even when he couldn’t see her. The positivity level became a string of bond that connected them in the mental world, Kazuki could follow that string.

That line of connection was gradually thinning. Yuika-senpai’s presence was fading the further she was due to the interference of the magic power cloud. When she was at the distance limit already, Kazuki raised his right hand.

A moment later, Kazuki felt disappointment.

Yuika-senpai’s presence halted just for a moment. However――she soon advanced further and vanished completely from the range of the bond.

===Part 2===

The moment [the king] raised his right hand, she felt disappointment.

‘……It’s still only this far! There is no meaning being a scout at this kind of distance!’

The power of Valefor……couldn’t make use of the full meaning of her existence!

Kazuki had became unable to see her figure since a while ago. However Yuika’s eye could see Kazuki’s figure as if he was right nearby. It was to the degree that she could even feel his breathing.

There was a large gap in the way they were sensing each other. That was why Yuika naturally brought her leg to step even further ahead.

Even so she also had the basis of why she thought that it was fine. Valefor’s magic――[{{furigana|Escape Step|Step of Coward}}], it was a special magic where it was possible to be used consecutively even though one needed almost no incantation to do a [space-leap] for five kilometers.

Even in the case that she encountered [something], she could immediately return to the range of the bond.

In the first place there was nothing that he needed to worry about.

Being underestimated……. For Yuika who had worked hard until she was selected as one of the Imperial Guard Knights in the end, it was a sad thing that pierced her heart. She wanted to obtain trust that was suitable for her hard work. She thought that maddeningly.

That was why even after seeing his right hand lifted up, she advanced several steps ahead.

After advancing for several steps, the other side had also noticed that she was advancing even further, so she noticed that she would soon be chased and she would get scolded.

It was meaningless. It was several steps that weren’t accompanied by logic. It was nothing more than the disarray of her emotion.

She soon noticed that she better return. But――,

''{Why are you alone?}''

――Suddenly, a voice came from behind.

Enemy!? No way it couldn’t be this fast!!

She quickly turned around, behind her a gigantic old woman that was like a mountain was towering over her.

She was gigantic, but she was half assimilating with the surrounding forest as if overlapping with each other――an avatar that wasn’t accompanied by the real body.

The red eyes that were opened round like a fish were looking down straight at Yuika. She was an eerie old woman. The remains of her mostly falling out white hair was hanging down like a fleeing samurai, her cracked skin had uneven bumps swelling all over. An evil countenance that couldn’t be thought of as coming from a Diva, as though the old woman was a monster.

''{How pitiful, are you abandoned? Then <I’ll> welcome……}''

While smiling repulsively, the old woman’s arms that were covered by old rags were stretching out to Yuika’s direction.

‘Which country’s mythology is this!?’ Yuika snapped to her senses and invoked her magic.

“O protector god of thieves, from here until beyond, cut and connect the path! Escape Step!!”

The space behind Yuika was extinguished and her body leaped toward far behind. Putting a distance of five kilo’s in less than a second――it wasn’t a move that could be followed physically no matter how fast you were.

……But in front of Yuika’s eyes that should have performed the emergency escape already, the old woman was still smiling without change.

The old woman didn’t leave her for even an instant, as if she was an evil spirit haunting her.

‘What kind of magic is this!? This isn’t physical, something more conceptual……!

It’s invoked after fulfilling some kind of requirement, it absolutely won’t let go no matter what……!’

The arms of the old woman embraced Yuika tightly. Even though it didn’t have a real body, her spine froze.

Her mentality completely became unfit to fight an enemy.

''{Come to <me>. Come to <me>……. It’s fine, even if you don’t return back. Nowhere……}''

“Hii!?”

While still inside the old woman’s embrace, the figures of Yuika and the old woman were fading starting from their legs. Her consciousness was also getting farther. From her legs to waist, and then to chest, her body and senses were vanishing.

She was taken away to somewhere that wasn’t here!

She had to Resist……. There was no magic that couldn’t be resisted. If she understood the phenomenon that was happening to her body and produced the phenomenon that countered it…….

……She couldn’t. She couldn’t grasp it. She didn’t understand. Lies, lies lies! ‘I lost already!?’

She wasn’t lying when she said that this was the meaning of her existence. Rather than the danger to her life, what was scorching her mind was the fear that she would lose without accomplishing anything for the sake of the world.

“N, NOOoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!”

If she just bought a little more time, everyone will come to save her! However, Yuika noticed after she yelled.

The old woman appeared from her back. That was why when she used the magic of emergency escape……she became separated for 5 kilometers in the opposite direction of the main group!! No one……would come to save her!!

''{Nowhere……}''

Yuika vanished together with despair.

Kazuki ran at full speed, but the figure of Yuika-senpai couldn’t be found anywhere.

It was strange. There was no way she would go ahead at the speed that couldn’t be caught up with even with his full speed.

The moment she went out of the range of the bond, something happened.

Enemy intervention? Were there enemies right nearby? Was Yuika-senpai kidnapped without being able to detect it?

The enemy attacked with a perfect grasp of the range of the bond?

This fast? It seemed that the gate for each country was equally distanced but…….

“Fuuka-senpai, please use the magic before one more time.”

If that magic was used one more time, this time it should display the direction of where Yuika-senpai was.

“Uh huh. That’s fine but, there is a risk that we will take a detour. Perhaps we are being thoroughly lead into a trap. Also Purson’s magic is influenced not only by logic but also by emotion. If in your heart there is anger like [How dare she ignore my order!] or distrust like [It’s dangerous to go saving just one person when there is still ninety nine here], the magic surely won’t be able to forecast Yuika’s whereabouts.”

“I have no such feeling at all.”

“……Got it. You won’t be able to assert your feelings that surely without considerable conviction. You are a good king aren’t you. ……Direction Witch!”

Small heart marks flew from Fuuka-senpai to him while she was re-chanting the magic.

The line of red light was pointing at a new direction.

It was unknown how much distance there was, but Yuika-senpai should be ahead of there.

Because they had lost their scout, this time Kazuki and the swordsmens became the vanguard unit and advanced.

Even while hurrying they needed to advance while being vigilant.

Kazuki thought that it was a fifty-fifty whether Yuika-senpai was safe or not. If an enemy managed to kidnap a person, what would the enemy do then? Would the enemy easily make the one kidnapped unable to battle, or would the enemy use her as a bargaining material…….

If the enemy was someone who knew that Kazuki was a person who put the importance of his comrades above all else, perhaps the enemy would choose to use Yuika-senpai as bargaining material. In the case that he was asked to do something absurd in exchange of the girl’s safety…….

He was the King, so he had to hold the resolve to reject the things that ought to be rejected.

If he weighed the important matter that would be controlled by the end of this decisive battle and the life of Yuika-senpai, he had to abandon her. No matter just how tragic what happens in front of his eyes…….

There was a watering place with rainbow moss growing on it and a rare butterfly traversed in front of him, but he advanced without giving a glance to all of those things. Each time he took a step forward, the dark cloud of anxiety in his chest grew heavier.

And then――,

“……I haven’t laid my hand on the girl. Nothing at all.”

He saw Yuika-senpai being captured.

There was a faint half-transparent hut composed from magic power. It even looked like a birdcage. Inside it, the figure of Yuika-senpai laid down on a bed through the hut. It seemed that she lost consciousness.

Beside that hut, a silver queen and her knight order were waiting.

The scenery inside the forest was like a fairy tale from somewhere.

“I haven’t done anything to her.” That girl said that one more time.

Ilyailiya Muromets!

It was the opponent that Kazuki didn’t want to meet the most inside his heart.

The knight order Ilyailiya led, eighty percent of them were women wearing Magic Dresses, the remaining twenty percent were wearing the uniform of the Russia knight order that was a dark grey jacket and pants complete with a military cap. It seemed that her hundred of people weren’t composed with only Magika Stigma. They had a very little amount of decoration, their appearance was more of a military rather than knights.

When he followed the magic power from the hut that captured Yuika-senpai, it was linked to the Magika Stigma standing beside Ilyailiya. Behind that woman, the avatar of a gigantic old woman was floating.

It was an old woman with a horribly eerie look. It couldn’t possibly be thought of as the figure of a Diva that represented Order.

“Our side has no intention to attack. To prove that, let me introduce her.”

Ilyailiya talked with a voice that kept her cool.

“This girl’s name is Izolda. Her contracted Diva is Baba Yaga, an evil spirit of the forest. Perhaps it’s closer to the impression of Japanese people if I said that it’s a forest monster.”

“You say you don’t have any intention to attack……?”

Kazuki asked back while taking battle readiness without letting his guard down.

The old woman of the forest <Baba Yaga>. Kazuki who had investigated mythology beforehand obviously knew that name. Its popularity was high even as the legend of Russia, one of the existences that was most feared there.

“With this magic of Baba Yaga……[{{furigana|Home Sweet Home|My Fun House}}], we took custody of your comrade. This magic can pull close a girl who wanders alone inside a forest to the user’s side. There is no way to resist without advanced Resist or powerful magic power ejection. The number it can catch at a single time is only one person. However the further the target is the larger the consumption of magic power.”

Wandering alone……the moment Yuika-senpai got out of the range of Kazuki’s power of bond, the condition of being [alone] without anyone being able to detect her was fulfilled.

An abduction magic that activated without question when the condition was fulfilled. Distance was unrelated. Yuika-senpai was helpless no matter how many kilometers she could look ahead with Valefor’s power.

That was how it was……the existence of magic that they couldn’t even imagine.

The initiative was taken by the enemy. They were surpassed by the enemy on the first move.

However……she didn’t ask any compensation at all? Why did she politely explain the magic?

“Why didn’t you do anything to her? Are you planning to make a deal?”

“I want you to be relieved.”

There was no way he could be relieved.

“From what I guessed through the particulars of your battle against Regina before, your group is able to sense the whereabouts of your fellow companions. Therefore when I saw that the captured person was a Japanese, I thought that you would surely come rescuing her even if you have to brave through danger.”

It was an exceedingly accurate deduction. After this much it was scary to hear the continuation of her talk.

“We could even kill this girl and then leave behind this place. All of you who come searching for her would be reunited with her dead body……. We also had enough time to do that. We didn’t do that because I want to rebuild a good relationship with your force. In order to prove our goodwill, we didn’t lay a single finger on her.”

“You are talking about friendly relationship, not negotiation?”

Ilyailiya smiled sweetly. The ice queen who usually never made a smile at all mechanically warped her cheek muscle and showed a stiff smile.

“We of Russia wish for a new alliance with your force.”

Kazuki fell silent with a baffled feeling.

Ilyailiya was waiting for a reply with a smile she wasn’t used to doing.

Enemy――furthermore it was exactly the one he recognized as the most troublesome enemy in the early stage.

“What are you going to do about your alliance members? We are absolutely incompatible with China and Loki.”

Ilyailiya smoothly answered that as though she had prepared to be asked that beforehand.

“Now that we have become unable to cooperate with each other, our alliance with them has already become a dead letter<ref>A law or treaty that has not been repealed but is ineffectual or defunct in practice</ref>. It’s not useful at all. What is more important than that is to avoid fighting with the force we encounter in the very beginning. Each force will reach balance sooner or later. If we suddenly fight then even if we win there will be no future ahead.”

“Then you, you planned to propose an alliance to the first force you encountered no matter who they were?”

“It’s fortunate that the first force we encountered is your group. Because your group is the party that is the most reasonable. My standpoint is actually similar to you. Not Order and also not Chaos.”

“I’m not thinking that it doesn’t matter whether one is Order or Chaos. You who thinks that whichever side is fine as long as you win, and I who wants to find out the best path, we are not similar.”

“Victory should be necessary in order to find that best path you are looking for. Aiming for victory……at the very least our objective coincide until the middle of the way. If it’s you who is more open-minded than any other King, you should understand that this is only logical.”

Kazuki kept silent and pondered. He had to hypothesize every kind of possibility regarding joining hands with Ilyailiya right here.

There was only one point that was unnatural. What she was saying wasn’t logical.

For her there should be an easier way to make use of him by making use of her forte.

It was fine if she herself didn’t notice it. It wasn’t like all the enemies would be cunning like Clark. But if that wasn’t the case?

‘……Weren’t we actually lured by the ability of Baba Yaga and brought into the most terrifying situation that could possibly happen?’

The most terrifying enemy that needed to be watched out for the most at the early stages in Atlantis wasn’t even Loki or Fu Xi. The reason was because this girl――in this insulated battle royale, was the fastest person here.

There was an out of place feeling that she would wait fixedly for them here like this.

“Besides I know after forming an alliance with them. Fu Xi of China is terrifyingly strong.”

Kazuki had also heard the story from Shouko, how she was [an existence that was out of the norm].

“Even if I join hands with Fu Xi of China and defeat other forces, it will be meaningless if in the end I am defeated by Fu Xi. First all the other forces need to join hands and defeat Fu Xi of China……I think that is the most logical for all the other forces. Because that’s just how strong Fu Xi is.”

“I see.”

Perhaps, at a glance that was reasonable.

However even so the doubt Kazuki was harboring didn’t clear away.

But there was no need for him to stupidly press the question honestly, because he had learned his lesson in the battle with America. Cold sweat was going down through his back.

“Got it. I too want to avoid sudden fighting and exhaust my forces. Let’s make an alliance.”

Kazuki held out his hand.

After thinking for a moment, Ilyailya took his hand as though she was just remembering [Come to think of it again, there is the custom of shaking hands in this world isn’t it]. Her palm was cold to the touch.

{……Everyone.}

Kazuki called out through telepathy to all the Chouki like Mio and Koyuki and Kaguya-senpai.

{For now we will pretend to form an alliance. While pulling out information from them, if there is something that you think is suspicious……match our timing and attack all at once. Perhaps she doesn’t know that we can even match our timing using telepathy.}

When the half-transparent hut vanished, Yuika-senpai that was captured inside it immediately woke up.

She raised her upper body and looked around, then when she discovered Kazuki, she rushed to him with a face that almost burst out crying.

“Sorry, sorry I, that time I took a step……!”

That single step where she exited the range of Kazuki’s bond. That surely wasn’t something logical, but an impulse that couldn’t be helped. For a human, anyone must of have had that kind of moment.

“Please don’t mind it. The magic was invoked without caring for anything like distance. Something that I or senpai cannot even imagine happened. That’s all.”

Those words came from his heart, but senpai still powerlessly looked down in dejection.

It would be bad if she withered just from a single failure.

“It’s fine. It hasn’t become a bad situation from there.”

His hand propped up the withered shoulder and he grasped with a little strong grip. Yuika-senpai’s shoulder twitched with a start and she lifted up her slightly reddened face.

“Ilyailiya only used that magic before in order to call us out. Japan and Russia will temporarily fight together.”

“With Russia……will it be okay?”

Yuika-senpai directed an uneasy look at Ilyailiya.

“Our interests coincide with each other.”

The ice queen showed a stiff smile once again.

“We were able to avoid the most feared result which was [contact with another force].”

He said that to encourage Yuika-senpai as though what happened was a matter of great celebration, and also with the intention of letting Ilyailiya hear that.

For the time being he only intended to pretend making an alliance. However, he couldn’t convey that to Yuika-senpai in front of Ilyailiya. That was why he needed to make Yuika-senpai accept the situation from the bottom of her heart.

Not just Yuika-senpai, all his other companions whom he couldn’t speak with using telepathy were also unable to calm down and made bewildered expressions. He had to calm down everyone.

Yuika-senpai tensed her expression that seemed like she wanted to cry and looked around the surroundings.

Her scouting eyes that could search for the enemy in the surrounding ten kilometers went around the surrounding area.

“Understood. ……But I’m sorry for going against the order.”

It seemed that she ascertained that there was no ambush in the surroundings. He was thankful for that quick wit.

There was no ambush, the problem was only the one hundred people before their eyes. ……He didn’t know whether their number was accurately a hundred though.

“Then how are we going to advance?” Ilyailiya asked.

“We have divination magic. Although it doesn’t mean that we can accurately understand where we will arrive at.”

That they could understand the whereabouts of Yuika-senpai was actually thanks to this magic.

“I see. We don’t have that kind of guiding magic. Then we will follow with where your group is going. That’s because I believe that is the best path for us whose interests coincide with each other.”

When Ilyailiya gave the command, Russia’s knight order took position that attached themselves in a line at their left.

Kazuki secretly transmitted his voice to everyone with positivity level above 150, the ones with whom telepathy was possible.

{The line will naturally become disordered when advancing through the forest, so everyone use that disorder as cover to secretly move to the right side. Pull the hands of the Magika Stigma around you to move following you. The Magika Stigmas are to distance themselves from Russia’s knight order and push the swordsmen near that side. The point is to nonchalantly create heaven and earth formation that is facing left. It’s so that we can fight Russia anytime.}

If the members who could use telepathy with Kazuki took some action wordlessly, the others were to consider that the same as an order from Kazuki. He had made everyone understand that beforehand, so there shouldn’t be any confusion.

“Then Fuuka-senpai, please.”

“Uh huh. Direction Witch!”

A string of red light stretched out ahead to the forest once again. The destination was a little different compared to the first time. It was unknown whether the target had changed or the target had moved.

“Yuika-senpai, can I ask you to be the scout?”

“……Yes! This time I won’t get out of range again!”

Yuika-senpai went ahead from Kazuki and group once more.

“I see, a scout. There is no Diva in our Mythology that is adequate as a scout. Consequently we can only walk around aimlessly while putting expectation so the magic of Baba Yaga would luckily succeed.”

There was no personnel that was adequate as a scout?

There was no way that was true. Kazuki was convinced of his doubt. He wanted to press the question to her but he understood that in doing so would become the trigger that would become {{furigana|explosive|bad results}}.

This was the same like the time with Clark. They were mutually gauging the timing of when to betray the other.

He didn’t understand what Ilyailiya was waiting for.

The Japan knight order was starting to move in succession. The Russian knight order was following right besides them.

Advancing through the forest, the trees that blocked the path disorderly threw the line of the knight orders into a mess. Kazuki’s comrades took the advantage that was created from that and secretly changed their formation.

Their formation changed into the heaven and earth formation that faced toward Russia’s knight order who was lining up at a few meters to their right side.

“I want to ask this before we decide the alliance but, if you obtain <the ultimate illusion> then what do you plan to do with it?”

Kazuki was thinking to occupy Ilyailiya’s attention with conversation.

Ilyailiya answered. “We are fighting for the sake of reviving the gods and spirits, and the simple monsters of ancient Slavic Mythology whose existences were deleted.”

“Their existences deleted?”

“You should have heard about the story of the three great Mythologies. Because of the defeat in Ragnarok, the gods of Slavic people were sealed for a long time until now due to the oppression that occurred since then. We are fighting for the sake of taking revenge for that.”

Revenge……that was an act without any productivity at all.

It was another matter if that was a personal emotion, but that wasn’t something that a whole country would do en masse.

“After achieving revenge, what are you going to do?”

“We are already not even Order or Chaos. Our Mythology that has been worn down throughout the long history no longer has any teachings left to lead mankind. There is no ideal in us. We will only win to the end and stand at the top while absorbing the doctrines of the Mythologies we defeated. That’s all that we are going to do.”

There wasn’t any emotion surfacing on her expression, Ilyailiya was speaking with her eyes still on the path ahead.

What a truly futile story. It wasn’t to realize their ideal, it wasn’t because there was something they wanted to do, they were going to stand at the top because they wanted to stand at the top. It was just like someone that was lusting for power only because he wanted to become famous.

And she was talking about that not with an expression which was overflowing with ambition, but merely with an apathetic tone and an expressionless face.

“What kind of meaning is there in that?”

“Meaning? If you love your god, it’s only natural to wish for your god to stand at the top. It’s because we loved the gods of Slavic Mythology.”

“Loved?”

Ilyailya’s eyes opened a little wider, as though she was shocked by her own words.

“We……loved……there is no mistake. This is because the current me has no emotion remaining.”

Strange, painful pity ran through Kazuki’s chest.

“The current you has no substance……”

Gods who lost their substance. And the believers who forfeited their own substance in order to reach victory. It didn’t matter if there was not even Order or Chaos, it didn’t matter what kind of teaching it would be, it was fine as long as they just had Slavic Mythology…….

There was no more faith in that. It was a failure, nothing more than a completely withering cycle.

”There is no substance in me, is it. That’s correct but, it’s a mysterious feeling to have that pointed out to me once again. However, I believe that the idea of enlightenment that is talked about in the orient is something like this.”

Enlightenment. The imperviousness that came from being liberated from egotism. Emptiness.

The heart of this girl wasn’t moving. She was moving automatically by being reduced into her habit.

That was why this girl was fast.

“There is substance inside your words.” Ilyailiya said to Kazuki.

“Your words come from your heart, resounding inside me. It’s different from the words of someone like Loki. Before I knew it, I began wanting to get a chance to talk with you like this. Surely in the end it will become a battle against you. However……I judged that undoubtedly there is meaning in the talk just now.”

“A human who said that she had lost her emotion, has that kind of feeling?”

“Because if I defeat you who is my antithesis after associating with you, then I will be able to become even more pure.”

She still hadn’t reached her ideal self. Her emotions still hadn’t completely become empty.

In other words these guys……became stronger the emptier they were!

That was the strength of Slavic Mythology, the authority of Ilyailiya as King.

“An opponent who makes me feel like this, is only you.”

Ilyailiya turned to his direction, and declared.

Their eyes met. Her eyes were like jewels without impurities. An automatic killing intent in emptiness.

However, Ilyailiya was being zealous. She was pouring her nerves into the conversation with Kazuki. She accepted Kazuki with all her strength, she was saying that she could become perfectly pure by defeating that.

She looked expressionless, but for her this was a fervent speech. As though it was a confession of love.

Sensing that zeal, Kazuki decided.

{Everyone! Now, attack!!}

The next moment, Kazuki and his Chouki magicians moved together like a single living thing.

Ilyailya opened both her eyes in surprise from the magic powers that were expanding in a single breath. However, even Ilyailiya that was logical and decisive in everything stiffened and stood still.

“Mode Phoenix!”

Kazuki poured magic power into Zekorbeni and invoked instantly towards the opponent before his eyes.

“O the undying bird that repeated life and death! Liberate the final flame, become the sun of the surface……Imitation Flare!!”

A gigantic bird of fire was emerging from the arm that Kazuki held aloft. The fire bird released all the flame of life that was residing inside its body and bulged into a ball that was like a sun.

The gigantic solar flare swallowed Ilyailiya as well as the knights of Russia following behind.

Phoenix’s level 8――he wasn’t being stingy. His comrades also followed after him.

“Flap thy wing and scatter from the bottom of the earth. Trail the wind of spiral, become the bullet that expose the rage of this star! Flap and shoot! Volcanic Barrett!!”

“O will of whirling heaven god, I become the agent of the rage of god! O radiance of royal divine gift, become the storm of dazzling brilliance! Arrow Storm!!”

Mio and Hikaru-senpai successively invoked the fastest level 1 magic. By turning into Chouki Magicians, both <Barrett> and <Lightning Line> obtained attribute of rapid fire and shot rapidly like a storm.

Ilyailiya didn’t make it in time to use defensive magic and she became rooted on the spot due to the impact of her smashed magic.

“O maddening desire of the depths, bloom the forbidden flower right here! Consume greedily beautiful things in no time at all! {{furigana|Infinite Tentacles|Timeless Black Tentacle}}!!”

Kaguya-senpai summoned glistening violet tentacles from underground and the tentacles twisted around Ilyailiya. Ilyailiya’s white modest limbs were pressed hard by the terrific number of tentacles without leaving any opening as though they were going to tear her apart.

“O tear of mermaid, reveal the pain of the chest to the world. The chair at the side without that person, the blank album, summon the freezing world……{{furigana|Solitary White Album|Desolate Ice White}}!”

In that opening Koyuki invoked level 5 magic. Inside that prison of tentacles――a world of intense cold was created where the output was compressed into an extremely cramped space.

The attack magic were invoked in sequence postponed by the level.

“The alliance is a lie for the sake of a surprise attack! Swordsman squad, go!!”

Kanae who was the only one among the swordsmen who could receive Kazuki’s telepathy ordered the swordsman squad.

The swordsmen of Japan who followed the doctrine of strength obeyed Kanae without hesitation and descended on Russia’s knight order like a surging wave.

The knights of Russia began to show resistance even while being bewildered. The Magika Stigmas of Russia moved back in panic while beginning to chant.

“{{furigana|Sobaka|This son of a bitch}}!”<ref>Help please, I don’t know the correct writing for this Russian.(At least google says that this should look like that, btw "собака" means "dog" in Russian)</ref>

The uniformed Russian knights yelled their abuse. They weren’t carrying weapons and attached iron armor on both their legs and arms. And then they handled the slash of Japanese katanas using peculiar breathing and motion. Russia’s hand to hand fighting art――Systema. By draining the strength using peculiar ways of breathing and in reverse reading the flow of tension of the opponent’s flesh and magic power, they showed flowing blows and evasion.

The elusiveness that was a mix of mystery and logic had similarity with Chinese kenpo.

The [Systema Wall] splendidly obstructed the momentum of the swordsman squad.

Kazuki tried to pour magic power into Zekorbeni once again. But before he could do that, he sensed presence of action from Ilyailiya that was caught inside the cage of tentacles.

“……Burst into flame, silent flux of all creation. Ogni Fonarei.“

It was Ilyailiya’s instantaneous magic invocation. The entwining tentacles bloated and silver flame overflowed from the gaps. The silver trail of the flame was flickering while hardening, changing into a sword.

“Mec.”

*shun shun shun!* The silver blade made several laps and carved apart the tentacles.

“{{furigana|Sicieto|Shieldfication}}.”<ref>Another Russian I don’t understand.</ref>

Ilyailiya that recovered her freedom was being vigilant of further attack coming at her and changed her silver fire into a shield next. This silver fire could freely change its form and nature into all kinds of metallic shapes.

If Kazuki chose to attack using Summoning Magic, this silver shield would surely repel it back. But Kazuki didn’t do that, he unsheathed Ame no Murakumo and rushed closer.

In the battle against Ilyailiya, to Foresight her movement was too slow. He had to Foresight the <killing intent> produced before she moved――the sign of her mental world from the flow of magic power that was produced together with her will when she decided she was going to move. That was what he learned when fighting her before.

“Distort, Ame no Murakumo! Battou Kaikon――Kushihebi no Tachi!!”

Kazuki faced Ilyailiya and released the power Ame no Murakumo was hiding.

Ilyailiya wasn’t holding up her shield while perfectly understanding the situation. She was only holding up her shield as soon as she was liberated from the tentacles.

Surely that would be enough against simple attack magic that flew at her. But the blade of Ame no Murakumo that Kazuki wielded twisted like a snake and encircled the shield, attacking Ilyailiya from the shadows.

The move of the snake that couldn’t be blocked by a shield――the sensation of defensive magic power being smashed was conveyed to his hand.

Ilyailiya formed a sword in her right hand and repelled the snake sword with sweeping movement. But the snake sword didn’t get discouraged from being repelled and persistently attacked Ilyailiya even now by twisting its body.

Ilyailiya was overwhelming in speed. The sword in the girl’s right hand and the shield in her left hand were reacting with dizzying speed and warded off the snake’s attack. Kazuki was Foresighting her defensive movement while twisting and turning Ame no Murakumo in an attempt to pass through. Sometimes the blade was repelled and sometimes it succeed in biting at Ilyailiya. Twice, thrice the magic power of Ilyailiya broke.

Ilyailiya’s forehead slightly formed the wrinkles of irritation.

“Flow down, cutting flash of sky. Plijie Zvezda.”

The sky. Kazuki sensed the sign of an attack coming from the sky and his body evaded from the trajectory that he predicted. Small meteorites sharply rained down diagonally. *pshuu pshuu pshuu!* Countless holes were gouged on the ground.

“Run around, Domovoi.”

Even while managing her sword and shield, in rapid succession Ilyailiya floated small a fireball at her side this time. It was small, but it was a compressed flame that one should be on guard against.

However, all of it was magic that he had seen when fighting in Fuji’s sea of trees. Ilyailiya was trying to fight with only the magic that he had seen before so as to not expose her trump card even more.

“Don’t look down on me! ……O rejection of absolute zero, become the armor of isolation that protects my body! Freeze Barrier!”

Before Domovoi could rampage, Kazuki exchanged Zekorboni into Vepar and put up an ice barrier. The fireball and cold barrier clashed and extinguished each other.

While reacting to deal with the opponent’s swift attack, Kazuki continued to swing his snake blade.

“I am also trying to read the flow of your tension as a user of Systema but…..it seems I cannot match you in martial arts.”

Ilyailiya let out her voice while continuing to move her shield and sword sharply.

“……However what are you planning with this? Aren’t we joining hands with each other?”

“What I’m planning, you ask? ……This alliance is just too convenient for you isn’t it?”

Kazuki answered while trying to pass through the silver sword and shield using the snake blade.

“With me acting together with you……what are you going to do if the next force we meet is a Chaos force? Aren’t you going to redo your alliance with the Chaos force and then bare your fangs at us? How can you declare that you won’t do that?”

“……So you cannot believe me, that’s unfortunate. You are being taken by excessive paranoia.”

“If you want to be believed then don’t tell barefaced lie. Stop the joke, like you saying that there is no one on your side who can scout. You yourself are the strongest scout in the world, aren’t you, Ilyailiya!”

‘Isn’t this girl finished already with her action’――that was Kazuki’s doubt.

This girl had already acted one turn faster than his side.

If at the moment they landed this girl flew around Atlantis by herself with all her speed then…

Normal scouts would move carefully so that they wouldn’t be separated too much from the main group.

But if it was a King that could boast of being the fastest then it was a different story. She had the confidence of safely escaping even if she encountered an enemy. She had the combat force that could resolve any situation no matter how unexpected by her lonesome.

Yuika-senpai was also contracted with the optimum Diva for scouting, but Ilyailiya was in a different dimension.

The fastest King was the sole scout who could fly around Atlantis alone as she pleased.

With that speed, just what had this girl done…….

“Since a long time ago, you had contacted forces other than us already right?”

It was a terrifying fact that almost made his lips trembling now that he said it out loud.

“You had already contacted your alliance partner, then from there you chose one or two people to bring back to your own camp as a combat force didn’t you?”

The concentration and dispersion of battle strength. The basic concept that was the most fundamental in strategy.

Inside this forest, it wouldn’t be that easy to determine whether there were a hundred or a hundred and one people. It might be just one person. However there was an existence that could change the battlefield just alone.

Ilyailiya didn’t say anything. That was why Kazuki talked even further.

“Loki or a King, is already mixed inside your group.”

Loki was also troublesome, but even worse than that was a King. And the worst King even among the seven Kings…….

“Good discernment.”

There was a voice.

In the surroundings the Magika Stigmas were attacking each other with Summoning Magic, while the battle of the swordsmen and the Systema users became a clashing battlefield.

Despite so at the rear line of Russia’s knight order, there was a knight that didn’t participate in the fighting at all. Even though she wasn’t wearing Magic Dress but the uniform of the Russian knight order, she didn’t go to the front and become a shield of the Magika Stigma. She was wearing the military cap low over her eyes and remained a spectator to the situation.

With a shine that uniform was disassembled into magic power light――transforming into a Magic Dress.

Kazuki opened his eyes wide together with a shudder.

“We were also reluctant to hide like this.”

What emerged after the uniform vanished was the silhouette of a petite girl. However, a ring of dazzling light was floating on her back, her four limbs covered by dragon scales that looked like amethyst, while her chest and waist were enveloped in colors restricted only for nobles.

Correct, it was only this girl whom he had never met face to face until now.

[[Image:Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou Vol.12 167.jpg|thumb]]

Even so, just at a glance, he understood who this person was.

His worst assumption came true. As expected, Ilyailiya was telling him the worst lie.

“Chukadou’s <Reborn Emperor>, Fu Xi.”

The girl emperor where the dragon of destiny resided gave her introduction.

There was an extreme difference between a hundred people with one King and a hundred and one people with two Kings.

He understood something like that. That hopeless understanding overwhelmed Kazuki’s heart.

“Ilyailiya. Wouldn’t it be better to do as we said? If the difference in battle strength is overwhelming, then we should crush them as soon as we discovered them without using {{furigana|cajolery|coaxing/flattery}} like an alliance.”

Fu Xi was talking while staring at the fighting Ilyailiya with a composed face.

“Because I wanted to fight him after talking. This is a battle between Kings, therefore there is meaning in that.”

Ilyailiya answered. She didn’t even look timid. Kazuki’s decision to launch a surprise attack was correct.

However, just because one took a correct decision didn’t mean that it would surely create hope. What did some damage given from the successful attack bring to him?

This was the worst {{furigana|contact|opening}}.

At that time, feeling the presence of magic power getting closer, Kazuki lifted up his face.

Ilyailiya and also Fu Xi turned their heads too.

From the other side of the forest, a gigantic ship came flying by weaving through the trees’ gaps.

A flying ship. Originally it wasn’t something that could fly between the densely packed trees. But that ship was emitting light while sometimes distorting, sometimes the hull was folding while passing through the gaps swiftly.

Rather than calling it a ship it also looked like a gigantic dragon, but when it came closer it was a ship as expected――a dragon ship that the Vikings boarded.

“I see, just when I rush to take a look it already became this kind of situation. Ilyailiya made use of her speed and transported her ally quickly to fight Hayashizaki Kazuki. However, the one with confidence in their speed is not limited to just you. Perhaps my way is slower just for a little, but I’m still not too late am I?”

It was the <Skidbladnir>, the extraordinary sacred treasure of Norse Mythology that Kazuki had seen in America. Perhaps it couldn’t fly in the sky due to the influence of the magic power cloud, it was floating while zigzagging forcefully inside the thick foliages of the densely packed rainbow eucalyptuses.

The Queen of the Vikings was looking down with an air of composure at the bow of the ship.

Hrotsvit Lesedrama. The contractor of the famous chief god Odin.

“Furthermore on my ship, elite brave warriors are riding together with me.”

Shadows of ten people were lining up behind the queen. There was a presence that Kazuki knew really well there.

“Let’s go, Beatrix. This is the beginning of the enjoyable {{furigana|war|Ragnarok}}.”

<noinclude>

==Translator's Notes and References==
<references/>

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|-
| Back to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 12 Chapter 2|Chapter 2]]
| Return to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Magika No Kenshi To Shoukan Maou:Volume 12 Chapter 4|Chapter 4]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume6 Chapter 5

2014-02-02T00:12:05Z

Drejzer: /* Part 1 */ who the hell wrote ax instead of axe?

== Chapter 5 - What is eaten ==

=== Part 1 ===

Kazuma suddenly stopped and called Ayano, who was running ahead, to a halt.

"Ayano, wait a second"

"What, you're not going to say you're tired, are you? ", replied Ayano but it was obvious that wasn't the case.

In reality, looking over her shoulder, she saw this man breathing without disturbance.

But then, when he had no motivation, he was the kind of man to say such shameless words as: ''I'm tired so I'll take a break''.

"Xiaolei started to move. She's fast. But it doesn't look like she's following something. Did she find some clue? "

This time was different. Ayano asked of Kazuma, who was investigating the surroundings, an even more detailed explanation.

"Where is she headed? "

"This way. From here one is--- the ruins of the Tokyo Government Office? The ruins of Shinjuku Central Park? "

"yuck"

At those ill-omened names, Ayano involuntarily grimaced. Those places had been destructed in huge incidents before.

The collapse of the Tokyo Government Office posed an especially big political problem, but Shinjuku's Central Park was even worse.

Because an outrageous being had been summoned there at that time, the Ki released by it made the soil and air there dark even today. You could say it was rotting.

Like a plot of soil that was radiated, you couldn't expect it to naturally recover in a short term.

Because of the preliminary calculations that said that the purification will take from several hundred years to a thousand, in the worst case scenario, Kannagi Genma was requested to use the divine flame and burn it all to the ground.

Reasonably, that idea was frozen. If he didn't do so, nobody wanted to approach it.

"That place is still sinister......Is there someone else there? "

"Hmmm, I don't feel anything in particular --- no"

Interrupting his speech, Kazuma strained his eyes as if looking far away.

And then, his mouth warped in a bitter smile or rather, a scornful laugh.

"Oh dear!"

"What's happening? "

"The fight began. The enemies are a Suijutsushi and a Chijutsushi --- them"

"---!"

Ayano opened her eyes wide in surprise.

"What on earth is that girl thinking!? She can't possibly win by herself! "

"Well, someone who thinks of revenge can't possibly be rational. I too was excessively rash at times. I had thoroughly attacked all of <<Almagest>>'s branches. "

"......Even though you had no proof Erwin Leszar was there? "

"Yeah. Although there seemed to have been only good civilians inside. But I did pray for their happiness in the next world. "

"You should be cursed, you damn heretic"

Saying so coldly over her shoulder, Ayano brought that dishonest conversation to an end and pressed for action.

"Hurry! Follow me closely, guard! "

"Dear me"

The conclusion was slightly dull.

They both arrived at that place --- at the Shinjuku Central Park, exactly at the moment when the water whip manipulated by Chris was piercing Xiaolei's abdomen.

Of course, Gaia was standing beside him.

"Gaah...."

Already without enough force to scream, the girl with wounds all over her body revealed a tiny groan, her knees loosing balance and folding.

The pointed tip of the whip that came out from her back undulated like a living thing. Its color was clearly stained light crimson of the flowing blood.

Like a sneaky living thing, the water whip slipped out of Xiaolei's body. Loosing her support, powerless, the girl's body collapsed.

The blood overflowing from that body collapsed face-up, turned into a pool of blood before her eyes. It was clearly a fatal wound.

"Xi- Xiaolei! "

"Oh, did you too came too? "

Hearing Ayano's shriek, as if he just noticed their presence, Chris replied with an air of composure.

"Although I did say tomorrow, you couldn't abide by the rule, huh? "

And then, complaining so, extremely annoyed, but for those two who didn't hear the massage, it didn't make any sense.

"''did say'', huh? Did you hear something about this?"

"No, but that's not the issue! "

Looking very impatient, Ayano pointed at Xiaolei laying in her own blood.

"We must save Xiaolei quickly! "

"Right now it's impossible. To go and nonchalantly pick her up in front of those them will make us the target. I don't want something like that."

"If......If that's the case!! "

While she was about to complain, Ayano shut her mouth as if noticing something.

"That's right"

Faster that Ayano's words, Kazuma nodded.

"Kill them without delay and pick her up after. That is most reliable. "

Even if they couldn't loose in front of Chris and Gaia, they were so weak they could afford to totally disregard them.

If she wanted to save Xiaolei, removing those two was after all the fastest method.

In silence, Ayano unsheathed Enraiha. This time not to play or go easy on them.

Faster than it was possible, with the decision to end this with one blow, she raised her power.

She took a step forward. Behind her, th presence of wind swelled so much, enough to overwhelm hers.

A feeling of almost omnipotent confidence gushed out from her chest.

It's impossible to loose. She thought so from the bottom of her heart. If they are together.

But,

"Humph, so you're attacking right away. We're being underestimated. "

The expressions of Chris and Gaia were calm. In spite of seeing the difference in strength yesterday they faced off with a smile of composure.

"Did you thing we came here without a plan? Look at this! "

Together with that elated outcry, Gaia threw a capsule-like object that he took from his pocket.

It suddenly burst open in the air, and a pure white smoke filled the surrounding atmosphere.

And then, when the smoke cleared --- a grotesque animal was flapping its wings there.

In short, from a huge eyeball, a pair of bat-like wings were growing. Judging from that molding that wasn't natural and it didn't feel very powerful, there was no doubt it was some kind on Youma.

"Ooh, a Capsule monster, huh? "

"........What's that?"

"Don't worry about it. Well, either way, it's not strong enough that it will become problematic......."

Kazuma's voice that was lightly flowing, was suddenly interrupted. Simultaneously, the presence of wind she felt from behind was rapidly weakening and then, discomposed.

"Kazuma!? This is---"

In Ayano's eyes, unintentionally turning around, were reflected Kazuma's, with a more grim stare than ever.

The wind spirits that were whirling around him were rapidly torn off, as if sucked by something else. The direction of that flow was fixated to that Youma standing like a shield in front of Gaia.

"Wha- what the heck is that? "

Unconcerned about Ayano's bewilderment, Gaia looked at Kazuma only and sneered.

"Do you understand, youngster? This is a Youma that feeds on wind spirits --- it's called <<Kazebami>> (trad: Wind Eater) "

"Wha----? "

"And--- "

Following Gaia, Chris threw in the air the same kind of capsule. With the same exploding sound and white smoke--- but the thing that appeared from there was a thick mist with a red phosphorescence twinkling inside.

It was an amorphous Youma, it's body without real form.

Including a sneer, Chris declared.

"This is <<Homranagi>> (trad: Blaze Lull). I don't have to explain what it does, right? "

"Kuu---- "

Ayano let out a murmur full of worry.

Something like that was self-explanatory. Together with Homranagi's appearance, the fire spirits were absorbed with great force --- and they were eaten.

Even the flame cladding Enraiha became very small.

She didn't turn completely powerless but her offensive ability went down to twenty of thirty percent.

That wouldn't be so bad if they were small fry for becoming the opponents of those carrying Sacred Treasures, it was considerably unreliable.

''"This is bad"'', murmured Ayano inside her heart.

It was an almost perfect trap. Most of their power was snatched away and in contrast, the opponent had no limitation, freely able to exercise all his power.

That war potential ratio was perfectly reversed and even more, a hopeless gap was opened between them.

She recalled Kazuma's words from yesterday.

''" As long as they don't have some huge hidden trick, they're at a level me and Ayano can deal with"''

And this was a huge, gigantic hidden trick. Even where Kazuma was concerned, they greatly sealed his power---

"Can I ask one thing? "

Suddenly, that voice could be heard. Looking at him, facing the triumphant enemies, Kazuma asked in a quiet voice.

"Leaving aside the issue of where you took those things from, you are Spirit Practitioners, right? Even if it's another kind, not the ones you associate with, don't you hesitate to let the spirits be eaten by Youma? "

For a moment Gaia didn't seem to understand what he was saying so he stared in wonder but immediately turning his whole face into a sneer, he declared loudly.

"I wondered what you were going to say--- how idiotic. You son of a bitch, do you think ''The spirits are our friends, our important partners! ''? What an idiot! The spirits are similar with tools, why would I consider their feelings? "

"Aaah, I understand. That's enough. "

"That's why, we cannot talk with the likes of you, belonging to the old clans! You are tied to things like tradition or convention and don't want to accept the changes and progress of a new era! The fact that such people possess Sacred Treasures is like pearls thrown before the swine! Quietly hand it over to me, I can use it more--- "

'''"I told you to shut up"'''

"wha---? "

Interrupting Gaia's statement, shouting his justice in a loud voice, similar to murmur, were Kazuma's quiet words.

That voice with an inferior volume was loaded with something that not only made Gaia shut his mouth, but warped his bearded face in terror, making him take a step back.

But, that was only for a moment. Realizing he backed down, this time he laughed happily, barring his teeth.

"Ha, ha ha --- even in front of this adversity you give off so much <<Ki>> to overwhelm me. --- that's fine. I have waited to fight with someone as strong as you! "

Gaia got excited. But, without following on that tension, Kazuma informed Ayano matter-of-fact.

"We're changing opponents. I'll do the Suijutsushi. "

"Ah, yes. "

"I won't let you! "

Just at the moment they were about to execute that reasonable plan, Gaia trampled the ground with his short legs.

Immediately following, as if a giant cut open the ground, enormous fissures were produced on the ground.

The cracks spread at a too large scale to be an instant jutsu, it was obviously prepared before hand.

In the end, even for Kazuma and Ayano who didn't hear the message, when thinking why did they picked a fight at this place, before they managed to find the answer, the cracks on the ground spread even more, separating them.

"----che"

Kazuma smacked his lips. The gap made by the ground crack was a little more that ten meters. It wasn't he could normally jump over without problems but right not there was Kazebami.

The likelihood of him falling to his death if the wind spirits would be eaten in the middle of the jump was high so he couldn't behave recklessly.

"----Let's see"

Like a cat teases a mouse, a voice full of composure reached his ears. Turning around, as expected, there was the short man resembling a dwarf, bearing a huge battle-axe on his shoulder.

While the Kazebami was flapping his winds above him.

"............"

Kazuma ignored Gaia, shifting his attention on the other side of the crack.

At that place he couldn't reach now, Ayano and Chris were standing, the battle having already begun.

It was clear even at that distance that Ayano was being pressed down.

He turned to Gaia once more. He was standing still like before, waiting for Kazuma to prepare for battle.

No way, while tricking them with this plan, he's not going to say right now: ''"I won't behave so cowardly as to attack you by surprise"''?

"Are you prepared? "

Kazuma replied with a light shoulder shrug at that question oozing with joy.

"No, please wait for three more hours. I am busy right now. "

"Don't prattle, youngster! "

Together with an angry roar, Gaia swung the battle-axe-- Nozuchi, down.

The axe didn't reach far but the ground it blew up turned to throwing stones, leaping with tremendous velocity.

Kazuma promptly raised a wind barrier. But the spirits he summoned were readily devoured by Kazebami and it didn't acquire enough strength to defend against the stones.

There was no choice but to abandon defence. He jumped to the side as if tumbling and barely managed to avoid it.

"Hey, hey, aren't you the impatient one? "

"No, I'm just glad to be able to kill you"

Kazuma stood in front of Gaia sure of his victory, without hesitating or showing negligence.

He didn't gave up just yet. In this circumstance he was certainly at an overwhelming disadvantage. But that doesn't mean there were no chances of winning.

Kazebami was absorbing the wind spirits but that ability was definitely not infinite.

Therefore, although he couldn't do much his Fujutsu ability couldn't be sealed. Still, he couldn't use his ability.

And because Gaia will definitely not interpose between him and Kazebami, close combat will be difficult.

From what he saw from the fight yesterday, Gaia's pride was the close combat.

More than having the Sacred Treasure, which was a given, more that any jutsu, it was because the one who could mercilessly pummel more had the biggest power.

''"which means, Ayano's side is more dangerous"''

Chris's Sacred Treasure -- that water whip's length could be changed at will.

Which means that even in between Homranagi, he could attack at full power.

If this were the usual Ayano, she could cut off the water whip and shorten the distance but it was unfair to expect something like that of her.

Being attacked one-sided from a distance, there are low chances of being able to overcome the situation as it is.

But, there was nothing they could do about it. Right now even protecting their bodies was dangerous.

Until they found a way to overthrow the currently disadvantageous situation, they had no choice but to endure.

"Be that as it may --- what to do?"

The very best method would be to reunite with Ayano without waisting another second.

The current crisis is a crisis precisely because they are separated.

If they could reunite and switch partners, both Kazebami and Homranagi will become something of little importance.

To say nothing of the fact that would be just the freebie.

But the enemy obviously understood that.

That's why, they tried fabricating this circumstance by all means --- and that's why they will prevent their coming together by all means possible.

"Ah ah, this became quite troublesome. "

Murmuring so together with a long breath, Kazuma reached for his breast pocket.

He pulled out a dagger. It was simple, without curves. The double edge blade a little less that thirty centimeters was engraved with seven dots in the shape of the Bid Dipper.

It was the blade commonly known as the Sacred Sword of Seven Stars.

It was a famous magic artifact on the continent, that appeared on the market frequently. But even among them, although this wasn't the absolute best, it had a pretty high status.

But.

"Guahahahahahaha! The Sacred Sword of Seven Stars? Do you think you can fight against this Nozuchi with that toy? "

As expected, against a Sacred Treasure, this kind of blade is the same as a bamboo sword.

"No, no matter what, I have no intention of exchanging blows with that rustic axe. "

Vaguely warding off Gaia's scorn, Kazuma clasped the Seven Star with a backhand grip.

"But well, if it's against someone of your caliber, I think this is enough. "

"Wow, shall we test that? "

Gaia was readily provoked.

His nature was a very simple one but in circumstance such as these, where he had such an overwhelming advantage, he had enough self-confidence not to loose in spite of the opponent's calculations.

And then ---

"Let's go! "

Raising a scream from the bottom of his belly, Gaia plunged in a straight line.

"Wha---"

As one would expect, Kazuma was dismayed.

The speed of Gaia's rush was faster that what those short legs of his could accomplish.

Or rather, he manipulated the ground somehow, or he used some sort of acceleration technique.

But, rather that that trivial question ---

"A- are you an idiot? why are choosing close combat in this situation? "

"Hah, because cutting you down from afar isn't really my style! "

The fact that he wrecked all his tactics was the more serious problem.

Without minding Kazuma's bewilderment, Gaia swung down Nozuchi.

Handling his body on the spur of the moment, Kazuma evaded that blow.

He defended against the explosion of earth and sand born from the excessive force with which the ax crashed into the ground with a minimal wind barrier and aimed Seven Star at Gaia's neck.

"Neen!! "

Gaia blocked it by pushing out his right arm. It made a sound as is striking a dull, hard rock.

Looking at it, that arm was completely covered in rock, protecting him like a clumsy glove.

"I told you that thing won't work! "

With a gruff scream, Gaia raised overhead the enormous battle ax with his left arm.

Kazuma safely dodged that and simultaneously hit him with a wind blade.

It was a point-blank blow and the jutsu, appearing faster that what could be absorbed, mangled Gaia's body.

Fresh blood sprouted from dozens lacerations, adorning that body in a crimson aura.

"----Hah! "

But, without worrying about the damage he received, Gaia lively wielded Nozuchi.

"Was that supposed to be an attack? It was lighter than the Fuan's brat! If you sank so low, I don't even feel pity! "

"How noisy! It's none of your business, leave me alone! "

Kazuma strained himself to avoid while spitting out his reply.

Luckily, no matter how much power one had for handling a gigantic, heavy ax-like weapon, the swordsmanship was limited. It wasn't difficult to dodge.

"Why won't it hit? Aren't you ashamed to keep running, youngster? "

"That was a tactical retreat"

"It's the same thing! "

While pretending he had enough composure to crack jokes, Kazuma continued to evade like he was tightrope walking.

It was true he had no other choice, but he had a goal.

Getting impatient with Kazuma's defensive fight, Gaia was attacking with larger swings. If he could hit there---

"--!!"

Together with a sharp exhalation, he threw the knife so fast his hand was invisible. The aim wasn't Gaia but Kazebami.

The power of that one blow, expecting a certain kill, loaded with the <<Ki>> of his entire body was match for a rifle.

It's peculiar ability was being a nuisance but it seem like Kazebami had a meager power in itself and had no way of defending itself against such attacks.

But.

"Kiiiiiiiiiiiiii! "

Together with a cry of dissatisfaction, Kazebami shot a beam from its eye.

Its aim was the knife, that evaporated instantly.

"-----Che"

"Gahahahaha, such a fool! ", laughed Gaia.

"Did you think absorption it's his only ability? What point is there to absorb power but not be able to use it? With your present offensive ability, you cannot defeat Kazebami. Of course, nor can you defeat me! "

"..........."

Kazuma was silent.

Honestly, he was fairly cornered. The chance of defeating Kazebami was very low now.

And just like Gaia said, since he couldn't eliminate it, it was close to impossible defeating him.

He was in a desperate situation.

''"This is troublesome......can't Ayano do something......."''

While thinking such pathetic things, Kazuma hanged his hopes on Ayano who was fighting at a distant location.

=== Part 2 ===

"Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, what's the matter? Is that all? "

Ayano intercepted that water blow fired at her together with loud laughter only with Enraiha, all fire extinguished.

But, the difference in power was obvious.

The water whip she was easily able to slice off before was, right now, heavy enough she couldn't stop the blow.

Far from being able to shorten the distance, one by one, she was forced to retreat, attacked one-sided.

''"So heavy--- "''

Faced with that pressure she couldn't compete with, Ayano bit her lips.

To be accurate, it wasn't Chris who became stronger but she who became weaker, strength was relative and such wordplay was meaningless.

Right now, at at this time, Christian Roengram was stronger that Ayano Kannagi.

But, even if she accepted that, the fact that she could do nothing about it doesn't change.

Because Homranagi was constantly in front of Chris, all long distance attacks had been absorbed.

Then, even if she were to plan cutting him directly, Mizuchi's reach was far longer than Enraiha's.

And Ayano right now did not have the necessary strength to break through that distance of several meters, while handling the water whip,

''"Missiles became ineffective, I cannot start close combat --- winning percentage:zero. QED. Hey, if it's over what am I supposed to do? "''

While fruitlessly arguing with herself, Ayano racked her brain, searching for an opening.

But, frankly, she couldn't think of any. She wasn't someone who used tactics very well from the beginning.

Whether it was impossible or next to impossible, she had no choice but to do it.

"Well, if I'm stalling long enough, Kazuma might figure something out. "

But, that wasn't trust, it was only dependence -- dependence on others.

She could not permit that, her pride wouldn't tolerate it anymore.

The position Ayano desired was to be Kazuma's partner, in no way the object of his protection.

"--- Well then"

With that murmur, Ayano concentrated her consciousness.

On that water whip hammering into her as it pleased, its trajectory, timing, framework combination, grasping it completely, she searched for a gap to dive in.

That's right, there's nothing to think about it.

If a long-distance attack is ''theoretically impossible'', if bringing it into close-combat is ''exceedingly difficult'' --- in terms of degree of difficulty, it's still one rank lower.

If that's the case, the selected route will always be the same.

Or perhaps, there was no choice from the beginning.

She must slip through the offense no matter what it takes and plunge deeply enough until the sword can reach him.

"Haah! "

Together with that scream, Ayano powerfully kicked the ground.

At the same time Mizuchi attacked but she barely managed to ward it off without killing the force of her rush.

''"With this.......will I make it? "''

The speed of that whip's pointed end masterly manipulated, exceeded the speed of sound.

But, what could be called the blessing in disguise was that Chris was a first-class whip handler, not a Suijutsushi one.

It was very fast she could barely confirm it by sigh.

"How foolish! Does this mean you still don't understand the difference in strength? "

"I know it, all right! "

Replying scornfully while bouncing back the attack, Ayano took one more step.

That's right, it was very clear there is a huge power difference. But, that has nothing to do with it.

If something you cannot surrender is taken, if you cannot protect without waging war, no matter how low the chance of victory is, there is no choice but to fight.

There is nothing more but that.

"Haaaaaaaah! "

"Kuuh.....do- don't get carried away! "

Irritated at Ayano's ''pointless resistance'', Chris attacked incessantly, much more severe.

But, the girl started to notice handling his attacks became easy to her.

While drawing near the range, because managing the long whip became difficult, Chris gradually shortened the whip.

For Ayano, who already started being able to see through his technique, it didn't take time to deal with those attack with dropping speed.

At the same time Ayano made the judgment that the Justushi called Chris, although powerful, in the end he wasn't all that much.

Meaning that he had already thoroughly demonstrated his power, its range -- to put it bluntly, when facing a weaker enemy, when facing an equal enemy, when facing a stronger enemy, his impatience will surface, his technique will get rough.

Right now was exactly that time. Ayano already detected many lethal chinks in Chris' armor.

The fist few times she was cautious wondering if it's not a fake but now it was already clear

''"That's right--- swing--- restore--- there! "''

Completely stealing Chris' trick, at the same time she grasped the behavior of preparing at attack she jumped in a big way.

While feeling Mizuchi's attack cold on her neck, location she decided to land was roughly two meters in front Chris.

"Wha- "

---Completely within Enraiha's killing range!

''"I got through! "''

"Kuuh! "

Chris's face, that became gradually stiffer, finally had a cramp.

While memorizing that expression feeling more that a little exhilarated, Ayano raised Enraiha to kill.

"I- I won't let you! "

Chris stopped the blow with Mizuchi, setting Humranagi free overhead in a hurry.

Enraiha lost most of her power but, that does not mean the blade grew dull.

The fear of being cut by it was second to none.

"Girl....don't underestimate me! ", shouted Chris as if denying his impatience and agitation.

"Do you think the situation turned around with just this? But, everything remains the same!"

"True", Ayano readily affirmed.

Practically, she approached close enough for her sword to reach but at the same time she was also the closest to Homranagi.

Ayano's ability as an Enjutsushi was almost perfectly sealed. Even Enraiha's flame was practically extinct, only the air sourronding the blade was vaguely simmering like a heat haze, unable to change to flame.

Meaning, Ayano could challenge the powerful Suijutsushi owning a Sacred Treasure with nothing but martial arts.

But, there wasn't a particle of cowardice in Ayano's pupils.

In this situation she was at a disadvantage, overwhelmingly so. But, expressing that in another words, that was only a handicap.

Compared with the time she had no choice but continue to receive a one-sided attack unable to counter-attack, the situation improved a hundred-fold.

"Haah! "

Ayano swung Enraiha without hesitation.

Even if she lost her power, she believed in the blade that was the Clan's most important asset, the blade that was half of her being.

"Huff! Too soft!"

Chris stopped the slash with the water edge.

He reaffirmed his own advantage, returning to the affected expression from his first appearance.

"Is an Enjutsushi unable to use fire challenging me? Realize your standing! "

Thrusting away with brute force the sword on sword lock, Chris swung his arm, as if gently brushing the air.

Doing so, an infinite number of water droplets were produced and a second later, were shot with fierce speed.

"---!! "

Ayano evaded the rain of water bullets concentrating from her breasts to her head by rolling on the ground.

And then, immediately making her body take a defensive position, she fired a blow using the blade while standing up.

''"As expected, he's--- slow"''

While slashing at him one after another without giving him the time to use Suijutsu, the girl's assessment about Chris was reevaluated once more.

He was definitely not weak and he didn't look stupid.

Even the attack just now was almost the best selection.

Since Ayano lost her Enjutsu ability, she could only oppose Mizuchi with Enraiha itself. Then, there was no need to fuss over bestowing the most powerful attack by means of the Sacred Treasure.

It was rather the other way around, the best plan was to bother and overwhelm him so that he can handle only Enraiha.

In a fight between Sacred Treasure users, even tricks that were nothing more but skillful feints, could turn now into deadly blows.

But, if you are trying to use such a shotgun technique, it's a mistake to try and hit everything.

The aim should be scattered over a vast rage and little by little but steadily pile up damage.

"kuuh.....you bitch.....why are you still alive? "

This man didn't understand that.

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 06 241.jpg|thumb|]]

Because he only fought with weaklings only and didn't have the experience of struggling to the last minute against someone strong, he never schemed to get even one millimeter closer to victory.

"I can't possibly loose against someone like that! "

Enveloped with the drive of certain victory, Ayano swung Enraiha downward.

Yet again, Chris smashed Mizuchi, the blade not the whip, because the distance was too small, against it with a frantic expression.

"Kuuh! "

While they clashed, his posture crumbled.

Ayano, who overpowered the opponent for the first time today, drove all that force into the strike.

Chris wasn't able to reorganize his stance. Ayano was absolutely sure of victory in front of the enemy full of openings.

But.

There was one thing Ayano forgot. The Youma who stole the fire from her --- the existence of Humranagi.

Just like Kazuma, Ayano was also under the impression eating fire spirits was its only ability so she discarded its presence from her awareness.

Different from Kazuma, it was a blunder risen from arbitrarily deciding from the beginning she couldn't skillfully destroy Homranagi.

While swinging Enraiha downward, fleetingly glancing at the sky, a red light was projected closely in her field of vision.

And then she was astonished.

That annoying Homranagi was making that shining something in the middle of the mist brighten much strongly and--- she didn't understand where its eyes were but--- it was looking here.

The next moment, from that red something, a deep-crimson beam was fired aiming at Ayano.

Free time to fend it off, time to think, she didn't have any.

"Dieee! "

"Kuh! "

Slamming his elbow in Nozuchi's flank swinging down, Kazuma avoided a fatal blow within a hair's breath.

The huge axe was knocked down on the ground. The pebbles flying around with the force of an explosion, scraped Kazuma's cheek, unable to fend off.

"What's the matter? Your movement is slowing down? "

".......shut it", replied Kazuma groaning.

Gaia stared at his face with doubt,

"Humph, it doesn't seem like you are tired. It's like your heart is not here --- do you worry about what happens on the other side? "

"............"

Kazuma was silent. But it was the truth.

Right now, his consciousness was eighty percent turned toward the battle between Ayano and Chris.

Just like it was said, Kazebami's ability was not absolute nor was it inexhaustible.

That's why, outside the scope of it's power, he was able to control wind spirits without question.

Of course, more than a small fluctuation was produced feeling that influence, making the distant control exceedingly difficult and the degree of difficulty jumped through the roof when trying a precise control.

In that situation, having to endure Gaia's fierce attack, Kazuma was constructing an extremely elaborate wind network.

And finally, by constantly concentrating a large part of his consciousness he succeeded in adjusting the environment so that he could perceive the battle between Ayano and Chris in real-time.

Nevertheless, because of Kazebami, that could only happen outside the territory Kazuma and Gaia were fighting.

Inside it, it was still impossible to use Fujutsushi against Gaia and Kazebami, and just like Ayano, he could only fight using martial arts.

No, the battle progress was even worse.

Different from Ayano who converged all her sensitivity in her own battle, looking over Ayano's battle via the tuning with the spirits required most of Kazuma's concentration.

As expected Gaia was proving difficult to face with only that remainder.

Excepting Nozuchi, he managed somehow the Chijutsu attacks but it became clear that in the future he would fail

But, even so...

"Humph! "

"Kuuh! "

His reaction was late. At once he set up the Seven Sword diagonally and ward it off but just by that one conjunction a huge crack was made on the blade.

At this rate, if it were to happen three more times, the blade would snap.

Of course, if he were to stop the blow head-on, it would instantly be pulverized.

Obviously together with its owner.

"Fuu, that toy is pretty durable"

Gaia offered words of praise from the bottom of his heart.

In a situation so disadvantageous, being cornered so much but never once receiving a direct hit, that strength was comfortable.

Being able to cross swords with such a formidable enemy to one's heart's content, that pleasant feeling was satiating.

But, on Kazuma's side,

"Keh---- Ayano, don't be so reckless"

Seeming not to hear Gaia's words, turning away, he muttered to himself.

Between '''here''' and '''there''', it was very clear which one was more important.

Naturally, Gaia was enraged.

"You bastard! Is the woman more important than fighting me!? Are you underestimating me--- "

"It doesn't mean that I underestimate you but it can't be helped, you know? More that killing you, right now the person there has more priority "

"You dare? "

''At present, there is no other way of winning''

There will probably be just one chance.

In the current situation, if he's cautious, the accuracy rate will drop very low.

That's right --- for Kazuma, there was something more important than killing Gaia.

It is, defeating both Gaia and Chris.

For that to happen, this overwhelming disadvantage must be improved one way or another, no matter what. And that's something he does not wish for Ayano.

Even if there is a huge risk that will come with it, there was no other way but to go through with this.

"I'm relying on you, Ayano"

Unintentionally he spoke out loud his expectation. But from what he saw, that didn't seem an issue.

Even in this disadvantageous situation, Ayano is making good progress.

It seemed she could win by herself without any help.

That was partially because that Suijutsushi was a loser but even so it was a big deal.

''"What remains is to find an opportunity here by any means possible--- "''

As expected he kept quiet this time, murmuring so inside his heart. That's when it happened.

On his other field of vision a non-laughing matter was projected.

Ayano about to cut down Chris. The Homranagi creeping overhead. The red light inside the mist increased its brightness, clearly preparing to attack.

Ayano was completely unguarded against Homranagi and completely didn't realize it was drawing near.

"--you idiot! "

That instant, Kazuma forgot about Gaia's existence. He completely discarded his own battle from consciousness concentrating everything on the neighboring battle.

Tuning his sense with the wind spirits, he aimed precisely at Homranagi ignoring the distance or Kazebami's influence.

He felt a definite response.

He was relived.

All of it happened in one moment.

But of course, Gaia didn't miss that space.

"Nun! "

Raising a scream filled with power, Gaia swung Nozuchi downward.

The blade blew up the ground like an explosion --- it hardened in the air and the crystal-like stones bullets aimed at Kazuma.

He couldn't react in any way. His absolutely defenseless upright body was flooded in the stream of bullets, dancing in space as if hit by a car.

The Seven Star he had in his right hand snapped disappearing in the sky.

And then, after flying a few meters, he landed on his back.

With a start, his body convulsed once,

"Gaaa....ahhhh"

Together with a feeble groan, he spit out fresh blood. And then completely stopped moving as if he was dead.

His chest was moving up and down faintly so he barely managed to live but----

"What a moron.....!"

No power to fight remained in that body for which even the label serious condition was an understatement.

Gaia's face, looking down on the fallen Kazuma was thoroughly disgusted, warped with discontent.

"Giving up on the fight for something like a woman........I did not wish for such a dull conclusion"

"Haa.........I believe I already won, you fool"

"Mmm!? "

He thought he was speaking to himself. The moment he heard that murmured answer Gaia opened his eyes in shock.

He looked down once more and saw the severely wounded person that was about to die there, carrying a strong will in his eyes looking this way.

"I destroyed Homranagi. Ayano will immediately finish off the Suijutsushi and come here. It's your loss. "

"Humph, giving your life for the woman--- for the victory of your partner? What a beautiful intent of self-sacrifice. "

"Don't be ridiculous! Who died? "

Although in a situation that crossed from an overwhelming to an absolute handicap, Kazuma smiled fearlessly.

"This kind of damage is just the right handicap to deal with the likes of you. Even if I can't win I can hold on until Ayano gets here easily"

"-----Hou? "

Gaia's expression looking at him with a bored, disappointed look became animated once more.

He realized that Kazuma was not joking but he seriously did not gave up on the fight.

"With a body that cannot stand up, are you still talking big? Interesting, how very interesting, Yagami Kazuma. That's my opponent! "

"........."

"Fine, then I won't go easy on you! If you can still do something in that condition, why don't you show me? "

To grasp complete victory, Gaia raised Nozuchi overhead and roared loudly.

=== Part 3 ===

Chris couldn't comprehend what happened.

"Wha- what........"

He thought he won completely. It was a perfect trap.

Easily defeating him in the previous battle, looking down on him with naked contempt, that hateful woman he could endlessly torture to death without ever getting tired of it--- Kannagi Ayano was one-sided cornered, pressed down and in the end she was supposed to receive a certain-kill blow.

And yet---

''"What the fuck happened........."''

Homuranagi disappeared.

For Chris, whose power was much inferior to Ayano's, his lifeline just disappeared.

Chris didn't think it was cowardly sealing Enjutsu by using Homuranagi. It was his pet theory that's how humans should fight.

From the start, among all animals on the Earth, it was easier to count a human's physical ability from the bottom up.

No matter how much one trains, there wasn't one in a million people who could bring down a tiger or a lion with his body alone.

Why did such a meager living thing seized hegemony on this planet?

That was only because it had the wisdom to press down that power.

He cannot win by himself. By himself.

By using tools, by setting traps, by thinking of a plan --- using such intellectual means, the humans exterminated other animals and expanded their territory.

Then, there was nothing wrong with using a Youma. It was an ordinary tactic to seal the opponent's power.

That wasn't an excuse, he thought so from the bottom of his heart. Of course, it something like that were to happen to him, that would be a different problem.

Anyway, that's how he fulfilled his own self-justification and dealt with this battle as if the winner was decided from the beginning.

"This is, no way......."

The plan that was supposed to be absolute was really, quickly overturned.

Even Chris really understood from the beginning. That the downpour of wind blades from the sky forcibly smashed Homuranagi together with the beam it fired.

"no way......"

But even so he could not accept the reality, letting his gaze wander searching for Homuranagi.

Of course, he couldn't find it, that wandering off gaze directly grasping the appearance of the enemy with it's power regained.

"Hii--!"

Remembering this was no time to be leisurely distracted, Chris jumped setting up Mizuchi.

But, the severe counterattack he feared didn't come.

Even when he put himself on guard, Ayano let the hand grasping Enraiha drop without posture and quietly stopped.

Even Enraiha's blade clad on flame was flickering feebly, not all that different from before Homuranagi was extinguished.

For some reason he hesitated to challenge that somewhat dejected standing figure full of disappointment, feeling like a deer in the headlights.

After several seconds without change---

"Haaah"

Suddenly Ayano closed her eyes, letting out a very heavy sight.

She instantly opened her closed eyelids but in them there was the same battered light of despair.

By some chance, had all fire spirits been eaten as far as the eye can see and even if Homuranagi was destroyed, she wasn't able to regain her power?

When he was thinking that---

"I was supposed to fix the problem by myself, hey. Well, it's true this was a pinch so I won't say it was none of your business. ", grumbled Ayano looking reluctant.

"I'm always the one saved. If it goes on like this, no matter how much time passes, I won't be able to stand next to him. "

"Wh- what are you saying......."

"But, anyway--- if that's the case, at least let me handle what was asked of me"

With that murmur, that instant she lightly raised Enraiha overhead---

'''Donnn--'''

Together with a thunderous roar that shook the ground, a dazzling pillar of fire pressed against the heaven.

The overwhelming power emerging without previous notice rumbled the surrounding atmosphere--- no, the space itself.

"Wha- wha-- whaaat!? "

In front of that excessively immense, immense power, Chris could do nothing but raise a cry of panic.

But of course, that was meaningless and before the man screaming idly, a huge pillar of fire converged.

That's right, without reduction or decline it converged. Without lowering it's temperature, only diminishing it's volume, it's density was raised much more.

So much, that it could pierce the Heavens.

The huge blazing column of fire became thiner, shorter--- standing in the center of it, entwined in it was the girl's body, the source of the flame.

And finally, it was compressed in that blade the girl was holding.

"Waah"

Chris stared with a hot blooded complexion at that blade clad in a compressed flame the equivalent of a sun.

His teeth didn't quite match, an unsightly chattering sound escaping from his mouth.

Unable to look straight at her, his turned away eyes sized his own hand holding Mizuchi.

It was supposed to have given him unrivaled power, the mighty, unparalleled '''Water's Sacred Treasure'''.

It was the first time he regarded it as something so unreliable. Bearing in mind the differences between water and fire, the disparity between them became overwhelming.

It's impossible to win--- that was such a reasonable conclusion it became heartless.

Using Enraiha to slice the air ahead, Ayano looked at Chris through the golden sparks scattered.

With an expression void of the exaltation of the counterattack, void of the pleasure of taking her revenge, she dispassionately announced.

"I'm sorry but I can't mind you right now"

She already had no business here.

She must speedily clear all obstacles blocking her path, she must go no matter what.

"Because Kazuma is waiting for me"

Even if this is Kazuma, Ayano understood he had no way of overwhelming Gaia as long as his power was sealed.

He was more that at a disadvantage.

Even under such life threatening circumstances, even so, Kazuma forcefully saved her.

But Ayano understood that wasn't all because of kindness.

It was a move Kazuma made to win.

It was because he judged that was the very best in order to defeat Chris and Gaia.

He saved Ayano and returned her power to her.

That is, ''"Kill him quickly, come and quickly smash Kazebami! "''.

"Haaa! "

Reducing the distance by breaking into great speed, Ayano swung Enraiha downward right in front.

"Nuuh! "

Chris spread a water sphere from Mizuchi and held it aloft like a shied to receive the attack.

The difference in shape between a sword or a whip was instantly blurred but the result was still the same.

The enormous water mass was bisected unable to resist a moment. Of course that produced an explosion of water vapor but it was thoroughly burned to nothing by the golden eruption approaching Chris.

"Hi, hiii! "

Without shame or honor Chris rolled on the ground to avoid even brushing against that hellish fire about to annihilate him.

He pushed before his eyes Mizuchi who already became a handle and managed somehow to block down that mowing attack.

This time, something both fortunate and unfortunate happened to Chris.

The fortunate part was that because of Enraiha's flame, condensed to utmost limit, his hand holding the handle wasn't burned away.

The unfortunate part was that because of Enraiha's flame, condensed to utmost limit, the handle struck by it couldn't withstand it.

Even though it was sacred treasure, having lost all its capacity, Enraiha's blow at full power put an enormous burden on it.

Mid-way on the edge of the handle where it was hit, it developed a small crack impossible to mistake.

"Wha----?"

"Eeh? "

Not only Chris but Ayano too looked at it in shock. She slashed at it with all her strength but she would have never expected something called a Sacred Treasure to be damageable.

Unintentionally she interrupted her pursuit and looked at Enraiha.

She observed it carefully and deliberately but it didn't seem to have any minute scratches, let alone cracks.

Letting out a long sigh of relief, she shifted her attention on Chris for a second time.

Because of too much shock she let herself have a lot of openings in front of the enemy but he didn't use that.

Looking at it, it seemed unlikely he could have.

"Aah......aah...."

With perfectly round eyes Chris was starring at Mizuchi.

The crack running through the handle was spreading out greatly but it wasn't serious enough to snap in the middle.

But, that doesn't mean he could relax----

"Waaah! "

Suddenly, from Mizuchi a water whip vigorously stretched out. It stuck to Chris, his upper body reflexively vent backwards.

No matter how you look it he wasn't the kind of man who would commit suicide. Which means that the water whip was naturally formed by the Sacred Treasure.

But, even it that was so, it was clearly strange that it would turn against its proprietor, trying to harm him. It didn't look like a normal feature.

''"No way, it's running wild......? Because of a crack..........?"''

While the water whip was undulating irregularly, it grew thick enough the name whip became unsuitable.

And at the same time, it's pointed tip began changing shape, making one believe it was the head of a living creature, furthermore on all its body a scale pattern began to emerge.

"Qu-quiet down, ''Mizuchi''! ", order Chris holding the Sacred Treasure in his hand changing his facial expression.

Since his own Sacred Treasure was on a rampage that reaction wasn't particularly odd but Ayano tilted her head on the side remembering a subtle sense of discomfort.

''"This pronunciation.......is somewhat weird?"''

''Mizuchi'' is certainly the name of the Sacred Treasure he was owning. But the way he called it then, it seemed like he called out something quite different but with the same name---

"Well, anyway"

It was doubtful but Ayano easily cast it away.

She was hurrying now and at present the enemy must be put down no matter what.

If so, there's only one way to go.

In silence she raised Enraiha overhead. Since the Sacred Treasure was running wild close combat became even more dangerous. Besides, there was no need for a direct confrontation in this situation.

But even so, without negligence, she loaded all her power in the blade.

And then, she swung it downward without hesitation.

A maximum plasma attacked the Suijutsushi in the height of his panic.

"Hiiiyaa! "

Without means of opposing, he wasn't even able to control Mizuchi. Having said that, he didn't have the determination to let go of it and it was too late to run now----

The result

Unable to do anything, Chris was wrapped in the white-hot flame.

After the flame vanished, nothing remained. Not Chris nor Mizuchi.

Unable to earn a positive proof, Ayano murmured.

"Did I got him.......?"

Since there was any trace there was also a chance he ran away. Leaving Chris aside, she didn't believe the Sacred Treasure called Mizuchi could disappear without leaving at least a fragment behind.

But right now, more that the validation of the result, she gave preference to the confluence with Kazuma.

Thinking so, Ayano turned on her heels and started running searching in the cracks for a path to the other side.

"Wait for me, Kazuma! "

=== Part 4 ===

Managing somehow to get up, leaning on one of the tree trunks nearby, Kazuma urged Gaia provocatively.

"What's the matter, aren't you coming? "

"How about you speak so full of composure after you can stand up by yourself? "

"Against you, even standing down it's enough."

Together with the instant reply, Kazuma lifted his middle finger. But, Gaia didn't get angry, rather he was laughing happily.

"You didn't give on victory even this late in the game. I understand that. Bastard, are you still planing something? Not something that could change the tables in a second but something that could open you a path to victory? "

"That's right. If you don't want to die, don't move any closer. I can solve the problem with a long range attack without risking my safety. "

It was clearly a provocation. Using the things Gaia put a lot on emphasis on, pride and courage, he wanted to get him as close as possible.

But he was doing it deliberately, stepping up the provocations.

"Fine. Then I'll cut your head directly with this Mizuchi. "

And then, he bore Nozuchi on his shoulder and slowly started walking with his short legs.

"Kuuh....fu fu....fu fu fu fu fu fu....."

While firmly taking one step at the time, a suppressed laugh escaped Gaia, enjoyed from the bottom of his heart.

"Not being exhausted even after being corned to such an extent...On the contrary, it's like I'm the one whose being cornered. This tension and this feeling of exaltation--- it's fun, Yagami Kazuma. I feel like I have only been alive since I met you "

"..........that so? "

Contrastive to Gaia who displayed a somewhat ecstatic facial expression, Kazuma was thoroughly awake.

"By the way, they're something I want to ask you"

"What is it?"

Looking at Kazebami Kazuma asked.

"If you love to fight, why are you using something like that? "

"Hmmm, it's regrettable but I cannot win otherwise. "

".....In short, what you like is not ''to fight'' but ''to win'', right? "

"If I'd be pushed to say it, that's right. If I were to die, I couldn't fight anymore, right? "

"............"

At that thought too distant from his own sense of values, Kazuma understood asking question is meaningless.

"It was a mistake thinking I can understand a battle junkie's mind. "

"What are you saying? Living is fighting. Then, there's no other meaning to life except aiming for victory. "

"Aah, I see, I see. That so? "

Gaia passionately began reciting his life philosophy but Kazuma, who already gave up understanding him, only made approving sounds not really listening.

It seems that these two had a very bad affinity.

But, it was only a conversation while walking and that distance wasn't all that long. Naturally, it quickly came to an end.

"What's the matter? "

There were a little less that two meters. Stopping at a distance were, if he were to make another step the ax would reach, Gaia asked:

"You're already within my reach. Won't you use that ''plan'' that will definitely kill me? "

"Humph, I'm embarrassed", replied Kazuma in an absolutely not embarrassed tone while expressing a slack smile.

But the situation was desperate even for untrained eyes. Ayano was still in the middle of fighting with Chris and she will certainly not make it in time.

In this situation where he didn't have strength enough to stand, is it really possible to defeat Gaia even with a plan.

"Unfortunately I couldn't prepare yet. Therefore, because of my handicap wait until I count to three. "

Saying so, he raised two fingers. As expected, Gaia frowned.

"There's no need to go along with you that far. This is enough, not knowing when to give up--- "

"One"

But, not minding that, Kazuma willfully started the count. The ring finger standing up was folded.

Gaia frowned even more.

"I told you I won't go along with it. Fine, then just before it reaches three, I'll behead you"

"Two"

The middle finger was folded.

Immediately following, in silence Gaia took the last step. At the same time he twisted his back, creating enough space for Nozuchi hidden on his back.

A sweeping sideways slashing attack that would cut off his neck in one move.

That flash aimed for Kazuma's head much faster than when his finger should have folded.

But, even quicker that that---

Suddenly, Kazebami was enveloped in flames.

"Wha---!?"

At the sudden emergency Gaia interrupted his attack looking up at Kazebami. But, without time to do anything, the golden flame shining brilliantly burned Kazebami no nothing instantly.

The Youma that was the vital point of his tactics quickly disappeared without leaving any trace.

"No way, she's still......."

Murmuring in blank amazement, Gaia gasped sharply, looking back at Kazuma.

That frightful gaze was was greeted with with a man-eating smile.

"Aah, I'm sorry. That was a bit fast, no? "

"Bastaaaaar----"

Gaia was about to curse at him but didn't manage to finish his words.

Wind blew him off like a cannonball, flowing away ten meters.

Kazuma didn't run after him, looking up at the sky deploring. Next he looked over his shoulder and laughed cynically.

"You made a very grand entrance but did you wait your turn, old man? "

"Don't be foolish. I'm not you"

A solemn voice replied so. Abruptly he faced the one who addressed him without any surprise. And then---

"Nii-sama! "

Obviously different from the previous one, a high clear voice that made one's ears comfortable and small footsteps running over.

Kazuma greeted his important family member with a bottomless smile, unusual for him.

"Yo, Ren"

"Onii-sama! "

Kazuma's real brother, Kannagi's direct descendant, the Enjutsushi Kannagi Ren responded to his brother smiling with his whole face.

And then he prepared to hug him with all his strength but the instant he saw Kazuma's condition he froze.

"......Nii-sama......"

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 06 267.jpg|thumb|]]

That third call was sorrowful, as if a different person called the first two times.

But Kazuma didn't seem to notice,

"Aah, you'd better not cling to me. Because my bones are broken here and there"

In a tone as if speaking about a different person, he urged Ren to be careful.

"........What on Earth happened for Nii-sama to receive so much damage? "

"Humph, you probably got excited and became negligent in the end and received a severe counterflow, right? "

That profound voice answered Ren from the background. The boy turned around, and replied to their father, Kannagi Genma, in a tone full of criticism.

"You don't need to speak in that tone, Otou-sama"

"But, Kazuma is actually injured. Was the man just now so dangerous? That's impossible "

"Otou-sama--- "

"Ren, wait"

Kazuma restrained Ren, who was about to protest further. Of couse, it wasn't to prevent the parent-child argument.

"You, how did you know about this? "

It was because he wanted to know the answer first. Ren and Genma who had just returned from a business trip had no way of knowing they were fighting here.

But Ren quickly answered.

"How you ask, because Isurughi-san from the Special Investigation Unit reported to the Suzerain. "

"Isurughi......? Aah, that child-face. What did he report? "

"Eeh, that he had a verbal message from those who aimed at Enraiha? Do you not know of it? Then, Nii-sama, why are you here? "

"We chased after Xiaolei and it turned into a fight. Verbal message.....by the way, did the Suijutsushi son of a bitch said something about it? "

Both inclined their hear. Because their intel was too different, they couldn't understand the situation very well.

Eventually, Kazuma gave up on it completely.

"Anyway. We'll have time to talk things through when this is over. "

And finally he looked at his father and spoke words of thanks, unusually frank.

"At any rate you saved me. That was a desperate situation"

"Hoou--- I didn't notice that"

Genma replied coldly and shifted his focus underneath to where Kazebami had been flying.

A darkened stick-like object was stuck into the ground. Because it had been burned at such high temperature, it fused and wouldn't return to its previous form but even so the seven dots carved in the middle could still be seen.

That was supposed to have been blown away at the time he received that blow from Gaia, the ruin of the Seven Star Sword. Ht means that when Genma attacked Kazebami he also burned the sword that was still there.

Of course, it wasn't a coincidence. Using wind Kazuma manipulated the sword's orbit, using words Kazuma controlled the positions of Gaia and Kazebami and turned the situation around in a surprise attack against the danger that stole his skill from the blind spot.

The resuscitating move born from not knowing how to give up on victory even in the end.

The outcome was pointless but until Genma and Ren appeared it was definitely not impossible recovering in that situation.

But, Kazuma was modest.

"Is that true? Even I were to hit it once that method was like leaving at to chance. There was a high possibility it would be off. "

"Humph, I wonder. You always seemed to like playing the shamisen. "

"Hah, are you still holding a grudge? The one getting tricked is the idiot, no?"

Genma looked with a long, blank gaze at his son, speaking so provocatively. That excessively cold atmosphere unbecoming for a father and his son drifted between them.

Ren looked at both of them astonished.

"Nii-sama.......Otou-sama too, now it's not the time to do something like this...? "

"Humph, I agree"

Understanding it was pointless asking questions, Genma turned the conversation more practical.

"Ayano seems to be fighting the other way but where is the Fuan girl? "

"Who knows. Somewhere around there she's dead or she's about to die"

"Nii-sama........."

Ren again raised a voice of criticism against his brother's extremely heartless manner of speaking but this time Kazuma didn't back down.

"Running ahead by herself, defeated on her own. Very troublesome"

"But the Suzerain ordered us to protect that girl."

"That so? Then find her by yourselves. But, before that "

Gaia shifted his attention on Gaia laying down ten meters ahead of him.

The blow from before, although it was meant to thrust him away not incapacitate, it gave enough damage to compare it to an iron ball used for wrecking houses.

"I need to finish this first"

Together with his murmur, Kazuma formed a wind blade above Gaia. And fired it instantly without hesitating.

The wind blade that fell perpendicularly mercilessly aimed at Gaia's neck.

"Nuuoo!?"

But just before it hit, Gaia tumbled on the ground raising a strange voice and narrowly escaped death.

"Did- did you found out....."

"Obviously, you smurf. A Chijutsushi can't die just because of that"

Because the high-ranking Chijutsushi was directly taking the Earth's <<Ki>> inside its body he could boast about resilience beyond human understanding.

Therefore, even receiving damage that would instantly kill a regular human he would still be alive and kicking, just like that.

"Even so, this time playing dead, huh? Even though you say you are a ''brave-ish'' man, you don't really choose your methods. No, that only means you're self-centered. "

"Mmm, what are you saying? My body and heart are that of a brave man. But---"

"If you die you can't fight anymore? "

"Yeah! ", declared Gaia trowing out his chest with pride.

Clearly the means and the purpose suddenly reversed but the person in question didn't quite understand that.

".......Well, I don't care about your principles but there's something I want to hear. Will you sing for me, I wonder---on whose order are you two operating? "

That moment Gaia's face convulsed magnificently. He was the kind of man who could not lie.

"...........I don't know what you're saying"

He was doing his best to play innocent but Kazuma didn't even pay attention.

"Don't try to deceive me, fool. A battle enthusiast meat-head asshole who is convinced he's so clever. Different from trying to make a name for yourself, to say nothing of the fact you managed to prepare that kind of Youma, it doesn't seem like the magic ceremony of gathering four Sacred Treasures is something you just ran across into"

"Unh....."

Gaia groaned unpleasantly but suddenly his lips turned into a broad grin. And then, he began talking.

"Is not that I can't tell you but it's not free of charge. "

"What will money do to you now? You can't use them in the next world. "

"But--but I didn't say that's what I need! "

Speedily giving up on that unsuitable round-about speaking style, Gaia asked directly. That was a military-man-like manner.

Matching that, Kazuma replied frankly.

"I see, that's fine. Die! "

"Whaa---? If- if I die you won't get your information! "

"That's not really important", declared Kazuma flatly.

"I'm not the one carrying a Sacred Treasure. It's the Kannagi's and Fuan's business. "

"But, can you fight with that wound? Wouldn't it be best to make a deal now for both of us? "

"Hah, how stupid. Why can I not fight in this situation? "

Declaring so matter-of-course, Kazuma looked at his father. And then pointed at Gaia with his arm and said the words he was most fearfull of.

"Go Kannagi Genma! Defeat the enemy of your family! "

"..............."

Genma stared at his son who ordered him so in an unnatural narration-like clear tone with an extremely chilly gaze.

And then, after a few seconds, he suddenly turned around and informed Ren.

"There doesn't seem to be any problem on Ayano's end. We should focus on sheltering the Fuan girl. "

"That's right. "

Ren too looked at Kazuma with the same kind of glance his father used and followed him. Without once turning around, they both disappeared.

Gaia saw them off with an amazed expression.

Precisely because he feared Kannagi Genma he took the miserable attitude of playing dead but it turned out he will be able to escape this place somehow.

And yet, should he be happy his plan worked so well?

".....Are they really gone? Even though you have been disinherited isn't that a bit too cold for a real father and child? "

"Hmm, Aaah, that's fine. It was a joke anyway"

"A joke? ", asked Gaia back not understanding why use that word.

But Kazuma didn't answer that,

"It's certainly tiresome and loathsome, I am hurt, but I couldn't agree more. "

He gave the sentence matter-of-fact.

"I, I had no intention from the beginning of leaving cleaning up you to someone else since the beginning! "

That instant, a sublime thirst for blood filled the space.

"Kuuh! "

Feeling a chill, as if a gleaming sword was pushed against the rape of his neck, Gaia--- instantly backed off.

In the same posture, sitting down with both his feet stretched out Kazuma couldn't stand up.

He did not called the wind spirits.

But, but even so.

Faced with the intimidating air emitted by that man only sitting down, Gaia experienced personally the proximity of <<Death>>, like never before.

"Guh.....nuu....."

But his reason negated that. Saying there's no need to fear some half-dead man with wounds all over his body.

He clasped Nozuchi with both his hands raising it before his eyes. He backed off one step. And then, to encourage himself, he roared.

"Don't babble dead man! No matter how tough you pretend to be, I know you have no more strength to battle! After collapsing so ungainly, you don't have the strength to stand up! "

"Well, that's generally not mistaken"

Kazuma agreed calmly.

"But that's not a problem. I'm not primarily a martial artist. I can kill people without lifting a finger. It doesn't matter if I sit or if I lie down"

"Even me? Without even moving, without Kokusen, do you think you can kill me with only wind? Don't look down on me! "

"I'm not. That's why--- "

A calm tone. But, that <<something>> dwelling in it, the premonition of death that put the screws on Gaia's body, changed into something more.

At the same time he understood. Kannagi Genma's choice to leave this place was not because he abandoned his son but because he was certain of his victory.

That was very clear now. Even about to die, even unable to stand, this man is <<the enemy>> that holds a superior power surpassing his own.

"I'll crush you with all my power"

"Daaaaa! "

That's why Gaia went ahead. Amassing power by jumping ahead several steps, he swung Nozuchi from underneath in a scoop up movement.

The blown-up soil approached Kazuma like a tsunami.

Kazuma didn't stir. Just like he said, he didn't move a finger, only calling out the Wind in his thoughts.

The gushing out hard wind crashed violently in the avalanche of earth and rocks, offsetting it.

The rivalry between wind and earth.

Wind --- the spectacle of atmospheric flow stopping the violent torrent of stones was aberrant but Gaia observed it with a smile of joy.

That's right, they're struggling for supremacy. No matter the medium, the avatar of death's, that man's power and he.

''"I won't, I won't loose! "''

Supported by his regained self-confidence and pride, Gaia charged even more power. The surging sea of soil with grown might, little by little pushed into the wind.

But, immediately following---

The wind-blade approaching from behind, quickly and mercilessly looped off his head.

"----Aah?"

The head separated from its torso fell down while rotating. Unable to understand what happened, inside that rotating field, Gaia observed his own body being shred to pieces by wind-blades.

And then, the head fell on the ground with a plop. The last thing that interrupted consciousness perceived was the image of his enemy, the one who defeated him, collapsed and feeble.

But within that unshapely appearance he instantly recognized that pair of eyes shining in a vibrant blue --- the downpour of wind blades from overhead tore his brain to pieces and his consciousness was swallowed in darkness.

"...........sigh"

Quite annoyed, Kazuma took a deep breath. Doing so, he seemed to loose his vitality together with the exhalation and the blue, transparent pupils were dyed a dark black.

"Did my time come? "

Murmuring so without strength he took out tobacco from his breast pocket. He put it in his mouth and lit it with the lighter that was luckily safe.

Breathing out the smoke with a sigh, he looked at the sky. Both his arms hanged, seeming to have used all their strength on the cigarette.

That pair of eyes looking at the sky grew somewhat hazy and yet very transparent. As if he finished achieving what he wanted to achieve, like a man who has no more regrets in this world.

Not moving or rather unable to move--- Kazuma stood still as if all his power left him.

A heavy silence filled his surroundings.

"............."

Suddenly, holding the tobacco, his lips trembled. The ash that grew long fell on his chest and charred his clothes but without paying attention to it, he let out a small phrase.

Very much like him, much too cynical, mixed with a bitter smile---

"........Isn't this my death flag? "

"Why are you joking like some happy idiot, you? "

A cold retort immediately returned. Kazuma slightly shifted his neck and looked at the girl holding a flame sword in her hand--- Ayano.

"Yo, Ayano. Don't you look healthy? "

"......It's all thanks to you. While you have suffered quite a lot. "

"It's all thanks to you"

Hearing Kazuma reply with the same words, Ayano made an extremely guilty face.

"......I'm very sorry"

"I did it because it was necessary"

"But, I wasn't back in time"

"That's true"

"Again. I couldn't do anything"

"If you think so, it must be so"

"I was supposed to bear that injury"

"Is that so?"

"Thank you"

Words of gratitude lost in the sea of self reproach.

But, no matter how small that whisper was, Kazuma couldn't possibly miss it.

"You are welcome"

Mingling it with a smile, Kazuma responded to the girl who turned his back on him to try and hide her face dyed red.

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| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume6_Chapter_6|Chapter 6]]
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</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume6 Chapter 2

2014-01-31T09:26:05Z

Drejzer: /* Part 2 */

== Chapter 2 - Water and earth raiders ==

=== Part 1 ===

Playing with Kokusen with one hand, Kazuma observed the boy struggling under his foot.

It looked pretty painful. The entire body weight of a grown man concentrated in one point on that delicate body - what's more, the boy was trampled straight above the heart so that was expected.

He already couldn't resist in a meaningful way.

The movement of his limbs, rather than those for escape, were closer to death agony convulsions.

But even so, the boy didn't gave up yet. Seizing with his hand the foot trampling him, he was almost powerless but he still had light in his eyes, looking up at Kazuma.

''"------How energetic,"'' thought Kazuma indifferently.

He did not hate kids with vitality. As long as they're not annoying him, that is.

Adding one thing to another, he believed in being impartial towards all his enemies.

That is, annihilating men and women of all ages if they oppose him.

Therefore, he had no reason to let this boy live.

It would be better to make him spit out why he was aiming at Ayano but that's not something he should pay attention to.

It happened at the time he was putting strength in his leg to quickly kill him.

Some ill-breading intruders disturbed Kazuma's purpose.

"Ayano!"

"-----Eeh?"

Around Ayano's surroundings, blinking at the sudden call, a wind barrier was wrapped up.

Immediately something flying at a high speed was repelled and smashed against the wind barrier.

A small sheet of spray glistened in the sunlight.

"------Water?"

"You two right there, do you have business here?"

Not minding Ayano's confusion, Kazuma asked in a freezing voice.

A replying voice promptly returned.

"Did you notice? Besides, I wasn't particularly hiding my Kehai, you know."

A clear, beautiful voice resounded on the desolate construction site.

Ayano looked around searching for the owner of the voice. As for Kazuma, he didn't even show he was searching and while stepping and jumping on the boy, lazily he puffed his cigarette.

"I asked about your business."

"How impolite."

A voice containing a smile replied. Together with it, two figures appeared on top of a slightly elevated heap of mud.

Appropriate for the owner of the beautiful voice, one of them was an extremely beautiful young man. His silver hair was glittering in the sun like a waterfall, flowing straight down his back. His eyes were amber colored.

He had flawless white skin and thin, fine shaped red lips that were vibrantly contrasting.

He was naturally perfect.

No matter how much one looked at him, not a flaw could be found.

That face was so beautiful it made one believe it must be without a doubt the a human face organized after a single rule - Golden Rule.

But after only glancing at it, Kazuma gazed steadily at the man standing next to him.

He was very short. He had below a hundred and fifty centimeters at most.

But anyone would hesitate calling that man a small built. Surely his stature was low. But even if he was low the volume of muscle that body was clad in, wasn't common.

When describing a muscular giant it's said ''"That upper arm is thicker than a woman's ass"'' or ''"Those tights are like a woman's waist"''.

If the man were above two meters it will be finished one would call him ''burly'' - but if he's below a hundred and fifty centimeters -

You can only call it birth defect. Even assuming he dedicated all his life to weight training, it doesn't seem likely the human body can become like this.

It could be evaluated to a human's parody or rather a distorted figure (prettiness nonexistent).

The balance of length and width, was perfectly deviating from the contour of the human body. Even the skeleton was wrong.

It could be understood if it were a different species from man.

After staring at that atypical appearance very long, Kazuma coughed once.

"So it's true there are Dwarfs, huh?"

"Wait a second, youngster," the man retorted to Kazuma almost reluctantly.

His voice was a deep baritone, which seemed only appropriate.

"Who is a dwarf, huh?"

"It's obviously you, no? Beside that constitution, you're also carrying an axe."

That's right, the man was shouldering a gigantic battle-axe.

Just like in a certain world famous fantasy movie, his physique seemed very similar to that race.

Besides he was also growing a beard.

"If you want to be consistent to that extent, you should wear a helmet with two horns. Can you split into seven and dance around snow white?"

"Wha.....You bastard...."

At Kazuma's abuse, bringing even fairy tales into this, the man glared at him furiously.

But, his mouth didn't seem very proficient so no comebacks emerged.

"Y-you youngster....."

Understanding he couldn't match him verbally, the man grasped with both his hands the battle ax and stepped forward with short steps.

But, his beautiful neighbor restrained him.

"Well, calm down, *imli."

"Who the heck is G*mli?"

Not minding the short one angry and barring his teeth, the beautiful man turned his gaze to Kazuma - no, to the boy trampled on at his feet.

"----This is a somewhat unexpected development, huh?"

Curbing his lips upward, the man addressed the boy. Those red lips were etched with scorn towards a weak person.

But, even that was beautiful. As a god boasting about the superiority of his existence, ridiculing a fallen angel.

"It's not the time to split among friends, right, young prince of the Fuan family - was it? Or rather, you thought that by presenting us with Enraiha, we'll overlook you?"

"Rd....tard......"

With that energy stored somewhere, the boy once again began to act violently underneath Kazuma's foot.

Literally crushing that resistance under his foot, Kazuma looked up at the youth.

"Who are you?"

The young man bowed elegantly and then declared.

"I was slow in saying. I am Christian Roengram - your enemy."

Receiving the young man's - Christian's words, Kazuma's words was etched in a belligerent smile.

"Good vibes, easy to understand. I like that."

"I feel grateful. But - "

Cristian finished his sentence there and looked away. Nearby Kazuma. And then, to where Ayano was standing, in a slightly separated place.

"If you obediently hand over your sacred treasure, I promise not to harm you."

"- So he said. What will you do? "

"That's rejected!" replied Ayano without hesitating for a second.

"Besides I don't like your ''I'll overlook you'' attitude! ''I promise not to harm you''? Do you think you can win against us?"

"Of course."

Chris held out his right hand. On the pointed upwards palm as if trying to receive something, a short pole, thirty centimeters long appeared without notice.

"Why that is, it's because I'm the owner of the Water's sacred treasure, <<Mizuchi>>."

The pole he clasped in his right hand shook. The large amount of water spirits entering through there changed to a whip crossing over ten meters.

"I'll teach you the discrepancy in our status. --- Aah, Gaia, I'm plenty by myself. Don't interfere."

"......Humph, very well. A powerless Fujutsushi and an Enjutsushi who can't even win against that, there's no worth dealing with them."

The short man - Gaia, instantly made a dissatisfied face but immediately agreed and jerked his chin as if saying ''Go already!''.

Chris bowed to Gaia with a smiling face, and approached Ayano with an air of composure.

"...................."

"...................."

Kazuma and Ayano, none even throwing a sidelong glance to the approaching Chris, looked at each other.

Ayano asked frankly.

"Is is real?"

"Who knows. It's the first time I heard of a Water sacred treasure."

While answering, Kazuma incorrigibly gridded down the boy acting violently.

"You're persistent. ------Ayano, I leave that weird one to you."

"Okay."

Kazuma's gaze, looking at Ayano lightly running, suddenly turned down.

The boy under his foot, was pulling the cuff of his trousers.

Feeling that was an action meant to attract attention not to escape the trampling, Kazuma loosened the force just a little.

"What?"

"...St..op....her....."

While bearing the pain of having his chest crushed, the boy boy spoke disconnectedly.

"That woman.......can't.....match him.........She'll be....killed......."

"That so? "

Kazuma was thoroughly calm. The gaze with which he looked at those two, about to start fighting, didn't had a fragment of nervousness.

"Well, shut up and look. What you wanted to see, from here on you'll be able to see freely."

Kazuma smiled lightly at the boy who didn't seem to understand.

"The serious Kannagi Ayano."

Intended to be composed, Chris didn't start but waited for Ayano slashing attack.

Matching the moment Ayano raised Enraiha overhead, at that moment he lightly twisted his wrist.

The flame sword swung downward from above her head was ambushed from underneath by the water whip.

The sound of water soaking a heated frying pan reached their ears. Simultaneously, both were covered by white water vapor.

But, the atmosphere turned clear in a moment. Mizuchi absorbed the surplus water in the atmosphere.

The water whip completely stopped the flame blade. Only the surface that touched continued to evaporate. That was almost nothing compared to the entire water volume.

But, successively compensating that loss from the surroundings, the whip couldn't be severed.

Cool-looking while the burning blade was before his eyes, Chris laughed.

"An Enjutsushi tackling a Suijutsushi. Water trumps Fire - do you not know the rivalry between the five elements?"

"Ara, I know it. Wasn't it all about the amount of material resources?"

There was no appearance of impatience in Ayano's eyes. Including even more power in the blade, she made the golden flame erupt.

"Kuh!"

Chris' voice was confused for the first time. The whip was bisected close to the root, and Mizuchi leaped in his hand, nothing more but a stick.

"So- something like this.........."

From those red lips that looked a little pale, a murmur of astonishment leaked out.

It was the ideology of the cosmic dual forces - Ying and Yang and the five elements.

The elements the world was composed of - Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, all phenomena became by the interference of those elements, that's what it meant.

There are two types of interference, one that takes advantage of one other and they can work together and the other, where there is a killing rivalry between them.

For example, the Earth is raising Wood (vegetation). Therefore the Earth makes Wood alive. On the contrary, Metal (the metal blade) cuts down Tree. Therefore, Metal trumps Tree.

And then, Water trumps Fire. That is the law derived from Chinese cosmology.

But think about it. Certainly Water makes Fire disappear. In that case, did the brilliant, primitive fire disappear with just a cup of water?

Water is also stronger than Fire. But that is not something absolute. It was just something relatively favorable.

In the first place, the basic concept of Spirit Jutsushi is the theory of the four elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind.

"Haaaah!"

While it may be true that Ayano's enemy was a Suijutsushi, she is swinging Enraiha without hesitation.

Ayano's way of thinking is always simple. And so, it suited her and made her stronger.

Today is a good example of it.

Water trumps Fire? What about it?

Regarding the energy it's able to release, there's nothing that equals <<Fire>>. No matter how much predominance <<Water>> has -

"How can I lose? To the likes of you!"

"Meeh, kuuh!"

Chris drew to himself the water that was cut off trying to reconstruct the whip once more but that spanned a few seconds.

In front of Enraiha at full power, Mizuchi was literally doing nothing more but pouring water on hot stone.

Torn piece by piece, Mizuchi wasn't even allowed to keep the whip shape.

Overhead Chris, all his power stolen, the blade clad in flame was approaching.

''"I got you!"''

But, together with a hard sound, the certain kill blow was obstructed.

Mizuchi lost the water whip. Pushing out that handle, Chris intercepted he blow.

As expected of a sacred treasure, even by using the red-hot blade, she couldn't smash that handle. But -

"Kuu....uu....."

Even if he stopped the blow of the blade itself, he couldn't protect himself against that calorific value.

The golden flame was scorching and both of Chris' hands gripping the handle at both ends gave off a burned smell.

His flushed face was strained by anguish and closely packed sweat drops were coming loose.

"Me....Ooohh!"

While stopping Enraiha's blow, Chris fired a kick in desperation. Without going to far, Ayano evaded the kick taking her distance.

"Wh.....what's going on?"

Underneath Kazuma's foot, the boy opened his eyes wide in shock.

"Isn't she like a different person from when I faced her?"

"Huh? Yeah."

Kazuma nodded to the boy's shout like it was only natural.

"Because she's not the kind of person to get serious if the opponent has no thirst for blood."

"Did she realize!?"

"........Hey"

Kazuma overlooked the boy that was plainly amazed.

"Didn't you say it yourself: ''Show me your power''?"

Which means the boy's purpose wasn't to kill Ayano but to grasp her ability - meaning, trying her ability.

"Well, that Ojou-san may have forgotten about it."

"------?"

"Didn't she notice it with her wildlife sixth sense? Because she's a living thing that moves only on instinct."

The moment he said that, red hot plasma crashed into the wind barrier. Of course, Ayano fired one of Enraiha's blows without even turning around.

"-------Wah?"

Dumbfounded the boy looked at Kazuma, who shrugged his shoulders like nothing happened.

"Right now.....that was the real deal."

"Hmm, how to say this, she kind of misunderstands it for tsukomi. I'm kind of worried if she'll kill someone before long."

"You there! Don't say whatever you want!"

This time she made a verbal tsukomi.

Maybe because she was composed enough, while overlooking Chris reconstructing his water whip without interfering, Ayano glared at Kazuma with an angry look.

"There's no need to worry, except you I wouldn't do this to anyone!"

"And I'm Ok? If you hit me I will die, you know?"

"You'll die? I won't stop you."

At Kazuma's unnaturally miserable manner of speaking, Ayano replied eternally indifferent.

Ant then, she looked at Chris as if remembering him and smiled with composure.

"You seem to be in a sort of pinch so is it all right not to beg your fellow's help? Your dramatic pose when you appeared and your words were all detestable but I understand - isn't it important to understand one's place?"

"........Tch!"

Those words loaded even with pity, magnificently irritated Chris' pride the wrong way.

The hand grasping Mizuchi trembled and the water whip undulated in a big way.

"Girl.......!"

Flinging off his graceful smile and pointlessly polite words, Chris glared at Ayano with the look of a demon.

"You damaged the sacred treasure because I was going easy on you so don't get carried away!"

"I think excuses are unsightly, I really do."

"Shut up!"

Together with that angry roar, Chris held Mizuchi over his head. The water whip stretched upright, its volume swelling.

That was like a water chain iron ball. The endless materialization of water spirits, swelled the apex of the whip to a lump of water ball.

It's diameter was a little more than ten meters - forming the huge water ball reaching a volume of a few hundred tones, Chris shouted.

"I'll smash you! There won't remain a trace of you!"

"With only that?"

Without minding that overwhelming mass swung downward at her Ayano resolutely stepped into his territory.

The several hundreds tons water ball approaching from overhead.

What met it was only a swung brilliant red blade.

That was without a doubt a real spectacle of a courageous but doomed resistance. A different scale from loss or defeat.

"Stop-----!"

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 06 065.jpg|thumb|]]

Including the expectation for the result of the crash, the boy screamed from the bottom of his lungs.

But Ayano, without hesitation, raised the sword overhead with all her power.

Kazuma too, didn't seem like he was going to stop her, and was just looking at her.

The water ball dropped at high speed. Including its mass to the fall velocity, there wasn't any living thing that could bear that kinetic energy of the crash.

Whether it was an African elephant or a grisly bear, they would be squashed in an instant unable to withstand the pressure, unable even to preserve their original form.

But, the sword facing it was called Enraiha.

That mass was equivalent with trash, the quantity of heat it possessed was not something to be outdone by that.

"Yooooooooou! Flyyyyyyyy!"

Together with an outcry not very, or rather excessively - unladylike, as if challenging it, Ayano sliced the sky.

Th golden flame clad on the blade, fiercely sparkled so beautiful striking their eyes.

The gushing out white hot plasma. Similar to a small sun, that hit the huge water mass, pierced it and made all that mass evaporate.

But even so Chris didn't seem disturbed. Rather, he was staring at Ayano holding Enraiha smiling quite sadistically as if he did what he wanted to.

Also, underneath Kazuma's foot, the boy was biting his lips with a regretful expression.

One instant after - a terrific detonation sound roared.

Let's look over the basic science at this point.

When you apply heat to water it undergoes the process of vaporization and becomes steam.

That volume ratio is 1: 1700 ----the instant it vaporized the volume expanded a thousand and seven hundred times.

It this was a small quantity, or rather vaporized gradually, it doesn't matter that the thousand fold becomes twice ten thousand.

But, if a huge volume of water is super heated, it will vaporize in an instant.

The volcanic eruption is similar to this. The underground water is vaporized by burning magma, it expands, and with that pressure it blows off the rocks on the surface.

It's a phenomenon called water vapor explosion.

Yes, an explosion.

The evaporation of water, only that phenomenon can create so much destructive energy to physically alter the topography.

Right now, what happened in front of their eyes was exactly that.

"......Ridiculous.....to go this far........."

Looking at the mist enshrouding the center of explosion, the boy's face was distorted by despair.

With that kind of explosion, there was no way for the humans inside to survive. To say nothing of the fact that this was a water vapour explosion.

A Suijutsushi can can control the water vapor but an Enjutsushi has no way of interfering with an fire-less explosion.

Which means, she lost.

The greatest war potential that could fulfill his dearest wish will turn to nothing and achieve nothing.

The boy turned that unbearable anger against an opponent within reach. Looking up at the man who was yet still trampling him, he shouted full of emotion.

"Why? Why didn't you stop her? You knew something like this would happen!"

"-------Well, this is the reasonable outcome."

While smoking his cigar so carefree so late in the game, Kazuma replied in a voice without energy.

Faced with that indifference of not even raising an eyebrow at the death of his friend, the boy glared at him.

"Bas- bastard......bastard!"

"By the way ----- I have a feeling I wanted at least one explanation beforehand, Ojou-san."

"I believe in you, partner♥!"

At that dispirited murmur that didn't seem to appreciate the situation, a bright lively voice replied.

"-----Eeh?"

With a look of shock the boy stared inside the mist. Inside his blurry field of vision, two shadows were floating.

Christian Roengram holding Mizuchi who once again became just a handle and a girl setting up a brilliant red blade clad in golden flame.

It was obvious who that was.

It wasn't clear how but Ayano came out of the desperate predicament without even a wound and was appearing calm.

"Wh- why....." murmured the boy dumbfounded.

For Chris too, that seemed unexpected and stared at the girl's silhouette as if doubting his eyes.

"Absurd.......why, are you alive.......?"

Ayano showed a fearless smile to Chris who murmured so, his certain victory undermined.

At that time, the boy noticed.

That without the enshrouding mist flowing, without the atmosphere moving, the clothes and hair of the girl standing rock still were gently fluttering.

As it was to be expected, in an instant the boy saw through its meaning - and who was behind it.

One moment later, Chris reached the same answer.

The gazes of the two, dyed in shock and shudders turned to Kazuma's disinterested face.

"You son of a bitch.......a wind barrier, in that moment you........" squeezed Chris with eyes covered in hatred.

The Enjutsushi Ayano had no way of escaping from that explosion. Then, there is only one answer.

"You have no time to look away, lady-killer."

"-------Tch!"

Calming down with Kazuma's words, Chris turned to the front.

Making Enraiha shine brilliantly, Ayano was drawing near in front of him.

At once ordering the water spirits, Chris reconstructed Mizuchi's water whip. Luckily, there was a vast amount of water drifting in the atmosphere in the form of water vapors and he could summon them - he was supposed to.

"Wha------?"

The drifting about mist, for some reason didn't listed to Chris's command.

The water whip didn't materialize at all but, Enraiha was already swung downward. He had no Jutsu to escape from that blow.

"Kuu....uuu....!"

With Mizuchi's handle, Chris stopped Enraiha once more.

While moaning with the agony of having his fingers burned, he forced it back with all his strength, and took his distance tumbling in a big way.

While his shoulders trembled with intense pain and his breathing was heavy, Chris glared at Kazuma with a bloody mouth.

He did not know what he did. He didn't know it but he instinctively knew. That what hindered his ability was nothing else but that man's action.

Replying with sneer at the gaze full of hatred, Kazuma declared carelessly.

"Since it's different from the water itself, water vapor is within a Fujutsushi's range. That's because it's vapor. You'd better not think you can manipulate it that easily."

"You bastard......."

"That's why I told you you have no time to look away."

Although Chris was exasperated by Kazuma's boasting composed facial expression, it certainly wasn't the time to do that.

Using that chance that opened for a moment, Ayano drew near once more.

Enraiha was held aloft. The blade wearing the golden flame increased its brilliance much more, shedding so much light it couldn't be looked at directly.

If he were to block it the same way, even though Mizuchi would be safe, his fingers would probability evaporate.

However, he had no time to summon more water spirits and he already lost the chance to evade.

"Hii......."

Chris' refined good looks became stiff with fear.

He couldn't run, an absolute death was drawing near, and then -

"Fall back!"

"-------Tch!"

Reflexively responding to Kazuma's voice, Ayano leapt in a big way. Immediately following, before Chris' eyes, the ground raised and an earth fang with a sharp tip slanted forward - if Ayano were to go right ahead, it was pushed out in a direction she would have intersected.

"Kuh!"

"Gaia!?"

"----------"

Everyone's gaze headed for the man - Gaia, who was supposed to have sightseeing the fight from a separate place.

While striking his shoulder with the axe as if taking its rhythm, Gaia's lips warped and he showed a bitter smile.

"It's very boorish interfering in a honor duel but I cannot abandon my colleague. Don't think bad of me."

"It's obvious I'll think bad of you, idiot. You said you won't interfere. If you're a warrior even as a joke don't behave so disgraceful as to violate your oath before the fight!"

The moment he understood that his opponent valued things like honor or pride, something that had no importance to Kazuma, he took advantage of that.

"You came out when that man was about to die. So, as a penalty for violating your oath, at least cut one of your arms!"

"..........Don't get excited, youngster," replied Gaia in a crushed to death voice.

"Besides, you were to one to excessively meddle in those two's fight."

"What the fuck are you saying? That man of gentle manners and delicate features, didn't he said he'll take all of us by himself? I participated in the battle since the beginning. Don't put me together with your underhanded, cowardly sneak attack!"

"Guu.....meee....."

As expected, if they quarreled, it was Kazuma's complete victory.

Sealing more of the enemy's interfering shielding himself behind the pride of a warrior together with justifying himself and the negation of the opponent's modus operandi, that cajolery could be called brilliant.

""Since it's like that, ignore us and let us continue."

"I won't!"

In accordance with Kazuma's words, the moment Ayano tried to start moving, Gaia swung his battle axe a second time.

That blow literally tore the earth and the pebbles raised from that high speed blow obstructed her path, changing into a wall.

"This time, you'll play with me, Miss."

=== Part 2 ===

Receiving that gaze full of hostility pointed towards him rather comfortably, Gaia announced magnificently.

"As far as it goes, let me name myself. I am Gaia. I have no family name. And then -"

Gaia pushed out the axe he was holding. What was dwelling in the blade with a dull shine was the power of the earth, strong enough to make one shiver.

From the development until now it was easy to guess its true colors.

"This is the sacred treasure of the earth - it's name is Nozuchi. Recognize it."

And then, as expected Gaia said those words.

"Geez........what's up with this, one after another..." murmured Ayano as if mourning.

That reaction was only justified. If Gaia's words were true, the sacred treasures of four elements gathered.

It must have been the first time since the dawn of history.

But clearly, Gaia wasn't affected by that deep emotion. The bright smile plastered to that boorish face was the sigh of great joy when meeting a formidable enemy - belonging to a race of people who found in fighting their reason for existence, without controlling that smile, the man took one step forward.

"Being able to overwhelm Chris in a woman's body - it seems we underestimated you. It was more pleasant that I thought."

And then, while coughing really happy he looked down at the boy held down under Kazuma's foot, turning a clear scorn towards him.

"At the very least, much more so that a certain ostentatious Fujutsushi family."

"-------!!"

The moment he heard those words, the boy squeezed an unbelievable amount of power from that weakened body and escaped Kazuma's restriction.

"Ups."

His balance destroyed, Kazuma staggered. It may perhaps be believable that he made such an unusual error but since even Kokusen was taken from him, that was clearly his intention.

With the regained wind's secret treasure in his hand, the boy turned bloodshot eyes full of hatred to Gaia.

"Otou-sama's enemy!"

"------Humph."

With the expression of not being interested, Gaia snorted and expected the boy's rush.

"Aaaaaaaah!!"

The jet black spear flashed. The point of the blade that seemed split by the excessive speed was carrying an overflowing killing intent was aiming at its bitter enemy.

"Huh, it's fast."

Maneuvering Nozuchi, Gaia continued handling those high speed thrusts. But, by nature, an axe is not a weapon aimed at defending.

Although avoiding those aiming for his vitals, the attacks he couldn't handle gave his body countless wounds.

"Ooooooooooo!"

The boy continued attacking incessantly without a break.

Accelerating the speed's rotation even more, finally even the afterimage disappeared. But as if disregarding that attack, Gaia raised Nozuchi across his head on a grand scale.

Without minding the spurts of blood that covered all his body, his recognition and muscles expanded.

"Huaa!"

With just one blow, he knocked down the countless thrusts, and even blew away the boy's body.

"Guh......hah........"

"How worthless."

Staring at the moaning boy knocked to the ground with coldness, Gaia spat out.

"The attacks of you Fujutsushi are certainly fast. But it's only that. Something like an attack without weight it's only a diversion and not the finishing blow.
That's the limit of Fujutsushi -- after all they're not a class made for battle."

".............."

At the Chijutsushi's reckless words, Ayano instinctively stole a glance at Kazuma's face.

There was nothing particularly strange about that countenance. But -

"........Kazuma?"

With the same aimless manner as always, Kazuma picked up Kokusen, separated from the boy's hand and directly confronted Gaia separated by a few meters.

"Hoo ---- are you motivated, Fujutsushi?"

"Ayano."

Entirely ignoring the mocking tone, Kazuma turned his face only to Ayano.

"You don't have to worry about this. You should finish the small fry on the other side. "

"Ah, yeah----"

"Wa- wait....."

At the time she reflexively nodded, a moan hoarse with agony called Kazuma to a halt.

Turning there, the boy unable to get up yet after being blown off, stretched his hand with a desperate expression.

From his mouth fresh blood was falling out of, a slender voice was released.

"That's.....not something.....you can handle......"

"By the way, that's true," nodded Ayano agreeing.

"Can you use a spear?"

"No, I never touched one."

Kazuma readily replied.

"But-----"

Compared to that he quickly turned around the spear in his hand holding it between his arm and armpit with the same expression full of confidence and composure like always.

The way he handled the spear, without hesitation and openly fluid, was absolutely not amateur-like.

"I used a cane though. If I put that to practical use, well, I should manage somehow."

"------I see. Well then, do your best."

Ayano sent Kazuma out with a tone that was visibly casual. She wasn't particularly shocked.

More that the fact that this man said he ''should manage somehow'', she understood from the experiences until now that whatever the progress may be he will, one way or another come on top.

"Wa- wait........"

The boy who was the original possessor of the spear, seemed to have a different opinion yet.

He tried to stop him a second time but Kazuma already didn't look back.

As a substitute Ayano looked over the boy and asked.

"Is there something else?"

"Of......of course there is! My family came to inherit Kokusen a long time ago, it can't be suddenly used by an outsider who is just a little bit talented!"

"Ah, I see."

Now that you mention it, it was a justified fear - if you apply common sense to your thinking.

But.

Ayano deliberately spoke, not of the same opinion.

"Well, isn't it fine either way?"

"Of course not!"

The boy who as a matter of course couldn't consent, objected to this.

At the same time, Kazuma carelessly pushed out the spear.

Just by looking it was an unenthusiastic throw. But the wind blade that gushed out from that spearhead, clashed into Nozuchi lightly crossing the speed of sound.

"Meee......."

Having that heavy unendurable power pushed into him, Gaia's upper body was bent backwards. While he immediately planted his feet on the ground he was unable to stop the blow and backed off while staggering.

"--------Eeh?"

"Wow---"

'I see. This ---- is very convenient."

While stared at by the boy who murmured like a mentally slow, Kazuma let out a voice of admiration without accent.

"Wha-----"

''"Well, one would normally be surprised,"'' thought Ayano, aiming a look of sympathy at the astonished boy.

That's right, if you think about this normally, it was something impossible.

The famous Fuan Family famous as the highest Fujutsushi continued inheriting for a long time the Wind sacred treasure, Kokusen.

An outsider who only managed to get his hands on it couldn't handle it right away.

But, lucky or unlucky, in this time there was a being who was laughing scornfully at that kind of common sense.

The ''''Contractor'''' - the one who contracted with the Spirit Lord of the Wind, the monster who although was was called the weakest, a Fujutsushi, was more than a match for the Enjutsushi from the Kannagi Clan.

"Well then, let's continue, shall we?"

With an outward appearance that didn't look like it in the slightest, that legend came alive, together with that effortless pronouncement, unleashed the spear one after another. While Gaia barely received with Nozuchi, he continued to back off pressed down by that power blow after blow.

"Guu.....meeeh........"

Kazuma's attack was so swift it didn't seem to be the same kind like the boy's and it was heavy.

Although he didn't had a large build, his center of gravity was low and he was very muscular, Gaia stepped firmly into the ground like any Chijutsushi would, but even so it was very unusual he couldn't hold out against him.

"Meeeeaaah........"

Gaia was driven into a one sided defence. He couldn't even grasp a clue on how to attack.

If he were to give up on his defence and brandish his axe, in that moment the wind blades would make a great number of holes in his body.

No - even now, he couldn't defend against his wind blades. The fact that Kazuma's attack was hitting Nozuchi and didn't struck Gaia was because Kazuma was naturally aiming at the axe.

He was being played with - although he understood that, Gaia couldn't do anything.

Those serial attacks he couldn't confirm by sight didn't become abate but on the contrary, raised their frequency even more.

"Kuuh.....wa, so fast."

"No, is that all they're worth?"

Using Gaia's previous words against him, Kazuma cheerfully bragged.

"You......youngster.......!"

At the disgrace of being looked down upon by ''the likes'' of a Fujutsushi, Gaia grounded his teeth. And finally made his decision.

Believing in his own tenaciousness more than in the fact that he was pressed down until now, he cast away his defence and brandished Nozuchi.

He was slightly slow. Or else, together with Gaia's resolution and good fortune, Kazuma stopped the monotonous attack and took another approach.

The aim were Gaia's legs.

Throwing away the daring sharpness, the wind attack pierced the earth like a blunt weapon. That shock similar to an explosion blew up a large quantity of dust.

"Kuuh - Don't underestimate me!"

But, the opponent was a Chijutsushi. A curtain of earth and sand was nothing more but a smoke screen.

Recovering from that moment of surprise, Gaia got rid of all the dust swinging one arm.

"Whaa--"

The moment his field of vision cleared up, Gaia screamed in shock once again. Suddenly in front of his eyes, he recognized the figure of his opponent separated only by a few centimeters but that was only to be expected.

Gaia understood completely the sneer rising to Kazuma's mouth.

This man, without missing that space of one moment necessary to remove the smoke screen, avoided being sensed by a Chijutsushi by jumping without running on the land and moved closer to him in an instant.

He certainly understood. But, only understanding it is useless - even so, he couldn't react.

"Kuuuuhh!"

"Slow."

Shortly informing Gaia, who was trying to prepare his axe in confusion, Kazuma suddenly rotated the spear.

The end of the black handle - the sharp part, knocked the short man off his feet.

"Meeeh!?"

His feet tripped up in such a skillful manner, Gaia splendidly danced in the air.

The feeling of his body floating horizontally in the sky. But, that feeling that aroused some kind of pleasantness instantly turned to shivers when he recognized Kazuma's silhouette hanging over him from above.

"I managed somehow with a such a weightless attack, huh?"

What dwelt in his voice and attitude was plain mockery. The naked blade glistening in his hand, was already sharply sung down aiming at the nape of his neck.

Rather than capitalizing on its length the true worth of that long-handled spear was the phantasmagoria consecutive attack resembling a circular motion.

To use both ends of the handle to attack it wasn't necessary to slash back like with a sword but to repeat the strike over and over as long as the momentum of the same vector could be maintain.

That speed was obviously more that twice as faster that a sword. At the same time one end of the handle tripped and sprung him up, the blade at the reverse side was swung downwards.

"What kind!"

But, at that moment, Gaia extended his short arm with all his might and seized the ground. Responding to the silent command, the ground transformed to a firm shield and protected him and then, changing to a sharp lance, it attacked Kazuma.

"-------Ha."

Laughing at the futile resistance, in one single blow Kazuma pulverized both shield and spear.

Successively turning around Kokusen as if drawing the letter '''S''', he blew off Gaia with the dull point.

"Gaahaah!"

Gaia rolled like a kicked ball and rushed into the building's wall.

And then, at the same time -

"Guubuh!"

As if it was covered by the sound of the crash, from the upper air a dull, heavy moan resounded.

Looking up to search for that voice, in the center of Gaia's field of vision, he recognized the figure of his companion magnificently dancing in midair.

But, judging from that posture with limbs danging loosely and his pushed up chin, it was clear he didn't jump by his own volition.

After the long, long flight passed, Chris landed on his back.

A moment after he made a small bounce. he twitched and stopped moving. As it seemed like he could barely breath, it was impossible for him to continue the battle.

"................"

Slowly, as if looking at something he didn't want to, Gaia turned his eyes in the direction Chris came flying from.

Just like he imagined, carrying Enraiha on her shoulder, her other hand on her hip Ayano was looking down this way.

"................."

Even slower, he turned his head around ninety degrees.

The man who blew him away so far, likewise, was holding Kokusen in one hand.

"Well then."

Noticing that gaze, Kazuma showed a fearless smile.

"This is checkmate," he mercilessly pronounced.

Looking at Gaia who paled at the desperate crisis, Kazuma thought how to deal with them.

Without letting even several seconds pass, the answer came out.

It was ''"They're bothersome so I'll kill them."''

What was their relationship with the boy, why did they wanted to steal Enraiha, it would be a lie to say he really didn't care.

But, in the end, that was someone else's problem.

The boy, the Kannagi, they should all deal with their respective duty so Kazuma set up Kokusen to finish both of them off.

".......Do you think you won with this?"

"That so? I think that depends upon you. If you still want to persist, I'll deal with you a little longer."

Declaring the unexpressed ''<<at any rate the result will be the same>>'' he was about to unleash the sword but this time Gaia finally took the initiative.

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 06 087.jpg|thumb|]]

"Don't get cocky, youngster!"

Together with the angry roar, Gaia knocked his fist into the ground. Immediately following, from that origin cracks ran on the ground freely.

Although they weren't big enough that people would fall into them, naturally the ground was violently shaking.

Unwillingly, Kazuma interrupted his attack.

"Well, as expected you're going to struggle, huh---- "

But even so, he didn't lost his composure and assumed an attack stance a second time while laughing sarcastically but, when he shifted his attention to the ominous sounds coming from overhead - he instantly stopped his movement.

"Tch."

On the outer wall of the building in the middle of construction, several cracks clearly impossible to repair started running.

The outer wall that was originally organized in a straight line was insecurely undulating which was a clear omen of collapse even to inexpert eyes.

"Don't be so rash, you guys-----hey?"

When accidentally looking back, Gaia and Chris were gone. He only heard the voice appearing out of nowhere.

"This was a draw! Next time we won't go easy on you so prepare yourself!"

".......Don't exit with such witty words, Ossan."

At that parting threat fully loaded with the taste of the loser so much it was stereotypical, Kazuma let out a cough of admiration.

But, this was not the place to calm down. The destruction of the building was drawing near before his very eyes.

Looking up, the concrete already started peeling off. At this rate, it will hold on only a few seconds more.

Moreover, based on dangerous slanting it won't be smashed right below but blown out - moreover, it's facing this way - it will certainly collapse.

"-------Hmmm."

Understanding that much, Kazuma turned around and started running without looking right nor left.

Helping his partner, defend against a secondary calamity, clearly not thinking about any of that, he escaped so fast he deserves admiration.

"Hey, Kazuma!? Wait a minute!"

On the other side, Ayano doesn't have the merit (in a bad way ) of abandonment like Kazuma.

While turning a gaze full of resentment to the partner who doesn't show any sigh of slowing down when calling him, even so she couldn't overlook this calamity.

"Geez..."

It was lucky - it can be said so, that she learned how to practically deal with this kind of situation.

It's already too late to stop the destruction. But, if that huge mass were to crash into the earth, the damage on the surrounding will be significant. Then ----

''"I'll burn everything to nothing ----"''

Ayano raised Enraiha overhead with all her power. The golden flame that gushed out of the crimson blade spread around the collapsing building as if wrapping it up and made that entire mass evaporate.

A few seconds after, at the time the fire disappeared, the building in bare concrete completely vanished leaving only the foundation.

In other words, the results of a few months of construction work came to nothing.

''"Aah---- but, because of that Chijutsushi's last attack they should have started from soil preparation all over again......it can't be helped."''

And so, when she tried to justify herself from the back the sound of apathetic applause could be heard.

Ayano looked over her shoulder with a dangerous face.

She understood without having to look but as expected, Kazuma was standing there with a frivolous, slack smile.

"Ya, good job."

"-----Didn't you ran away?"

"I ran away because it was dangerous. Since it's not dangerous anymore there's no need to run. It's a matter of course," replied Kazuma nonchalantly.

Having a thorough knowledge of how meaningless it was to search about something sincere in this man, Ayano changed the conversation without deeply questioning him.

"Those two?"

"They ran away."

"Didn't you let them ran away?"

As expected she investigated this.

The interval he took his eyes off them, preoccupied with the building's destruction, he let them ran away --- it doesn't seem strange but Kazuma is a Fujutsushi.

There wasn't any particular need to specially turn towards the collapsing building but even assuming so for the sake of the argument, he shouldn't have ''taken his eyes off'' those two.

For Kazuma, tuning his senses to wind spirits, looking at two places at the same time was mundane, something he didn't even had to concentrate about.

But, Kazuma persistently played dumb.

"Not really, I didn't let them go. I just didn't felt like pro-actively catching them."

"Why....?"

"Because it's someone else's problem."

Those words that for Ayano seemed unbelievable, didn't even had a tiny amount of guilty conscience.

"They're aiming at you and that brat, not me. There's no need to unjustifiably bring them down."

"You......."

Although Ayano couldn't agree to Kazuma's matter-of-course declaration, she couldn't verbally abuse him -

"Well, leaving that aside, we should leave this place already. It will become noisy."

- Because she was forced into silence by Kazuma's next words.

"........Yeah."

Reluctantly Ayano agreed.

The Police and Fire Department will arrive any minute. She could silence them by using the Kannagi name but it is better to have few of that troublesome attention.

"First of all, let's change the location."

Saying so, Ayano and Kazuma left that place behind.

=== Part 3 ===

Narrowly hiding themselves from the Police, Fire Department and the large number of people that gathered there, those two took a short rest in a small park.

Ayano grumbled, glaring.

"Geez, why do I have to sneak out like some kind of culprit? But since I became familiar to you I kind of got used to it."

"Hey, wait a minute! You're the main cause of the uproar this time. I was just dragged into it."

"I'm also a victim! To make matter worse, since you let the enemy escape, I don't know anything about their reason."

"Now that you mention it, that's right. What are they trying to do, picking a fight with the Kannagi with that level of power -"

While speaking, Kazuma suddenly moved his line of sight. At the same time, he took a small step back.

In front of his eyes, a small figure passed through at a fair amount of speed.

Ayano was faintly surprised and Kazuma, thoroughly indifferent, let the shadow - the retreating figure of the Fujutsushi boy pass.

"Kuuh."

The boy charging in with the intention of a surprise attack nimbly turned around and faced Kazuma.

This time he put himself of guard, his back dropping, as if carefully searching for an opportunity.

"The brat from earlier, huh --- Did you follow us? What a persistent jerk."

The boy shouted at Kazuma who spoke so like he was disgusted.

"Give it back!"

"------Aah?"

"Give it back! Kokusen is mine!"

That's when he noticed. The boy's gaze wasn't turned towards Kazuma but towards what Kazuma was holding in his hand.

The object that became so familiar to him he actually forgot he was holding it in his hand was, in the end, a borrowed thing.

It was only natural for the boy to chase after it since it was taken away.

"Then say so from the beginning."

While Kazuma spoke even more astounded, he held out Kokusen's handle in front of him. As if leaping, the boy tore it off.

"Your manners are pretty bad - ", grumbled Kazuma blind at his own shortcomings with a backward glance at the boy who hugged Kokusen closely with an expression of relief.

But not later than that, that face had a cramp.

"Eeh......wah......"

Letting out a confused voice, the boy patted the spear all over with both his hands.

Next he pushed it to the sky as if including feeling into it and pressed the handle against his forehead.

In the end he started swinging it as making a pattern.

"What is he doing?"

"Who knows. The dance of victory handed down in the family?"

"......They're not some kind of aboriginals, right?"

To make matters worse, that didn't have the ''flow'' that could give the impression of a dance, its integrity.

Judging from the way it was nonsensically yielded, it looked like simple confusion.

After a short while, trepidly watching over it, the boy suddenly stopped his (looks like ) dance. And then, he stood rock still in blank amazement.

That sad sight, was like ''the portrait of despair'' came alive.

If a human with an honest heart were to be there, it was impossible not to feel pity.

".........Did something happen?" asked Ayano worried, as expected.

With a dumbfounded expression, perhaps not even understanding who was asking, the boy answered in a small voice.

"Kokusen......is not answering......."

"------Eh?"

Ayano was befuddled, not comprehending what the boy was saying. But, the next moment, understanding the reason of it, she nodded deeply.

"Aah, I see."

In a way, it was to be expected.

Kokusen crossed over to the present day's - no, if it's unlucky possibly the all-time-highest Fujutsushi, the <<Contractor>> who contracted the Spirit Lord of the Wind.

The secret treasure obtained by its highest master -there is plenty of possibility it would refuse to be used by everyone else beside him.

Even in Ayano's case, if Juugo or Genma were to use Enraiha, there is a high possibility it would turn like that.

If something like that were to occur, she should go through a tedious ceremony identical with the inheritance one.

"So, what will you do?"

With a sidelong glance at the boy suffering a heartache, Ayano asked Kazuma.

"Will you take this opportunity to make the sacred treasure of the Wind yours?"

"-----!!"

At those words that seemed to instigate robbery, the boy caught his breath sharply.

He set up Kokusen with open vigilance but the sacred treasure that turned into nothing more but a spear, has no power to drive Kazuma away.

".......You."

Ayano smiled with the feeling of a performer at Kazuma who grumbled at her reproachfully.

She was quite enjoyed.

With one lazy sigh, Kazuma stepped up to the boy. And then, he casually seized Kokusen.

"Le - let go!"

The boy pulled the spear towards himself with a desperate look. It seems that in the middle of the agitation, he even forgot to use Fujutsu.

Understandably, when it comes to physical strength - Kazuma was overwhelmingly superior.

The boy dropped his back and tried to cling to it rather than pull the spear but even so Kazuma's posture wasn't destroyed.

"No, no way.....this is.....only this......tch-"

"You're noisy. Just grasp it tightly then."

"----Eeh?"

The boy reflexively looked up at Kazuma. But, without paying attention to him, he gently closed his eyes.

And then -

"Wow........"

At the fantastic scene materializing right in front of her, Ayano let out a voice of wonder that couldn't be expressed into words.

The blue, sparkling wind coiled in a whirlpool before her eyes.

At times strong, at times tender, it was blowing through playfully as if dancing.

Fro somewhere, a transparent, refreshing sound could be heard.

Like a song, like a prayer, an exquisite echo permeated her ears.

''"Are the Wind Spirits singing? No, it's not only that--- "''

One more ''<<Voice>>'' responding to the wind's song rose from the jet black spear held by both Kazuma ans the boy.

It was a strong multi-layered low tone. That sound, contrastive with the light and clear wind song melted into it wonderfully without feeling out of place.

Without one side pressing the other, a symbiotic relation matching each other mutually.

The tune spun as a result was the building up of a miraculous chord that could never be reproduced by musical instruments from the human world.

"He is....resonating with, Kokusen......"

Ayano involuntarily stared at Kazuma. It was clear that this miraculous scene was something done by the means of his power.

Probably right now, inside those closed eyelids, those pupils are shedding a blue light.

"Aah-----"

While gazing at it intoxicated, suddenly the blue wind disappeared without any trailing note. At the same time Kazuma opened his eyes.

Those pupils already returned to usual color but even so, she thought she saw a bottomless brilliance dwelling into them - either way, it must have been her imagination.

On the other side, the boy was looking around the surroundings with an irrelevant face.

The contest of he spirits and the spear didn't seemed to bring any change to the surface but that was only reasonable.

But after a few seconds, opening his eyes wide, he looked at Kokusen.

"........Eeh? Aah......!"

On the surface nothing changed. But the people found there clearly grasped the change.

The spear that until now was nothing but a lump of metal recovered its overwhelming power.

That power of the spear itself wrapped the boy clasping it and formed one ''field''.

Once more, the sacred treasure recognized the boy as it's master.

The boy, instantly expressing delight on his face, immediately glared at Kazuma stiffening.

"You.....what did you do?"

As for Kazuma, he looked down at him with the smile of a mischievous boy.

"It's a secret."

"You!"

"What! If you're dissatisfied I can easily return it to the previous condition."

"------!!"

Panicking the boy hid Kokusen to his back. Of course, it wasn't something he could hide with his small build.

Ignoring the boy's reaction Kazuma said.

"For the time being, I'll invite you to Kannagi-san's house. There's a lot I want to ask of you --- you also had business with her right?"

"---------------------------------------Aah"

After a short silence, carrying a strong will in his pupil, the boy nodded.

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| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume6_Chapter_3|Chapter 3]]
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</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume6 Chapter 2

2014-01-30T16:25:37Z

Drejzer: /* Part 2 */

== Chapter 2 - Water and earth raiders ==

=== Part 1 ===

Playing with Kokusen with one hand, Kazuma observed the boy struggling under his foot.

It looked pretty painful. The entire body weight of a grown man concentrated in one point on that delicate body - what's more, the boy was trampled straight above the heart so that was expected.

He already couldn't resist in a meaningful way.

The movement of his limbs, rather than those for escape, were closer to death agony convulsions.

But even so, the boy didn't gave up yet. Seizing with his hand the foot trampling him, he was almost powerless but he still had light in his eyes, looking up at Kazuma.

''"------How energetic,"'' thought Kazuma indifferently.

He did not hate kids with vitality. As long as they're not annoying him, that is.

Adding one thing to another, he believed in being impartial towards all his enemies.

That is, annihilating men and women of all ages if they oppose him.

Therefore, he had no reason to let this boy live.

It would be better to make him spit out why he was aiming at Ayano but that's not something he should pay attention to.

It happened at the time he was putting strength in his leg to quickly kill him.

Some ill-breading intruders disturbed Kazuma's purpose.

"Ayano!"

"-----Eeh?"

Around Ayano's surroundings, blinking at the sudden call, a wind barrier was wrapped up.

Immediately something flying at a high speed was repelled and smashed against the wind barrier.

A small sheet of spray glistened in the sunlight.

"------Water?"

"You two right there, do you have business here?"

Not minding Ayano's confusion, Kazuma asked in a freezing voice.

A replying voice promptly returned.

"Did you notice? Besides, I wasn't particularly hiding my Kehai, you know."

A clear, beautiful voice resounded on the desolate construction site.

Ayano looked around searching for the owner of the voice. As for Kazuma, he didn't even show he was searching and while stepping and jumping on the boy, lazily he puffed his cigarette.

"I asked about your business."

"How impolite."

A voice containing a smile replied. Together with it, two figures appeared on top of a slightly elevated heap of mud.

Appropriate for the owner of the beautiful voice, one of them was an extremely beautiful young man. His silver hair was glittering in the sun like a waterfall, flowing straight down his back. His eyes were amber colored.

He had flawless white skin and thin, fine shaped red lips that were vibrantly contrasting.

He was naturally perfect.

No matter how much one looked at him, not a flaw could be found.

That face was so beautiful it made one believe it must be without a doubt the a human face organized after a single rule - Golden Rule.

But after only glancing at it, Kazuma gazed steadily at the man standing next to him.

He was very short. He had below a hundred and fifty centimeters at most.

But anyone would hesitate calling that man a small built. Surely his stature was low. But even if he was low the volume of muscle that body was clad in, wasn't common.

When describing a muscular giant it's said ''"That upper arm is thicker than a woman's ass"'' or ''"Those tights are like a woman's waist"''.

If the man were above two meters it will be finished one would call him ''burly'' - but if he's below a hundred and fifty centimeters -

You can only call it birth defect. Even assuming he dedicated all his life to weight training, it doesn't seem likely the human body can become like this.

It could be evaluated to a human's parody or rather a distorted figure (prettiness nonexistent).

The balance of length and width, was perfectly deviating from the contour of the human body. Even the skeleton was wrong.

It could be understood if it were a different species from man.

After staring at that atypical appearance very long, Kazuma coughed once.

"So it's true there are Dwarfs, huh?"

"Wait a second, youngster," the man retorted to Kazuma almost reluctantly.

His voice was a deep baritone, which seemed only appropriate.

"Who is a dwarf, huh?"

"It's obviously you, no? Beside that constitution, you're also carrying an axe."

That's right, the man was shouldering a gigantic battle-axe.

Just like in a certain world famous fantasy movie, his physique seemed very similar to that race.

Besides he was also growing a beard.

"If you want to be consistent to that extent, you should wear a helmet with two horns. Can you split into seven and dance around snow white?"

"Wha.....You bastard...."

At Kazuma's abuse, bringing even fairy tales into this, the man glared at him furiously.

But, his mouth didn't seem very proficient so no comebacks emerged.

"Y-you youngster....."

Understanding he couldn't match him verbally, the man grasped with both his hands the battle ax and stepped forward with short steps.

But, his beautiful neighbor restrained him.

"Well, calm down, *imli."

"Who the heck is G*mli?"

Not minding the short one angry and barring his teeth, the beautiful man turned his gaze to Kazuma - no, to the boy trampled on at his feet.

"----This is a somewhat unexpected development, huh?"

Curbing his lips upward, the man addressed the boy. Those red lips were etched with scorn towards a weak person.

But, even that was beautiful. As a god boasting about the superiority of his existence, ridiculing a fallen angel.

"It's not the time to split among friends, right, young prince of the Fuan family - was it? Or rather, you thought that by presenting us with Enraiha, we'll overlook you?"

"Rd....tard......"

With that energy stored somewhere, the boy once again began to act violently underneath Kazuma's foot.

Literally crushing that resistance under his foot, Kazuma looked up at the youth.

"Who are you?"

The young man bowed elegantly and then declared.

"I was slow in saying. I am Christian Roengram - your enemy."

Receiving the young man's - Christian's words, Kazuma's words was etched in a belligerent smile.

"Good vibes, easy to understand. I like that."

"I feel grateful. But - "

Cristian finished his sentence there and looked away. Nearby Kazuma. And then, to where Ayano was standing, in a slightly separated place.

"If you obediently hand over your sacred treasure, I promise not to harm you."

"- So he said. What will you do? "

"That's rejected!" replied Ayano without hesitating for a second.

"Besides I don't like your ''I'll overlook you'' attitude! ''I promise not to harm you''? Do you think you can win against us?"

"Of course."

Chris held out his right hand. On the pointed upwards palm as if trying to receive something, a short pole, thirty centimeters long appeared without notice.

"Why that is, it's because I'm the owner of the Water's sacred treasure, <<Mizuchi>>."

The pole he clasped in his right hand shook. The large amount of water spirits entering through there changed to a whip crossing over ten meters.

"I'll teach you the discrepancy in our status. --- Aah, Gaia, I'm plenty by myself. Don't interfere."

"......Humph, very well. A powerless Fujutsushi and an Enjutsushi who can't even win against that, there's no worth dealing with them."

The short man - Gaia, instantly made a dissatisfied face but immediately agreed and jerked his chin as if saying ''Go already!''.

Chris bowed to Gaia with a smiling face, and approached Ayano with an air of composure.

"...................."

"...................."

Kazuma and Ayano, none even throwing a sidelong glance to the approaching Chris, looked at each other.

Ayano asked frankly.

"Is is real?"

"Who knows. It's the first time I heard of a Water sacred treasure."

While answering, Kazuma incorrigibly gridded down the boy acting violently.

"You're persistent. ------Ayano, I leave that weird one to you."

"Okay."

Kazuma's gaze, looking at Ayano lightly running, suddenly turned down.

The boy under his foot, was pulling the cuff of his trousers.

Feeling that was an action meant to attract attention not to escape the trampling, Kazuma loosened the force just a little.

"What?"

"...St..op....her....."

While bearing the pain of having his chest crushed, the boy boy spoke disconnectedly.

"That woman.......can't.....match him.........She'll be....killed......."

"That so? "

Kazuma was thoroughly calm. The gaze with which he looked at those two, about to start fighting, didn't had a fragment of nervousness.

"Well, shut up and look. What you wanted to see, from here on you'll be able to see freely."

Kazuma smiled lightly at the boy who didn't seem to understand.

"The serious Kannagi Ayano."

Intended to be composed, Chris didn't start but waited for Ayano slashing attack.

Matching the moment Ayano raised Enraiha overhead, at that moment he lightly twisted his wrist.

The flame sword swung downward from above her head was ambushed from underneath by the water whip.

The sound of water soaking a heated frying pan reached their ears. Simultaneously, both were covered by white water vapor.

But, the atmosphere turned clear in a moment. Mizuchi absorbed the surplus water in the atmosphere.

The water whip completely stopped the flame blade. Only the surface that touched continued to evaporate. That was almost nothing compared to the entire water volume.

But, successively compensating that loss from the surroundings, the whip couldn't be severed.

Cool-looking while the burning blade was before his eyes, Chris laughed.

"An Enjutsushi tackling a Suijutsushi. Water trumps Fire - do you not know the rivalry between the five elements?"

"Ara, I know it. Wasn't it all about the amount of material resources?"

There was no appearance of impatience in Ayano's eyes. Including even more power in the blade, she made the golden flame erupt.

"Kuh!"

Chris' voice was confused for the first time. The whip was bisected close to the root, and Mizuchi leaped in his hand, nothing more but a stick.

"So- something like this.........."

From those red lips that looked a little pale, a murmur of astonishment leaked out.

It was the ideology of the cosmic dual forces - Ying and Yang and the five elements.

The elements the world was composed of - Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water, all phenomena became by the interference of those elements, that's what it meant.

There are two types of interference, one that takes advantage of one other and they can work together and the other, where there is a killing rivalry between them.

For example, the Earth is raising Wood (vegetation). Therefore the Earth makes Wood alive. On the contrary, Metal (the metal blade) cuts down Tree. Therefore, Metal trumps Tree.

And then, Water trumps Fire. That is the law derived from Chinese cosmology.

But think about it. Certainly Water makes Fire disappear. In that case, did the brilliant, primitive fire disappear with just a cup of water?

Water is also stronger than Fire. But that is not something absolute. It was just something relatively favorable.

In the first place, the basic concept of Spirit Jutsushi is the theory of the four elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Wind.

"Haaaah!"

While it may be true that Ayano's enemy was a Suijutsushi, she is swinging Enraiha without hesitation.

Ayano's way of thinking is always simple. And so, it suited her and made her stronger.

Today is a good example of it.

Water trumps Fire? What about it?

Regarding the energy it's able to release, there's nothing that equals <<Fire>>. No matter how much predominance <<Water>> has -

"How can I lose? To the likes of you!"

"Meeh, kuuh!"

Chris drew to himself the water that was cut off trying to reconstruct the whip once more but that spanned a few seconds.

In front of Enraiha at full power, Mizuchi was literally doing nothing more but pouring water on hot stone.

Torn piece by piece, Mizuchi wasn't even allowed to keep the whip shape.

Overhead Chris, all his power stolen, the blade clad in flame was approaching.

''"I got you!"''

But, together with a hard sound, the certain kill blow was obstructed.

Mizuchi lost the water whip. Pushing out that handle, Chris intercepted he blow.

As expected of a sacred treasure, even by using the red-hot blade, she couldn't smash that handle. But -

"Kuu....uu....."

Even if he stopped the blow of the blade itself, he couldn't protect himself against that calorific value.

The golden flame was scorching and both of Chris' hands gripping the handle at both ends gave off a burned smell.

His flushed face was strained by anguish and closely packed sweat drops were coming loose.

"Me....Ooohh!"

While stopping Enraiha's blow, Chris fired a kick in desperation. Without going to far, Ayano evaded the kick taking her distance.

"Wh.....what's going on?"

Underneath Kazuma's foot, the boy opened his eyes wide in shock.

"Isn't she like a different person from when I faced her?"

"Huh? Yeah."

Kazuma nodded to the boy's shout like it was only natural.

"Because she's not the kind of person to get serious if the opponent has no thirst for blood."

"Did she realize!?"

"........Hey"

Kazuma overlooked the boy that was plainly amazed.

"Didn't you say it yourself: ''Show me your power''?"

Which means the boy's purpose wasn't to kill Ayano but to grasp her ability - meaning, trying her ability.

"Well, that Ojou-san may have forgotten about it."

"------?"

"Didn't she notice it with her wildlife sixth sense? Because she's a living thing that moves only on instinct."

The moment he said that, red hot plasma crashed into the wind barrier. Of course, Ayano fired one of Enraiha's blows without even turning around.

"-------Wah?"

Dumbfounded the boy looked at Kazuma, who shrugged his shoulders like nothing happened.

"Right now.....that was the real deal."

"Hmm, how to say this, she kind of misunderstands it for tsukomi. I'm kind of worried if she'll kill someone before long."

"You there! Don't say whatever you want!"

This time she made a verbal tsukomi.

Maybe because she was composed enough, while overlooking Chris reconstructing his water whip without interfering, Ayano glared at Kazuma with an angry look.

"There's no need to worry, except you I wouldn't do this to anyone!"

"And I'm Ok? If you hit me I will die, you know?"

"You'll die? I won't stop you."

At Kazuma's unnaturally miserable manner of speaking, Ayano replied eternally indifferent.

Ant then, she looked at Chris as if remembering him and smiled with composure.

"You seem to be in a sort of pinch so is it all right not to beg your fellow's help? Your dramatic pose when you appeared and your words were all detestable but I understand - isn't it important to understand one's place?"

"........Tch!"

Those words loaded even with pity, magnificently irritated Chris' pride the wrong way.

The hand grasping Mizuchi trembled and the water whip undulated in a big way.

"Girl.......!"

Flinging off his graceful smile and pointlessly polite words, Chris glared at Ayano with the look of a demon.

"You damaged the sacred treasure because I was going easy on you so don't get carried away!"

"I think excuses are unsightly, I really do."

"Shut up!"

Together with that angry roar, Chris held Mizuchi over his head. The water whip stretched upright, its volume swelling.

That was like a water chain iron ball. The endless materialization of water spirits, swelled the apex of the whip to a lump of water ball.

It's diameter was a little more than ten meters - forming the huge water ball reaching a volume of a few hundred tones, Chris shouted.

"I'll smash you! There won't remain a trace of you!"

"With only that?"

Without minding that overwhelming mass swung downward at her Ayano resolutely stepped into his territory.

The several hundreds tons water ball approaching from overhead.

What met it was only a swung brilliant red blade.

That was without a doubt a real spectacle of a courageous but doomed resistance. A different scale from loss or defeat.

"Stop-----!"

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 06 065.jpg|thumb|]]

Including the expectation for the result of the crash, the boy screamed from the bottom of his lungs.

But Ayano, without hesitation, raised the sword overhead with all her power.

Kazuma too, didn't seem like he was going to stop her, and was just looking at her.

The water ball dropped at high speed. Including its mass to the fall velocity, there wasn't any living thing that could bear that kinetic energy of the crash.

Whether it was an African elephant or a grisly bear, they would be squashed in an instant unable to withstand the pressure, unable even to preserve their original form.

But, the sword facing it was called Enraiha.

That mass was equivalent with trash, the quantity of heat it possessed was not something to be outdone by that.

"Yooooooooou! Flyyyyyyyy!"

Together with an outcry not very, or rather excessively - unladylike, as if challenging it, Ayano sliced the sky.

Th golden flame clad on the blade, fiercely sparkled so beautiful striking their eyes.

The gushing out white hot plasma. Similar to a small sun, that hit the huge water mass, pierced it and made all that mass evaporate.

But even so Chris didn't seem disturbed. Rather, he was staring at Ayano holding Enraiha smiling quite sadistically as if he did what he wanted to.

Also, underneath Kazuma's foot, the boy was biting his lips with a regretful expression.

One instant after - a terrific detonation sound roared.

Let's look over the basic science at this point.

When you apply heat to water it undergoes the process of vaporization and becomes steam.

That volume ratio is 1: 1700 ----the instant it vaporized the volume expanded a thousand and seven hundred times.

It this was a small quantity, or rather vaporized gradually, it doesn't matter that the thousand fold becomes twice ten thousand.

But, if a huge volume of water is super heated, it will vaporize in an instant.

The volcanic eruption is similar to this. The underground water is vaporized by burning magma, it expands, and with that pressure it blows off the rocks on the surface.

It's a phenomenon called water vapor explosion.

Yes, an explosion.

The evaporation of water, only that phenomenon can create so much destructive energy to physically alter the topography.

Right now, what happened in front of their eyes was exactly that.

"......Ridiculous.....to go this far........."

Looking at the mist enshrouding the center of explosion, the boy's face was distorted by despair.

With that kind of explosion, there was no way for the humans inside to survive. To say nothing of the fact that this was a water vapour explosion.

A Suijutsushi can can control the water vapor but an Enjutsushi has no way of interfering with an fire-less explosion.

Which means, she lost.

The greatest war potential that could fulfill his dearest wish will turn to nothing and achieve nothing.

The boy turned that unbearable anger against an opponent within reach. Looking up at the man who was yet still trampling him, he shouted full of emotion.

"Why? Why didn't you stop her? You knew something like this would happen!"

"-------Well, this is the reasonable outcome."

While smoking his cigar so carefree so late in the game, Kazuma replied in a voice without energy.

Faced with that indifference of not even raising an eyebrow at the death of his friend, the boy glared at him.

"Bas- bastard......bastard!"

"By the way ----- I have a feeling I wanted at least one explanation beforehand, Ojou-san."

"I believe in you, partner♥!"

At that dispirited murmur that didn't seem to appreciate the situation, a bright lively voice replied.

"-----Eeh?"

With a look of shock the boy stared inside the mist. Inside his blurry field of vision, two shadows were floating.

Christian Roengram holding Mizuchi who once again became just a handle and a girl setting up a brilliant red blade clad in golden flame.

It was obvious who that was.

It wasn't clear how but Ayano came out of the desperate predicament without even a wound and was appearing calm.

"Wh- why....." murmured the boy dumbfounded.

For Chris too, that seemed unexpected and stared at the girl's silhouette as if doubting his eyes.

"Absurd.......why, are you alive.......?"

Ayano showed a fearless smile to Chris who murmured so, his certain victory undermined.

At that time, the boy noticed.

That without the enshrouding mist flowing, without the atmosphere moving, the clothes and hair of the girl standing rock still were gently fluttering.

As it was to be expected, in an instant the boy saw through its meaning - and who was behind it.

One moment later, Chris reached the same answer.

The gazes of the two, dyed in shock and shudders turned to Kazuma's disinterested face.

"You son of a bitch.......a wind barrier, in that moment you........" squeezed Chris with eyes covered in hatred.

The Enjutsushi Ayano had no way of escaping from that explosion. Then, there is only one answer.

"You have no time to look away, lady-killer."

"-------Tch!"

Calming down with Kazuma's words, Chris turned to the front.

Making Enraiha shine brilliantly, Ayano was drawing near in front of him.

At once ordering the water spirits, Chris reconstructed Mizuchi's water whip. Luckily, there was a vast amount of water drifting in the atmosphere in the form of water vapors and he could summon them - he was supposed to.

"Wha------?"

The drifting about mist, for some reason didn't listed to Chris's command.

The water whip didn't materialize at all but, Enraiha was already swung downward. He had no Jutsu to escape from that blow.

"Kuu....uuu....!"

With Mizuchi's handle, Chris stopped Enraiha once more.

While moaning with the agony of having his fingers burned, he forced it back with all his strength, and took his distance tumbling in a big way.

While his shoulders trembled with intense pain and his breathing was heavy, Chris glared at Kazuma with a bloody mouth.

He did not know what he did. He didn't know it but he instinctively knew. That what hindered his ability was nothing else but that man's action.

Replying with sneer at the gaze full of hatred, Kazuma declared carelessly.

"Since it's different from the water itself, water vapor is within a Fujutsushi's range. That's because it's vapor. You'd better not think you can manipulate it that easily."

"You bastard......."

"That's why I told you you have no time to look away."

Although Chris was exasperated by Kazuma's boasting composed facial expression, it certainly wasn't the time to do that.

Using that chance that opened for a moment, Ayano drew near once more.

Enraiha was held aloft. The blade wearing the golden flame increased its brilliance much more, shedding so much light it couldn't be looked at directly.

If he were to block it the same way, even though Mizuchi would be safe, his fingers would probability evaporate.

However, he had no time to summon more water spirits and he already lost the chance to evade.

"Hii......."

Chris' refined good looks became stiff with fear.

He couldn't run, an absolute death was drawing near, and then -

"Fall back!"

"-------Tch!"

Reflexively responding to Kazuma's voice, Ayano leapt in a big way. Immediately following, before Chris' eyes, the ground raised and an earth fang with a sharp tip slanted forward - if Ayano were to go right ahead, it was pushed out in a direction she would have intersected.

"Kuh!"

"Gaia!?"

"----------"

Everyone's gaze headed for the man - Gaia, who was supposed to have sightseeing the fight from a separate place.

While striking his shoulder with the axe as if taking its rhythm, Gaia's lips warped and he showed a bitter smile.

"It's very boorish interfering in a honor duel but I cannot abandon my colleague. Don't think bad of me."

"It's obvious I'll think bad of you, idiot. You said you won't interfere. If you're a warrior even as a joke don't behave so disgraceful as to violate your oath before the fight!"

The moment he understood that his opponent valued things like honor or pride, something that had no importance to Kazuma, he took advantage of that.

"You came out when that man was about to die. So, as a penalty for violating your oath, at least cut one of your arms!"

"..........Don't get excited, youngster," replied Gaia in a crushed to death voice.

"Besides, you were to one to excessively meddle in those two's fight."

"What the fuck are you saying? That man of gentle manners and delicate features, didn't he said he'll take all of us by himself? I participated in the battle since the beginning. Don't put me together with your underhanded, cowardly sneak attack!"

"Guu.....meee....."

As expected, if they quarreled, it was Kazuma's complete victory.

Sealing more of the enemy's interfering shielding himself behind the pride of a warrior together with justifying himself and the negation of the opponent's modus operandi, that cajolery could be called brilliant.

""Since it's like that, ignore us and let us continue."

"I won't!"

In accordance with Kazuma's words, the moment Ayano tried to start moving, Gaia swung his battle axe a second time.

That blow literally tore the earth and the pebbles raised from that high speed blow obstructed her path, changing into a wall.

"This time, you'll play with me, Miss."

=== Part 2 ===

Receiving that gaze full of hostility pointed towards him rather comfortably, Gaia announced magnificently.

"As far as it goes, let me name myself. I am Gaia. I have no family name. And then -"

Gaia pushed out the axe he was holding. What was dwelling in the blade with a dull shine was the power of the earth, strong enough to make one shiver.

From the development until now it was easy to guess its true colors.

"This is the sacred treasure of the earth - it's name is Nozuchi. Recognize it."

And then, as expected Gaia said those words.

"Geez........what's up with this, one after another..." murmured Ayano as if mourning.

That reaction was only justified. If Gaia's words were true, the sacred treasures of four elements gathered.

It must have been the first time since the dawn of history.

But clearly, Gaia wasn't affected by that deep emotion. The bright smile plastered to that boorish face was the sigh of great joy when meeting a formidable enemy - belonging to a race of people who found in fighting their reason for existence, without controlling that smile, the man took one step forward.

"Being able to overwhelm Chris in a woman's body - it seems we underestimated you. It was more pleasant that I thought."

And then, while coughing really happy he looked down at the boy held down under Kazuma's foot, turning a clear scorn towards him.

"At the very least, much more so that a certain ostentatious Fujutsushi family."

"-------!!"

The moment he heard those words, the boy squeezed an unbelievable amount of power from that weakened body and escaped Kazuma's restriction.

"Ups."

His balance destroyed, Kazuma staggered. It may perhaps be believable that he made such an unusual error but since even Kokusen was taken from him, that was clearly his intention.

With the regained wind's secret treasure in his hand, the boy turned bloodshot eyes full of hatred to Gaia.

"Otou-sama's enemy!"

"------Humph."

With the expression of not being interested, Gaia snorted and expected the boy's rush.

"Aaaaaaaah!!"

The jet black spear flashed. The point of the blade that seemed split by the excessive speed was carrying an overflowing killing intent was aiming at its bitter enemy.

"Huh, it's fast."

Maneuvering Nozuchi, Gaia continued handling those high speed thrusts. But, by mature, an ax is not a weapon aimed at defending.

Although avoiding those aiming for his vitals, the attacks he couldn't handle gave his body countless wounds.

"Ooooooooooo!"

The boy continued attacking incessantly without a break.

Accelerating the speed's rotation even more, finally even the afterimage disappeared. But as if disregarding that attack, Gaia raised Nozuchi across his head on a grand scale.

Without minding the spurts of blood that covered all his body, his recognition and muscles expanded.

"Huaa!"

With just one blow, he knocked down the countless thrusts, and even blew away the boy's body.

"Guh......hah........"

"How worthless."

Staring at the moaning boy knocked to the ground with coldness, Gaia spat out.

"The attacks of you Fujutsushi are certainly fast. But it's only that. Something like an attack without weight it's only a diversion and not the finishing blow.
That's the limit of Fujutsushi -- after all they're not a class made for battle."

".............."

At the Chijutsushi's reckless words, Ayano instinctively stole a glance at Kazuma's face.

There was nothing particularly strange about that countenance. But -

"........Kazuma?"

With the same aimless manner as always, Kazuma picked up Kokusen, separated from the boy's hand and directly confronted Gaia separated by a few meters.

"Hoo ---- are you motivated, Fujutsushi?"

"Ayano."

Entirely ignoring the mocking tone, Kazuma turned his face only to Ayano.

"You don't have to worry about this. You should finish the small fry on the other side. "

"Ah, yeah----"

"Wa- wait....."

At the time she reflexively nodded, a moan hoarse with agony called Kazuma to a halt.

Turning there, the boy unable to get up yet after being blown off, stretched his hand with a desperate expression.

From his mouth fresh blood was falling out of, a slender voice was released.

"That's.....not something.....you can handle......"

"By the way, that's true," nodded Ayano agreeing.

"Can you use a spear?"

"No, I never touched one."

Kazuma readily replied.

"But-----"

Compared to that he quickly turned around the spear in his hand holding it between his arm and armpit with the same expression full of confidence and composure like always.

The way he handled the spear, without hesitation and openly fluid, was absolutely not amateur-like.

"I used a cane though. If I put that to practical use, well, I should manage somehow."

"------I see. Well then, do your best."

Ayano sent Kazuma out with a tone that was visibly casual. She wasn't particularly shocked.

More that the fact that this man said he ''should manage somehow'', she understood from the experiences until now that whatever the progress may be he will, one way or another come on top.

"Wa- wait........"

The boy who was the original possessor of the spear, seemed to have a different opinion yet.

He tried to stop him a second time but Kazuma already didn't look back.

As a substitute Ayano looked over the boy and asked.

"Is there something else?"

"Of......of course there is! My family came to inherit Kokusen a long time ago, it can't be suddenly used by an outsider who is just a little bit talented!"

"Ah, I see."

Now that you mention it, it was a justified fear - if you apply common sense to your thinking.

But.

Ayano deliberately spoke, not of the same opinion.

"Well, isn't it fine either way?"

"Of course not!"

The boy who as a matter of course couldn't consent, objected to this.

At the same time, Kazuma carelessly pushed out the spear.

Just by looking it was an unenthusiastic throw. But the wind blade that gushed out from that spearhead, clashed into Nozuchi lightly crossing the speed of sound.

"Meee......."

Having that heavy unendurable power pushed into him, Gaia's upper body was bent backwards. While he immediately planted his feet on the ground he was unable to stop the blow and backed off while staggering.

"--------Eeh?"

"Wow---"

'I see. This ---- is very convenient."

While stared at by the boy who murmured like a mentally slow, Kazuma let out a voice of admiration without accent.

"Wha-----"

''"Well, one would normally be surprised,"'' thought Ayano, aiming a look of sympathy at the astonished boy.

That's right, if you think about this normally, it was something impossible.

The famous Fuan Family famous as the highest Fujutsushi continued inheriting for a long time the Wind sacred treasure, Kokusen.

An outsider who only managed to get his hands on it couldn't handle it right away.

But, lucky or unlucky, in this time there was a being who was laughing scornfully at that kind of common sense.

The ''''Contractor'''' - the one who contracted with the Spirit Lord of the Wind, the monster who although was was called the weakest, a Fujutsushi, was more than a match for the Enjutsushi from the Kannagi Clan.

"Well then, let's continue, shall we?"

With an outward appearance that didn't look like it in the slightest, that legend came alive, together with that effortless pronouncement, unleashed the spear one after another. While Gaia barely received with Nozuchi, he continued to back off pressed down by that power blow after blow.

"Guu.....meeeh........"

Kazuma's attack was so swift it didn't seem to be the same kind like the boy's and it was heavy.

Although he didn't had a large build, his center of gravity was low and he was very muscular, Gaia stepped firmly into the ground like any Chijutsushi would, but even so it was very unusual he couldn't hold out against him.

"Meeeeaaah........"

Gaia was driven into a one sided defence. He couldn't even grasp a clue on how to attack.

If he were to give up on his defence and brandish his axe, in that moment the wind blades would make a great number of holes in his body.

No - even now, he couldn't defend against his wind blades. The fact that Kazuma's attack was hitting Nozuchi and didn't struck Gaia was because Kazuma was naturally aiming at the axe.

He was being played with - although he understood that, Gaia couldn't do anything.

Those serial attacks he couldn't confirm by sight didn't become abate but on the contrary, raised their frequency even more.

"Kuuh.....wa, so fast."

"No, is that all they're worth?"

Using Gaia's previous words against him, Kazuma cheerfully bragged.

"You......youngster.......!"

At the disgrace of being looked down upon by ''the likes'' of a Fujutsushi, Gaia grounded his teeth. And finally made his decision.

Believing in his own tenaciousness more than in the fact that he was pressed down until now, he cast away his defence and brandished Nozuchi.

He was slightly slow. Or else, together with Gaia's resolution and good fortune, Kazuma stopped the monotonous attack and took another approach.

The aim were Gaia's legs.

Throwing away the daring sharpness, the wind attack pierced the earth like a blunt weapon. That shock similar to an explosion blew up a large quantity of dust.

"Kuuh - Don't underestimate me!"

But, the opponent was a Chijutsushi. A curtain of earth and sand was nothing more but a smoke screen.

Recovering from that moment of surprise, Gaia got rid of all the dust swinging one arm.

"Whaa--"

The moment his field of vision cleared up, Gaia screamed in shock once again. Suddenly in front of his eyes, he recognized the figure of his opponent separated only by a few centimeters but that was only to be expected.

Gaia understood completely the sneer rising to Kazuma's mouth.

This man, without missing that space of one moment necessary to remove the smoke screen, avoided being sensed by a Chijutsushi by jumping without running on the land and moved closer to him in an instant.

He certainly understood. But, only understanding it is useless - even so, he couldn't react.

"Kuuuuhh!"

"Slow."

Shortly informing Gaia, who was trying to prepare his axe in confusion, Kazuma suddenly rotated the spear.

The end of the black handle - the sharp part, knocked the short man off his feet.

"Meeeh!?"

His feet tripped up in such a skillful manner, Gaia splendidly danced in the air.

The feeling of his body floating horizontally in the sky. But, that feeling that aroused some kind of pleasantness instantly turned to shivers when he recognized Kazuma's silhouette hanging over him from above.

"I managed somehow with a such a weightless attack, huh?"

What dwelt in his voice and attitude was plain mockery. The naked blade glistening in his hand, was already sharply sung down aiming at the nape of his neck.

Rather than capitalizing on its length the true worth of that long-handled spear was the phantasmagoria consecutive attack resembling a circular motion.

To use both ends of the handle to attack it wasn't necessary to slash back like with a sword but to repeat the strike over and over as long as the momentum of the same vector could be maintain.

That speed was obviously more that twice as faster that a sword. At the same time one end of the handle tripped and sprung him up, the blade at the reverse side was swung downwards.

"What kind!"

But, at that moment, Gaia extended his short arm with all his might and seized the ground. Responding to the silent command, the ground transformed to a firm shield and protected him and then, changing to a sharp lance, it attacked Kazuma.

"-------Ha."

Laughing at the futile resistance, in one single blow Kazuma pulverized both shield and spear.

Successively turning around Kokusen as if drawing the letter '''S''', he blew off Gaia with the dull point.

"Gaahaah!"

Gaia rolled like a kicked ball and rushed into the building's wall.

And then, at the same time -

"Guubuh!"

As if it was covered by the sound of the crash, from the upper air a dull, heavy moan resounded.

Looking up to search for that voice, in the center of Gaia's field of vision, he recognized the figure of his companion magnificently dancing in midair.

But, judging from that posture with limbs danging loosely and his pushed up chin, it was clear he didn't jump by his own volition.

After the long, long flight passed, Chris landed on his back.

A moment after he made a small bounce. he twitched and stopped moving. As it seemed like he could barely breath, it was impossible for him to continue the battle.

"................"

Slowly, as if looking at something he didn't want to, Gaia turned his eyes in the direction Chris came flying from.

Just like he imagined, carrying Enraiha on her shoulder, her other hand on her hip Ayano was looking down this way.

"................."

Even slower, he turned his head around ninety degrees.

The man who blew him away so far, likewise, was holding Kokusen in one hand.

"Well then."

Noticing that gaze, Kazuma showed a fearless smile.

"This is checkmate," he mercilessly pronounced.

Looking at Gaia who paled at the desperate crisis, Kazuma thought how to deal with them.

Without letting even several seconds pass, the answer came out.

It was ''"They're bothersome so I'll kill them."''

What was their relationship with the boy, why did they wanted to steal Enraiha, it would be a lie to say he really didn't care.

But, in the end, that was someone else's problem.

The boy, the Kannagi, they should all deal with their respective duty so Kazuma set up Kokusen to finish both of them off.

".......Do you think you won with this?"

"That so? I think that depends upon you. If you still want to persist, I'll deal with you a little longer."

Declaring the unexpressed ''<<at any rate the result will be the same>>'' he was about to unleash the sword but this time Gaia finally took the initiative.

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 06 087.jpg|thumb|]]

"Don't get cocky, youngster!"

Together with the angry roar, Gaia knocked his fist into the ground. Immediately following, from that origin cracks ran on the ground freely.

Although they weren't big enough that people would fall into them, naturally the ground was violently shaking.

Unwillingly, Kazuma interrupted his attack.

"Well, as expected you're going to struggle, huh---- "

But even so, he didn't lost his composure and assumed an attack stance a second time while laughing sarcastically but, when he shifted his attention to the ominous sounds coming from overhead - he instantly stopped his movement.

"Tch."

On the outer wall of the building in the middle of construction, several cracks clearly impossible to repair started running.

The outer wall that was originally organized in a straight line was insecurely undulating which was a clear omen of collapse even to inexpert eyes.

"Don't be so rash, you guys-----hey?"

When accidentally looking back, Gaia and Chris were gone. He only heard the voice appearing out of nowhere.

"This was a draw! Next time we won't go easy on you so prepare yourself!"

".......Don't exit with such witty words, Ossan."

At that parting threat fully loaded with the taste of the loser so much it was stereotypical, Kazuma let out a cough of admiration.

But, this was not the place to calm down. The destruction of the building was drawing near before his very eyes.

Looking up, the concrete already started peeling off. At this rate, it will hold on only a few seconds more.

Moreover, based on dangerous slanting it won't be smashed right below but blown out - moreover, it's facing this way - it will certainly collapse.

"-------Hmmm."

Understanding that much, Kazuma turned around and started running without looking right nor left.

Helping his partner, defend against a secondary calamity, clearly not thinking about any of that, he escaped so fast he deserves admiration.

"Hey, Kazuma!? Wait a minute!"

On the other side, Ayano doesn't have the merit (in a bad way ) of abandonment like Kazuma.

While turning a gaze full of resentment to the partner who doesn't show any sigh of slowing down when calling him, even so she couldn't overlook this calamity.

"Geez..."

It was lucky - it can be said so, that she learned how to practically deal with this kind of situation.

It's already too late to stop the destruction. But, if that huge mass were to crash into the earth, the damage on the surrounding will be significant. Then ----

''"I'll burn everything to nothing ----"''

Ayano raised Enraiha overhead with all her power. The golden flame that gushed out of the crimson blade spread around the collapsing building as if wrapping it up and made that entire mass evaporate.

A few seconds after, at the time the fire disappeared, the building in bare concrete completely vanished leaving only the foundation.

In other words, the results of a few months of construction work came to nothing.

''"Aah---- but, because of that Chijutsushi's last attack they should have started from soil preparation all over again......it can't be helped."''

And so, when she tried to justify herself from the back the sound of apathetic applause could be heard.

Ayano looked over her shoulder with a dangerous face.

She understood without having to look but as expected, Kazuma was standing there with a frivolous, slack smile.

"Ya, good job."

"-----Didn't you ran away?"

"I ran away because it was dangerous. Since it's not dangerous anymore there's no need to run. It's a matter of course," replied Kazuma nonchalantly.

Having a thorough knowledge of how meaningless it was to search about something sincere in this man, Ayano changed the conversation without deeply questioning him.

"Those two?"

"They ran away."

"Didn't you let them ran away?"

As expected she investigated this.

The interval he took his eyes off them, preoccupied with the building's destruction, he let them ran away --- it doesn't seem strange but Kazuma is a Fujutsushi.

There wasn't any particular need to specially turn towards the collapsing building but even assuming so for the sake of the argument, he shouldn't have ''taken his eyes off'' those two.

For Kazuma, tuning his senses to wind spirits, looking at two places at the same time was mundane, something he didn't even had to concentrate about.

But, Kazuma persistently played dumb.

"Not really, I didn't let them go. I just didn't felt like pro-actively catching them."

"Why....?"

"Because it's someone else's problem."

Those words that for Ayano seemed unbelievable, didn't even had a tiny amount of guilty conscience.

"They're aiming at you and that brat, not me. There's no need to unjustifiably bring them down."

"You......."

Although Ayano couldn't agree to Kazuma's matter-of-course declaration, she couldn't verbally abuse him -

"Well, leaving that aside, we should leave this place already. It will become noisy."

- Because she was forced into silence by Kazuma's next words.

"........Yeah."

Reluctantly Ayano agreed.

The Police and Fire Department will arrive any minute. She could silence them by using the Kannagi name but it is better to have few of that troublesome attention.

"First of all, let's change the location."

Saying so, Ayano and Kazuma left that place behind.

=== Part 3 ===

Narrowly hiding themselves from the Police, Fire Department and the large number of people that gathered there, those two took a short rest in a small park.

Ayano grumbled, glaring.

"Geez, why do I have to sneak out like some kind of culprit? But since I became familiar to you I kind of got used to it."

"Hey, wait a minute! You're the main cause of the uproar this time. I was just dragged into it."

"I'm also a victim! To make matter worse, since you let the enemy escape, I don't know anything about their reason."

"Now that you mention it, that's right. What are they trying to do, picking a fight with the Kannagi with that level of power -"

While speaking, Kazuma suddenly moved his line of sight. At the same time, he took a small step back.

In front of his eyes, a small figure passed through at a fair amount of speed.

Ayano was faintly surprised and Kazuma, thoroughly indifferent, let the shadow - the retreating figure of the Fujutsushi boy pass.

"Kuuh."

The boy charging in with the intention of a surprise attack nimbly turned around and faced Kazuma.

This time he put himself of guard, his back dropping, as if carefully searching for an opportunity.

"The brat from earlier, huh --- Did you follow us? What a persistent jerk."

The boy shouted at Kazuma who spoke so like he was disgusted.

"Give it back!"

"------Aah?"

"Give it back! Kokusen is mine!"

That's when he noticed. The boy's gaze wasn't turned towards Kazuma but towards what Kazuma was holding in his hand.

The object that became so familiar to him he actually forgot he was holding it in his hand was, in the end, a borrowed thing.

It was only natural for the boy to chase after it since it was taken away.

"Then say so from the beginning."

While Kazuma spoke even more astounded, he held out Kokusen's handle in front of him. As if leaping, the boy tore it off.

"Your manners are pretty bad - ", grumbled Kazuma blind at his own shortcomings with a backward glance at the boy who hugged Kokusen closely with an expression of relief.

But not later than that, that face had a cramp.

"Eeh......wah......"

Letting out a confused voice, the boy patted the spear all over with both his hands.

Next he pushed it to the sky as if including feeling into it and pressed the handle against his forehead.

In the end he started swinging it as making a pattern.

"What is he doing?"

"Who knows. The dance of victory handed down in the family?"

"......They're not some kind of aboriginals, right?"

To make matters worse, that didn't have the ''flow'' that could give the impression of a dance, its integrity.

Judging from the way it was nonsensically yielded, it looked like simple confusion.

After a short while, trepidly watching over it, the boy suddenly stopped his (looks like ) dance. And then, he stood rock still in blank amazement.

That sad sight, was like ''the portrait of despair'' came alive.

If a human with an honest heart were to be there, it was impossible not to feel pity.

".........Did something happen?" asked Ayano worried, as expected.

With a dumbfounded expression, perhaps not even understanding who was asking, the boy answered in a small voice.

"Kokusen......is not answering......."

"------Eh?"

Ayano was befuddled, not comprehending what the boy was saying. But, the next moment, understanding the reason of it, she nodded deeply.

"Aah, I see."

In a way, it was to be expected.

Kokusen crossed over to the present day's - no, if it's unlucky possibly the all-time-highest Fujutsushi, the <<Contractor>> who contracted the Spirit Lord of the Wind.

The secret treasure obtained by its highest master -there is plenty of possibility it would refuse to be used by everyone else beside him.

Even in Ayano's case, if Juugo or Genma were to use Enraiha, there is a high possibility it would turn like that.

If something like that were to occur, she should go through a tedious ceremony identical with the inheritance one.

"So, what will you do?"

With a sidelong glance at the boy suffering a heartache, Ayano asked Kazuma.

"Will you take this opportunity to make the sacred treasure of the Wind yours?"

"-----!!"

At those words that seemed to instigate robbery, the boy caught his breath sharply.

He set up Kokusen with open vigilance but the sacred treasure that turned into nothing more but a spear, has no power to drive Kazuma away.

".......You."

Ayano smiled with the feeling of a performer at Kazuma who grumbled at her reproachfully.

She was quite enjoyed.

With one lazy sigh, Kazuma stepped up to the boy. And then, he casually seized Kokusen.

"Le - let go!"

The boy pulled the spear towards himself with a desperate look. It seems that in the middle of the agitation, he even forgot to use Fujutsu.

Understandably, when it comes to physical strength - Kazuma was overwhelmingly superior.

The boy dropped his back and tried to cling to it rather than pull the spear but even so Kazuma's posture wasn't destroyed.

"No, no way.....this is.....only this......tch-"

"You're noisy. Just grasp it tightly then."

"----Eeh?"

The boy reflexively looked up at Kazuma. But, without paying attention to him, he gently closed his eyes.

And then -

"Wow........"

At the fantastic scene materializing right in front of her, Ayano let out a voice of wonder that couldn't be expressed into words.

The blue, sparkling wind coiled in a whirlpool before her eyes.

At times strong, at times tender, it was blowing through playfully as if dancing.

Fro somewhere, a transparent, refreshing sound could be heard.

Like a song, like a prayer, an exquisite echo permeated her ears.

''"Are the Wind Spirits singing? No, it's not only that--- "''

One more ''<<Voice>>'' responding to the wind's song rose from the jet black spear held by both Kazuma ans the boy.

It was a strong multi-layered low tone. That sound, contrastive with the light and clear wind song melted into it wonderfully without feeling out of place.

Without one side pressing the other, a symbiotic relation matching each other mutually.

The tune spun as a result was the building up of a miraculous chord that could never be reproduced by musical instruments from the human world.

"He is....resonating with, Kokusen......"

Ayano involuntarily stared at Kazuma. It was clear that this miraculous scene was something done by the means of his power.

Probably right now, inside those closed eyelids, those pupils are shedding a blue light.

"Aah-----"

While gazing at it intoxicated, suddenly the blue wind disappeared without any trailing note. At the same time Kazuma opened his eyes.

Those pupils already returned to usual color but even so, she thought she saw a bottomless brilliance dwelling into them - either way, it must have been her imagination.

On the other side, the boy was looking around the surroundings with an irrelevant face.

The contest of he spirits and the spear didn't seemed to bring any change to the surface but that was only reasonable.

But after a few seconds, opening his eyes wide, he looked at Kokusen.

"........Eeh? Aah......!"

On the surface nothing changed. But the people found there clearly grasped the change.

The spear that until now was nothing but a lump of metal recovered its overwhelming power.

That power of the spear itself wrapped the boy clasping it and formed one ''field''.

Once more, the sacred treasure recognized the boy as it's master.

The boy, instantly expressing delight on his face, immediately glared at Kazuma stiffening.

"You.....what did you do?"

As for Kazuma, he looked down at him with the smile of a mischievous boy.

"It's a secret."

"You!"

"What! If you're dissatisfied I can easily return it to the previous condition."

"------!!"

Panicking the boy hid Kokusen to his back. Of course, it wasn't something he could hide with his small build.

Ignoring the boy's reaction Kazuma said.

"For the time being, I'll invite you to Kannagi-san's house. There's a lot I want to ask of you --- you also had business with her right?"

"---------------------------------------Aah"

After a short silence, carrying a strong will in his pupil, the boy nodded.

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</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 5

2014-01-29T22:10:07Z

Drejzer: /* Part 4 */

== Chapter 5 - Suppression ==

=== Part 1 ===

By the time Ayano's group appeared, the fight already started.

Flying about lightning, roaring explosions, echoing screams and shouts changed the place were Pandemonium primised to descend, the Shinjuku Central Park, to a hellish picture of agonizing cries.

" - they're being really gaudy, huh? "

Kirika replied in an irresponsible tone to Ayano who murmured so in amazement.

"Yeah. After all, it seems like most of the members are participating. "

In the end, the two days passed without any kind of progress.

Not finding Pandemonium or getting hold of where Kazuma was, Ayano's group arrived to this day when Pandemonium will descent.

As the messenger of Pandemonium, the <<Grand Mage>> Utsumi Kousuke once announced all <<Seeds>>, the first one to reach Pandemonium after it showed itself, would be given an ultimate power.

It this was nothing else but a simple battle royale, the number of people giving up would be pretty big.

In front of the almost overwhelming power of the self-styled <<Fourth Class>> Utsumi, it seemed impossible to win even when forming a group.

But, the condition of winning this game was ''to reach Pandemonium first''.

Of course, there are some advantages to a simple race but there still wasn't a direct connection between combat abilities and the outcome of the battle.

Even if defeating the <<Grand Mage>> was impossible he can still be circumvented.

All the <<Seeds>> smoothly thought so. And then, deliberately to acquire ''the ultimate power''.

As a result, without missing one, they all gathered here. And they the fight began without waiting for Pandemonium to appear.

For the sake of defeating at least one rival as fast as possible.

"So, should we do something about it? "

"Does it look like you can do something about it? "

Looking at the number of <<Seeds>> decreasing by the hour, Ayano and Kirika talked together in indifferent tones.

"Wasn't your lot enough to deal with this degree of power? "

"If they were by themselves"

Behind Kirika shrugging her shoulders, there are five subordinate Jutsushi.

Comparing it to the <<Seeds>>, although in the process of rapid decrease, there were still dozens of them.

No matter how much excellent the Jutsushi were when individually compared, it was still impossible to turn ten times fold enemies powerless without killing them.

"If you let me speak frankly, the current situation is warmly welcomed. The opponents are crushing themselves on their own accord. "

"But I think the police exists only to protect the citizens"

"That depends on the situation. There's no need exhausting our war potential for the sake of protecting the human rights of some criminal", declared Kirika cool-headed.

She won't use her power to save those who can easily hurt another without ever looking back because the law cannot judge them, even if they are nothing more but Bernhardt's or Pandemonium's pieces.

"If Genma-dono would have helped us out, he would have been able to purify all <<Seeds>> in one go. "

"Aah - , no, it's not going to happen"

Ayano carelessly waved her hand at Kirika who looked at her as if investigating.

"That highly esteemed Uncle of mine has no reason to help these idiots who act violently on power borrowed from Youma. If Ojii-sama were to be right here, he would turn to ashes all these idiots ''and'' Pandemonium ''and'' the park, you know"

"Aah, that sounds good"

As if anticipating the gruesome future Ayano talked about, Kirika agreed to it calmly.

"But, why won't Genma-dono come? The enemy is Bernhardt Rhodes. Even if you are the Kannagi Clan, he's not an existence you should ignore. "

"Aah - yeah....."

With a vague a nod, Ayano and Ren exchanged a complicated glance.

"Because Oji-sama is a Kannagi Jutsushi to the core, right......."

"- I don't understand"

"Well, I think it's because he believes in me and Ren so he entrusted this to us..."

Unable to say the truth, Ayano falsified a suitable answer.

"I'm entrusting this matter to you"

The evening before the descent of Pandemonium, Genma told so to Ayano and Ren.

Naturally the two asked back, unable to agree.

"Can you tell us the reason? "

The opponent is the world's highest Majutsushi. No matter how much war potential one had, he is worrisome.

Since Tokyo's spiritual protection is the duty of Kannagi and Bernhardt's deed disturbed that, Genma's participation in the battle was inevitable, his obligation.

It wasn't something that could be overlooked because of private matters.

But, without alluding to that reason, Genma continued.

"Tomorrow, it seems Kazuma will also appear at Pandemonium."

"......it seems so"

"He already became an existence harmful to the Kannagi."

Genma's words were not incorrect.

Beside the <<Seeds>>, Kazuma's violence reached even a Special Information Storage Room Jutsushi, largely deviating from the permissible bounds.

And, although without his intention, Kazuma was even now registered with the Kannagi family name. It wasn't something they could neglect.

"We have no choice but to destroy him."

"--------!!"

That frozen declaration and the violent pressure accompanying it hit Ayano and Ren very hard.

With a start, Ayano's body shook - Ren looked at his Father with eyes full of determination.

"I will - We will persuade him!"

"Not necessary"

"But!"

"Not necessary"

Genma's voice was steady without any gaps. The accelerated growth of that power and heavy pressure that could crush a heart made Ayano curl herself up without ever raising her face.

But even so, the pressure wasn't lifted.

Wondering about it, she examined Ren's situation with a sidelong glance - with his face still raised up he caught Genma's gaze head-on.

The pressure increased again. It's purpose already migrated from coercing to opponent to downright crush him to death, the feeling of oppression was so high it made then think about the danger their lives were in.

"Won't you listen to what I say? "

"I.....won't..!"

With a hoarse but definite voice, Ren assessed his rebellion towards Genma. His forehead was full of sweat and although his grasped fists were shaking on top of his knees, the gaze he fixed on his father's eyes didn't waver for one moment.

''"Ren - when did you become so strong...?"''

In a daze that went beyond surprise, Ayano fixed her eyes on Ren's gallant figure.

Even though until now he always followed her around, a pampered child, a scared cat -

While Ayano wasn't quite present, the father and child exchanged arguments in a sharp tone.

"Beyond the fact he was born from the Head of the Kannagi Family, I cannot tolerate him to be swayed by emotions! Even if he's blood relative - no, exactly because he is, his error won't be tolerated!"

"If he dies.....if he dies he won't be able to atone! If he committed a sin, he should live all the more...isn't he supposed to redeem his faults!? "

While looking at those two, continuing to argue, Ayano suddenly felt doubt.

While insisting on Kazuma's conviction, the fact that he won't participate in the battle doesn't add up.

Not even Genma would think of trying to make her and Ren kill Kazuma by themselves.

Then, why?

Thinking about it, Genma's attitude was dubious since the beginning. He was more oppressive than necessary, his opinion resembling stubbornness.

As if he was stirring up animosity on purpose.

Ayano suddenly remembered something Juugo said long ago.

Genma disinherited Kazuma because the Kannagi Clan was a cage and if he couldn't escape from that cage by himself, he set Kazuma free.

''"Then, this is - "''

If he were to intervene, he will definitely have to kill Kazuma according to the Kannagi mission. And, as he wasn't able to instruct them contrary to the mission, that's why -

At the same time Ayano reached that conclusion, Genma and Ren's argument was about to close.

"I won't give up on anything! I'll persuade Nii-sama, I'll kill Bernhardt and I'll destroy Pandemonium, I'll show you!"

"Just try and see if you can, brat!"

Several times the volume of Ren's shout, Genma roared in a very loud voice that was just like a lion's roar.

But immediately following, he noticed Ayano's gaze staring at him in a daze.

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 199.jpg|thumb|]]

Guessing something from her eyes, Genma expressed a small wry smile and faced Ayano with a serene attitude that made his fury so far hard to believe.

"Ayano"

"Ye........yes..."

"Please take care of it"

".......!!"

Understanding her conjecture was right on the money, Ayano's face had a cramp.

''"Every last one of them - "''

It's not like she didn't understand his feelings but she couldn't help but think so.

''"Why are you trying to force it on me!? I'll do it myself, by myself!"''

".......I see"

Keeping a faint bitterness in her voice, Kirika bowed her head in assent.

She couldn't possibly comprehend Ayano's words but it was also true nothing would come out of voicing her complaints.

It doesn't matter how it's said, what's not there it's not there.

Quickly throwing away the pointless hope, there's no way but to effectively use the hand she was dealt.

"If it's like that you must preserve your power. If Pandemonium and Kazuma will appear, the situation will change, right?"

"......yeah"

"Do you anticipate it?"

"..........."

Ayano became silent and couldn't respond to Kirika's gaze without banter, loaded with serious expectations.

Honestly, her heart wasn't decided yet.

About holding Kazuma back. About blocking that man's way.

Even understating it, it was reckless action. It was like bungee jumping without a rope.

It wasn't something that could be solved by courage and effort.

No matter how she would struggle, she would certainly die - if Kazuma were to become serious.

"Nee-sama"

As if holding on to the heart of his hesitating sister, Ren grabbed Ayano's hands. His eyes already lost all their indecision.

"It will be fine. I'm sure."

"............well, ''you'' will be fine for sure", grumbled Ayano, past the time to give up.

But the situation didn't give her spare time to waver.

"It's coming", murmured Kirika giving up.

Several of the <<Seeds>> also noticed it and were running up to them with bloodshot eyes. They were aiming at getting on Pandemonium first but it wasn't unreasonable to think they will aim at them, standing still close to the park.

At this point expecting sense from them was a waste of time.

"I'll go"

Anticipating the party, Ren stepped forward.

Certainly, having Ren face the sacrifices possessed by the devil manipulating purification flames that destroyed nothing but that nature was appropriate. But -

"Wouldn't it be better for you to preserve your power? "

Using up his power before the crucial will come to nothing.

Ren stared head-on at Ayano who thought so.

"Then, are we going to let them die without helping? Because in front of something bigger a few sacrifices can't be helped? "

"That's - "

Overpowered by that earnest gaze, Ayano instinctively caught her breath.

"Even so, I'll do it. If I have a bigger power in comparison to humans, I want to protect everything with that power. I don't care if it's pride or self-righteousness. I decided to live that way. "

Declaring so without hesitation, Ren started running without waiting for a reply.

Compared with the big frames assaulting him, his body was very small.

But the brightness of that golden flame surging from his body utterly defeated the approaching <<Seeds>> in one blow.

It had no connection with level, class and so forth. That overwhelming power at totally different level exorcised and burned the devilishness without leaving any trace, moreover by delicately adjusting the after-effect, it stunned the hosts.

So, the bodies of the boys that lost consciousness were evacuated by Kirika's subordinates in the vicinity of the park.

"This is so easy"

"Isn't it by relying on civilians, public servant? "

"It's the right person in the right place. Besides - "

Taking Ayano's criticism in one stride, Kirika bragged. But, suddenly revising her attitude, she looked at Ayano.

"So, how long will you stand still?"

"........."

Without reply Ayano feebly cast her eyes down.

"Well, leaving that aside"

As if nothing happened, Kirika changed her line of sight from Ayano to the watch.

"I think Ren-kun's determination is noble but won't you wait another minute?"

"One more minute?"

Ren too looked at his watch. The time right now is 11:59 P.M.

"What happens at midnight? "

"Pandemonium will emerge"

Ayano and Ren became speechless at that sleek announcement.

"Wh- wait, when did you find such a specific moment? "

"I didn't know or anything but isn't that a general guess? There's not another more appropriate time for something belonging to the spirit world to appear in this one, no? "

"............"

"Midnight represents the threshold between yesterday and today. And the threshold between today and tomorrow. It is yesterday, today and tomorrow. The only moment when the time's absolute laws become ambiguous. Therefore the boundaries between the spirit world and this world also become ambiguous and various apparitions erode the reality - "

Finishing her song-like narration, Kirika completely changed and continued in a pragmatic tone.

"Well, it can only be that time besides Majutsushi are endlessly fussing over about agreeing with that consistency. "

"I see, then we'll wait. It will be here before long anyway. "

Agreeing to Kirika's words, Ayano nodded.

How will the situation change in response to Pandemonium's arrival - she was thinking it won't be late to start moving after seeing that.

And after ten more seconds passed, ''the time of threshold'' arrived.

The time that is and isn't where anything can happen.

Soundless, the space shook.

After a pause of one moment, this time the ground shook, involved in a physical shock. That vibration, definitely not an earthquake, was as if a huge mass was suddenly dropped on the ground -

''" - tch, aren't you doing whatever you like? "''

Cursing inside her chest, Ayano shifted her focus on the direction the abnormality seemed to originate from.

''That'' was inside an enshrouding cloud of dust. As if it continued being there without chance for a hundred years, grave, firmly.

Even though it was far, she understood it quickly - it was an antique looking shape. Declined like a dilapidated house and yet despite of that it had a decadent presence filled with dark hot air.

Just about everything was as before, the fact that it was destroyed together with the Tokyo Government Office was nothing but a dream, and Pandemonium was reigning there with its overwhelming presence.

"It's pretty far, huh? Exactly right in the center of the park? ", murmured Kirika, without showing any kind of surprise at the sudden state of urgency.

Even Ayano, similarly used to the lack of common sense, replied very calm.

"That's about right, but I won't know for sure before I get a little bit closer."

Perceiving that the power of <<Seeds>> was rapidly growing, Ayano strengthened her vigilance. Surveying the scene, the fray without rules or any kind of sense was completely interrupted.

The <<Seeds>> stood rock still as if their souls had been unplugged. Contrary to that atmosphere, the power was rising continuously.

Some worthless thing is about to happen again - Ayano believed so.

"Uuu.....uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu......"

Suddenly, one of the <<Seeds>> let out a moan. He hugged his body closely as if he was enduring something, and squat.

"Uuguuuuu.....Uruuuuraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"

A frail moan. But, that gradually changed to a scream. His face looking downward turned to the night sky, and the man shriek as if tearing his throat.

And then, a rapid variation was produced.

The man's flesh started to expand, his clothes torn off from the inside. The surface of his exposed body was covered in too much muscle than it was humanly possible, wrapping him up.

At last his head, accomplished a transformation from his skeletal structure that seemed to have ended for the present.

From the gap of his largely split mouth, sharp fangs showed and the man - howled at the moon.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNN--"

Knitting her brows Ayano watched how both his heart and body degenerated equally to that of a beast.

"Lycantrophy ----?"

"It's not something that cute.", answered Kirika looking at the surroundings.

Following that gaze, Ayano grimaced.

".........wah"

That grotesque transformation affected the majority of the <<Seeds>>.

In one case, only one part of a man's body turned while the rest remained human, another completely deviated from the human form.

In the end just like slimes of fog, they were reduced to beings unable to maintain a fixed shape.

"Ugh, is this possibly - "

"They woke up maybe? "

The real seeds living as parasites in the bodies of <<Seeds>> were Youma in a dormant state.

"In comparison with the same raw materials there is plenty of variation in their outward appearance - I think there's a discrepancy in the growth process and the host they fed on."

"This is not the place to leisurely express your reasoning, no? "

"Huh, there's nothing we can do except for this. "

Kirika replied without shyness to Ayano's retort.

".........that may be so"

There is a wide difference in ability between the human who uses the Youma's power and the one that completely became a Youma. Even if it's a low class one, the Jutsushi with low combat abilities from the Special Information Storage Room will find it a heavy burden.

"Aah, they're moving"

As Ren called Ayano to attention, they shifted they focus on the Youma.

The group of Youma that ate their hosts to exhaustion moved for the first time. Without exception, they headed for Pandemonium.

Those few <<Seeds>> that retained their awareness indomitably shuffled their feet.

A violent race began.

It was like a group of ogres competing for food. Those being in the vanguard pulled and killed each other in a combined effort, those following stepped on them and changed them to rags and if two were at the same distance they skinned each other with they fangs, not allowing the others to move forward.

Ayano's group stood rock still and silent faced with the battle several times more bloody that before.

"Eeh......, this is...."

After several seconds - completely pulling herself together, Ayano muttered to herself.

"Are they being called? "

"Or there's still a small portion of the host's consciousness - at any rate, we should stop them from reaching Pandemonium. Nothing good would come out of it."

"I agree"

Just as they were about to run after exchanging a short agreement, at that time -

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed.

The dry wind hurts the skin.

That thoroughly, thoroughly overwhelming force and the air full of killing intent spread out over the entire park like a mantle.

"What now -!?"

Bernhardt started something else - Ayano immediately thought so.

But, Kirika looked at the sky with a serious face and groaned disgusted.

"You came, huh - Kazuma"

"Kazuma!? This!?"

"Who else it there? ", declared Kirika matter of fact to Ayano, who opened her eyes wide with unconcealed fright.

"A man who rules the atmosphere so overwhelmingly - there's no one else but him, right? "

"B- but........but........"

Pressuring her body - no, the entire surrounding airspace, that oppressive intent felt only ominous.

The urge to attack was making her body feel on the edge, as if it was about to be cut down.

Similar to the release of a pack of starving wolfs, that Kehai was showing its dazzling lust.

Is this - is ''this'' - is this Kazuma's power?

"You're lying.........it cannot, be like this..........."

"I believe I told you to forget about the Kazuma you knew."

She remembered about two years before.

The avatar of a storm spreading death and destruction.

Prepared to destroy the entire world for the sake of revenge, for the sake of killing one person, that man was equivalent with a living disaster.

"This is also Kazuma. No, maybe only this is Kazuma. "

"..........let's go", Ren asked the dazed Ayano in front of Kirika trembling in fear.

That voice was carrying a fear that couldn't be concealed but nevertheless the determination to move forward doesn't shake.

"Detective Tachibana - ?"

"I apologize. From here on, it's impossible for us", determined Kirika controlling Ren's words.

"I'm sorry but beyond this point go just the two of you. We will fall back and spread a barrier around the park. Because of instinct or because they were ordered they're all heading to Pandemonium right now but if they were to meet ''him'' a few will probably run towards us."

"That's right. We're leaving it to you."

Ren agreed after thinking about it a little and urged Ayano once more.

"Let's go"

"Y- yeah...."

Maybe because she couldn't accept Kazuma's transformation yet, Ayano was hesitating with an indecisive attitude.

Seeing that, Kirika placed her hand on Ayano's shoulder as if trying to encourage her and smiled a little.

"Listen to me, Ayano-chan, I think you may be successful without having to think too much about it"

If she were told something like this in normal circumstances, Ayano's face would flush red in anger.

But, there was pretty much no reaction now. Without looking at Kirika, she answered in a murmur.

"............I'll put in my best effort"

"....................go for it"

Understanding that she didn't manage to stir Ayano, eventually Kirika sent out the girl with a feeble smile.

=== Part 2 ===

"........it turned up, huh?"

Due to the collapse of the Tokyo Government Office, overlooking the Central Park from the highest floor of the partially destroyed National Diet Building, Kazuma murmured.

Close to the center of the park, an old western style house instantly made an appearance.

A large quantity of Youki gathered and was in the process of going there but for him right now that is inconsequential.

That's right, everything else is not worth worrying about. There are just two important things.

To kill - that annoying Majutsushi.

To break - that disgusting doll imitating his beloved.

He won't let anything get in the way. He won't stop.

Because he took this power for the sake of revenge.

"Just wait, Bernhardt"

The moment he kicked the foothold and soared into the sky, Kazuma suddenly remembered.

That once, the same thing happened.

"Humph........"

Kazuma laughed at the repeating farce.

At that time, Kazuma challenged the Majutsushi for Tsoi Rin.

At that time, to rescue her. And this time, to kill.

The objective was reversed. But, the result will still be the same. Because right now, he has that much power.

Because right now, he has that much power enough to make the world obey his will, for the sake of fulfilling his objective.

''"How regretful. How unsightly even if I say so myself"''

But even so, he cannot help but think. Just like he thought thousands, tens of thousands before.

''If he only had this power back then''

"Stooooooooooop it!!"

Kazuma screamed at the top of his voice - or so he wanted but what came through his broken throat resembled a hoarse stridor not recognizable words.

The man didn't turn around.

He looked at him once at the beginning but then perfectly ignoring Kazuma's existence he performed the ceremony - and the he carried it out.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Without asking for agreement, he showed Kazuma that sad sight. The whole story of stealing everything from the existence of the woman he loved.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

He couldn't do anything. Not rescuing her, not even delaying the ceremony by at least a second.

Not allowed anything, not accomplishing anything, he lost his most precious thing.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

His hands and feet were completely broken, he couldn't stand up. He could only let out hollow moans and shed tears from his eyes that were miraculously safe.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Abruptly the weight disappeared from his back. Handling Kazuma like a baby, the familiar that mercilessly trampled him down, wanted to put his legs out of the way.

The familiar quickly backed off and went down on his knees respectfully. Of course, not in front of Kazuma. In front of its master that stepped in front of Kazuma.

Pointing hie eyeballs upward to the almost limit Kazuma looked up at the man. He no longer had the energy to move his neck.

"........Er...win......"

With a grazed voice he called the name of the enemy. The man - Erwin Leszaar looked down on Kazuma as if looking at a spot on the floor.

According to the legend, he was at the very least three hundred years old but no matter how you look at it those features were of a young man in his twenties.

Hid blond hair, blue eyes and white skin turned him to the very picture of a handsome man.

"I don't really understand but - ", Erwin asked Kazuma bending his head slightly in wonder.

"After all, why did you came here? "

"........!!"

He didn't make fun of him. That was a genuine question.

Understanding his do or die action was only recognized as a disturbance, Kazuma's body burned in humiliation.

"Thinking about it, even your situation is a little unclear. You can use some Jutsu but not enough to call yourself a Jutsushi. Aah, your <<Ki>> is nicely mature and well-rounded. It's a big deal considering how young you are! "

Without carrying about Kazuma's thoughts Erwin continued talking one-sided.

"But that's all. Are you a master of martial arts who can dabble just a little bit in Jutsu, are you some dropped out smatterer aiming to become a Jutsushi - at any rate, in front of a real Majutsushi that degree of power is mere child's play.

You understand that much, right? "

''"So what.........?"''

Kazuma responded with a gaze loaded with an infinite number of curses.

''"So, should I have abandoned her? Would it have been better to give up? "

".........Tsoi........Rin........"

He only said those two words. The name of the girl he wanted to protect but couldn't.

"Tsoi Rin? Aah, the name of the miss who became a sacrifice. Then you came here to rescue her - without considering your chances? "

As if giving praise to Kazuma's courage, a smile was etched into his lips. And then he completely changed -

"How foolish that was"

"......!!"

Kazuma's body trembled in fury. But, that body, already couldn't move even a finger.

If he could move for a second, only for a second, he will definitely bite that man's windpipe -

"At the expense of that girl, I received life. She did very well, that girl. However, your death, because you couldn't obstruct the ceremony, is really meaningless. A human should die in a more meaningful manner - don't you agree? "

"Fu....fuck, you....."

That was the greatest fury he felt so far. As if he had already died, it wasn't because his death would be in vain.

He self-consciously knew he was fatally wounded. Even assuming they'll leave him as it it without the final blow, he will die in a few hours anyway.

That was inconsequential. Because he had already lost the reason to stay alive.

''"She did very well, huh? "''

While stealing Tsoi Rin's life, the shamelessness of talking about her death as meaningful - he could never allow such a thing.

Kazuma knew the meaning of becoming a sacrifice to the devil.

That wasn't a mere corporeal death. It was the extinction of the soul, of the existence itself.

She will never be born again, the return to absolute nothingness.

The ultimate ''end''.

Even when the last judgment will come, Tsoi Rin won't be saved.

".........damn...you......."

Spitting out a jeer weaker that a sigh, Kazuma glared at Erwin.

Why, did Tsoi Rin had to die?

For the selfish desire of this man.

Why. Why. Why.

"Well then"

Losing his interest towards Kazuma, Erwin left the room.

"Clean this up"

".......Wait.....bastard........."

He reached out feebly - when he wanted to reach out he convulsed - Kazuma's right arm was crushed under the familiar's foot. Another long bone was broken.

".......Gaaah....."

While spitting out blood froth together with that small shriek, Kazuma looked up at the familiar's appearance.

With features of both demon and beast, a lower grade devil whose ugly exterior inspired revulsion in those who looked at him.

Will he be killed by something like this?

Kazuma was wrapped in a sense of helplessness. He lost the girl he had to protect, he couldn't retaliate even once against the Majutsushi he should kill, and will die here without killing at least one of those pawns?

The familiar's mug changed to sneer. Those sharp claws that mangled Kazuma many times were pushed out for show.

".......Will I.....die......?"

If those claws were to stab him, he will die this time. It wasn't a guess, he understood it was a definite fact.

He was supposed to have already lost his meaning to live. He was supposed not to mind even death.

But, even so - as expected, death is scary.

Without reason, he purely thought ''I don't want to die''. And then -

=== Part 3 ===

From Ren's mouth, a moan of unbearable fear leaked out.

Pandemonium appeared in the center of the park, as if trying to crush the Niagara waterfall.

The water plaza that was there, before the waterfall, spread out like Pandemonium's front garden.

And then - right there right now was looking like heaps of bodies and streams of blood.

Both humans and demons systemically torn to pieces evenly were lying down their contents scattered.

The head group of <<Seeds>> and <<Youma>> aiming at Pandemonium encountered ''it'' just before reaching their goal.

Exhausting the nourishment of the host, the Youma achieved a complete manifestation of their devilishness.

The demon power - regardless of orientation - governed the seeds with a strong will.

You could say that every one of them was a match for a thousand, existences that could manipulate a mighty power.

But -

"Aah......"

There was already no way of telling how many had they been. Even the distinction between the corpses of humans and demons disappeared.

In just one instant.

Everything was exterminated in a moment. By just one raging, wild Fujutsushi.

"Nii........sama......."

Overawed by the overwhelming power, Ren could do nothing else but moan.

Ayano had already lost her voice.

At the center of that raging power, ''he'' was.

Stepping over the broken pieces of those corpses, his glare fixed on Pandemonium soaring before his eyes.

Yagami Kazuma - the avatar of death and destruction ruling the windstorm.

The surging wind, like an armor, like a blade, was circling around him.

Because of the tremendous frictional heat of the atmosphere vortex, electrical discharges were born everywhere in the sky and the wind tower stabbing at the sky was colored a dazzling white.

That was literally a thunder storm. The iron hammer of the atmosphere clad in lightning, that would burn and destroy everything it touches.

"Is this........is this Nii-sama's true, power.........", murmured Ren to himself in a trembling voice.

But he realized the next moment that even that recognition was too naive.

That irrational power even under normal circumstances, was showed elevated even more.

The flickering white light was shining in the dark night, the endlessly amplificating ascending air current calling out thunder clouds overhead.

The vocal duet of rearing thunder both on heaven and earth resembled the howl of a demon beast.

"Ni......Nii-sama!"

Without seeming to have heard Ren's voice Kazuma was looking straight at Pandemonium.

Probably not taking the time to especially search for Bernhardt, he was planning to blow away the whole Pandemonium.

Certainly, in front of this kind of abuse of power, no matter how huge or solid the mansion is, it was the same as a shack.

Without withstanding it for even a second, it will definitely vanish without leaving behind even ash.

But, Ren didn't want to see his brother like that. The Kazuma he admired would never do such a thing. And above all -

"Nii-sama, please stop! Even if you do that Tsoi Rin-san won't be pleased. "

As expected, unable to ignore Tsoi Rin's name, Kazuma showed a small but immediate reaction.

Securing that effect, Ren raised his voice even more.

"Please collect yourself! Even if you get your revenge, the dead won't come back! If Tsoi Rin-san could see Nii-sama right now, I'm sure she would be sad! That's why, that's why - "

"What the fuck are you saying? "

Turning around, Kazuma looked at Ren quizzical. That face was unexpectedly calm but didn't appear like he forgot about his anger.

"How can the dead be sad? "

"Eeh, b- but......"

"Didn't I tell you before. Death is the ''end''."

Kazuma informed Ren, perplexed by the unexpected reaction, in a matter of fact.

"Those harboring dreams, those mad with hatred, those that loved others, when they die everything turns to nothing. Therefore, no matter what I do, the dead won't be delighted. They won't be sad. They don't feel - anything. "

"......nii,sama........"

"If you thought I want to kill Bernhardt because of Tsoi Rin, that's your mistake. I'll kill him because I want to kill him for myself. I'll kill those that want to get in my way. I'll kill those that get in my way. It's that simple. "

"But, Nii-sama - "

"Ren"

Kazuma interrupted coldly the appeal of his little brother, already without arguments but still wanting to stop him.

"Shut up already. Your words won't stop me"

"nii,sama......"

" - Will you get in my way, Ren? "

''If you get in my way - with words very clear to understand without listening to the second part, Kazuma gave him a warning.

Ren had no words to defeat that.

''"this is something - right?"''

With a mood that it was someone else's problem, Ayano is watching attentively the back and forth argument between the two.

If she were to judge it objectively, she thought that Ren's defeat was a reasonable consequence.

To begin with, rather than an argument, it was closer to trying to get the other party agree with what you have to say.

The person who agreed on it's response from the beginning, the person with a solid resolution that will go forward to the very last even if he's wrong, for those kind of people the words of others have no meaning.

It's obvious that those words are spent in vain.

But even so.

Right now Ayano felt an uncommon discomfort towards Kazuma.

If Kazuma is that kind of man, if he can understand reason, in spite of agreeing with his feelings when she placed the figure of that man in her field of vision, she's unable to suppress a discomforting something.

Of course, that does not mean she has a plan to stop Kazuma.

Rather, she believed that's not something a human can achieve.

Looking up at the thunder cloud heavily covering the night sky, Ayano let out a long breath of admiration.

What was Kazuma controlling right now couldn't be described by such a narrow phenomenon like wind. It was the atmosphere, the airflow and the weather itself.

Who on earth believed that such a behavior was possible for just one Jutsushi.

Right now Kazuma's power was at a totally different level even by the Kannagi's standards.

And yet, why, it wasn't all that scary?

''"Wrong, not like that. It's scary - but because it's scary, it's not scary at all"''

While murmuring inside her chest such contradictory words, Ayano started walking.

While she didn't know herself what she wanted to do.

In front, of Kazuma.

"Ne- Nee-sama.........?"

Ignoring Ren's appeal, as if protecting Pandemonium, she blocked Kazuma's way.

"Kuuu.....uu......"

In the act of doing so, the torrent of killing intent rushed towards her.

Until now she she blocked his way once or twice but this was the first time this kind of bare thirst for blood was slapped into her.

The fear was about to crush her heart.

Confronting him directly she understood it clearly. The difference between herself, and that overwhelming power

''- is this Nii-sama's true power - ''

Ren's words were resurrected in her ears.

They pierced her heart just like thorns, together with an indistinct sense of discomfort.

Looking at the sky, she thought.

''This is Kazuma's real power''

- really?

Right away, words of doubt crossed her mind. It was definitely overwhelming.

There's no mistake, from everything she saw until now this is the greatest power.

But, but even so -

" - Aah, so that's the reason"

Abruptly Ayano realized the reason for her discomfort.

That instant, both fear and cowardice became of little importance, the kind of emotions she could ignore.

She looked hard at Kazuma straightforward. Including anger and irritation for the man who fell so low.

"I understand why detective Tachibana and Ren want to stop you. Right now you're so ugly I cannot look at you. "

"Step aside. You're in the way", declared Kazuma indifferently without showing any reaction even to Ayano's words.

Ayano too, continued to ignore Kazuma.

"To be honest, I admired you. I thought that someday I'll catch up with you and you'll approve of me.

- Though in fact, there was no need to expressly tell you. "

"I won't say it a third time. Step aside"

In a monotonous tone Kazuma gave her the final warning. It did not seem that Ayano's words made an impression.

Even so, without hesitation, Ayano boldly declared.

"That's why I can't tolerate you the way you are now. I cannot accept that such an ugly thing was my landmark. I'll open your eyes even by force! "

Together with that declaration, Ayano slapped her palms together.

That dry sound of clapping hands resounded thoroughly clear, pressing down the thunder and scattering the windstorm uneventfully.

Separating the joined hands, a line of red fire connected the space between the palms.

Gripping that flame line with her right hand, and swinging in in a mowing down movement to pull it out.

The line of fire stretching for one meter, instantly materialized forming a brilliant red sword.

The vibrantly red blade, the double edged straight sword.

The blade was clad in golden flames, that appearance releasing a beautiful brilliance was so lovely it was fairy-tale like.

Pointing at him the secret treasure of the Kannagi family, the absolutely invincible conquering the devil divine sword, Enraiha, Ayano showed a fearless smile.

"The way you are right now, I can easily kill you - but don't worry. I'll go easy on you. I'll teach you how does a Spirit Jutsushi fight!"

Kazuma was silent. Following his previous notice, he didn't warn her a third time and fired a wind blade without hesitation.

Ayano swung Enraiha with all her strength at that blow filled with nothing but pure killing intent.

"Guu......uuh.........."

Unable to stop the fast wind blade mowing down, Ayano backed off several steps. Even so, enduring it without breaking her stance, she sharpened her reflexes preparing herself for the next attack.

A three stranded blow. One approaching from the front, and other two describing an arc and coming from left and right.

Ayano hit head-on the frontal attack and by purposefully letting herself be blown away she dodged those coming from the sides.

Curling up her body to let the shock loose while tumbling, she stood up by using that force.

While setting up Enraiha warily, she checked for damage.

''"Ok, it's fine. But even so, no way, I'm being over-matched - "''

The fact that she was forced back by fighting from the front was unexpected.

The Enjutsushi who was supposed to be the strongest was underpowered in front of the Fuujutsushi who was supposed to be the weakest - if it's a fight between two users beyond first-class, that was a very improbable phenomenon.

But, the reason is simple. Kazuma strength easily breaks trough what is known as common sense. It was just that.

The strongest Fujutsushi, the one Ayano knew, Kazamaki Ryouya of the Fuuga Clan and the Youma possessing him - even if once she and Kazuma managed to bring him down somehow, Kazuma right now is surpassing even that.

''"But - "''

On top of that Kazuma yet again has the trump card - the power of the Contractor sealed inside him.

"You...!!"

A tremendously heavy blow that didn't seem to be made of air, plus a freebie with a lightning supplement.

Every time they exchanged blows, escaping even Enraiha's protection, a strong numbness was running through her whole body.

''"But, but even so!"''

Does Kazuma understand? That although he's fighting her seriously he has yet to kill her, the meaning of it?

Rebuking her body becoming numb from the two layered attack - high impact and lightning strike, Ayano grasped Enraiha tightly.

''"I won't lose. I'll never lose! Not, not when Kazuma became so weak!"''

If the opponent was the real Kazuma, she would have been killed ten times already.

Because Ayano would never be able to perceive everything about those sharply honed wind blades.

Without knowing when and how she will be killed, she's only notice her head dropping down - that was supposed to be the reasonable end.

If the opponent was the real Kazuma, Ayano would never fear him.

Because it would be so natural, it would be so grand, the capacity of feeling fear wouldn't see it coming at all.

But, for Kazuma right now, she can see the upper limit.

He is certainly strong. Overwhelmingly strong. But, even so, right now she can reach him.

She has that self-confidence,

Kazuma's wind was more sharp, more fast.

There's nothing to fear from this rough, powerful attack.

So what if she's stuck by lightning? That thing is nothing more but the useless byproduct of frictional heat.

For Kazuma's real wind, there would be no need to add such extras.

It would be a high speed blow exceedingly purified, cold and sharply honed.

That was what Ayano admired, what was her objective,because it was Kazuma's battle style.

"Everything you thought me - I'll give it all back to you! "

She added a swelling power to the blade. Thoroughly finer and sharper, squeezing all that power in one point -

"Deyaaaaa!!"

Swinging down Enraiha together with a yell, the wind blade was skillfully beheaded.

"Wh.......at..........?"

"Don't be surprised by such a thing! "

Aiming at Kazuma, whose eyes were wide with surprise, Ayano plunged into him in a straight line. Without giving him the time to use Jutsu, to reach him with her sword.

Kazuma smoothly handled his body and avoided the blow that could split a bamboo in two.

He dodged even the retaliating blade as close as a millimeter. Simultaneously he jumped.

The light jump using his legs only below the knees, moved him at a distance of a few meters by riding on the wind.

Quicker than Ayano who tried once more to reduce the distance, Kazuma fired countless wind blades.

The swarm of blades approaching from every direction, circled Ayano without gaps as if it was a cage forged of blades.

"Haaa! "

Ayano rotated fer body on the axis quickly making Enraiha do one revolution.

The point of the sword drew a perfect angle thoroughly burning to nothing all the wind.

As if facing the fragments of the falling, burning wind, the color of shock seemed to paint Kazuma's face.

That only made Ayano's irritation become worse.

''"Why are you surprised by something like this? "''

Doesn't he understand yet? Doesn't he realize it yet? Even though she doesn't want to see him like that -

"Didn't you teach me all this? The meaning of power! The way to use it! The way we should be! "

She couldn't forgive him. She'll never accept it. This is not Kazuma.

''''This is not my Kazuma. ''''

I'll definitely open your eyes. Fired up by that strong decision, Ayano seeks even more power.

The power that was boiling from inside her body, the power overflowing on the entire world.

Adding it up and polishing it, she poured it on the blade held in her hand.

''"It's not enough yet. More, more - "''

According to Ayano's will, the flame gushing out from Enraiha, rapidly increased its brilliance.

At the same time, the golden flame was gradually tinged red.

"Ne, Nee-sama!? "

staring at the scarlet flame as if doubting his eyes, Ren shouted.

But, nothing except the Kazuma in front of her reached Ayano's consciousness.

Not Ren's voice and, not even the meaning of the color her flame was releasing - And then, Ayano brandished Enraiha.

''"What the heck is going on? "''

Kazuma couldn't really understand.

Why, does the likes of Ayano must give him so much trouble. No, on the contrary, right now he was completely pressured.

''''Why''''. That word, was repeated over and over in Kazuma's mind.

''''Why'''', can't he kill Ayano?

''''Why'''', is Ayano so strong?

''''Why'''', must he kill Ayano?

"------!?"

Suddenly the doubt that popped into his head stopped Kazuma's thinking.

It was supposed to be something he shouldn't even have to think about. Eliminating all obstacles, there was only that.

- Towards what purpose?

''"Isn't that obvious? To kill Bernhardt and to break Lapis. I am here, only for this reason"

"Didn't you teach me all this!? "

In Kazuma's ears, wondering to himself, Ayano's voice full of anger jumped in.

Now that you mention it, he sometime may have said something like that while acting self-important.

For someone who desired power only for revenge it was an odd thing to say but right now, thinking back on that time, he may have admired himself for it.

For the sake of protecting - Then, what happens to those he couldn't protect?

The power he obtained after losing everything - how the heck should he use it?

Even his revenge was already over.

Killing Bernhardt after this is something trivial. A simple cleaning after.

If so, maybe he wouldn't mind being killed here by Ayano.

Desperately thinking, he looked at the girl burning with anger.

He opened his eyes wide. The brilliance of the dazzling red flame stole his heart.

He saw it only once during the fight with Ryouya, Ayano's - Ayano only's flame.

He couldn't resist being fascinated. He couldn't look away.

That girl he had no interest in except the fact that she was ''the Suzerain's daughter'', the brilliance of her soul.

He had no intention of telling anyone but Kazuma secretly named that flame ''''Kouen''''.

For this girl who gives off a brilliance like that of the sun, the name ''''Kouen'''' (trad: solar prominence) suits her.

Right now, Ayano's body was clad in the same flame like that time.

It is by far more refined, a sharpened shape.

That right, just like she said, Kazuma taught her that.

The gathering and convergence of that power, with words and attitude, he continued to teach her.

This is the result of it.

The fruition of both talent and great effort, that one extremity of Enjutsu.

He, on the other hand -

Kazuma looked at the wind he was manipulating. Entrusting his overflowing power to rage, indeed it was an ugly wind.

Because he thought nothing of harmony and such, he inflicted terrible damage to the surroundings.

Of course, it was pointlessly big.

''"I can't win with this"''

In front of Kazuma, smiling bitterly, Ayano raised Enraiha overhead.

The golden flame emitted from all over her body, was focused on that blade.

And then, she swung it downwards without hesitation.

"Just wake up alreaaaaaaaaaaaaaady!"

Staring at the excellent gallant figure of the girl with all his heart, as always, Kazuma thought.

''"No, if I were to receive this blow I would sleep eternally, normally - "''

Immediately following - the surging red flame scattered the hard wind clad in lightning, defeating the mad Fujutsushi.

=== Part 4 ===

The wind died down, the thunder ceased, and the park regained his silence.

Dumbfounded, absolutely dumbfounded, Ren stared at the spectacle in front of his eyes.

Holding Enraiha, Ayano in a vigilant posture.

Forward from her, the collapsed Kazuma, his body sunk in the trunk of a tree.

None moved. No, rather that didn't move, one side couldn't move.

After several seconds - convinced Kazuma was out, Ayano raised her eyes to the night sky and let out a small sigh.

The feeling of tension that filled this place soundlessly came apart.

Just now, Ren came to his senses. He ran up to Ayano while shouting.

"Ne- Nee-sama! What a thing! "

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 237.jpg|thumb|Caption text]]

An obvious voice of reproach. But, without minding it, Ayano showed the victory sigh, smiling a smile of satisfaction.

"He he - my first victory"

"First victory, you say?.........what would have happened if you killed him!? "

The pressing question was even more reproachful, and finally noticing she was blamed Ayano spoke as if trying to justify herself.

"Aah, no, I don't think he's dead. If that were a direct hit, there would be no remaining body"

The attack had that kind of caloric value. A human body would never survive it.

The fact that Kazuma's body retained it's original form, means he had some kind of defense plan and at least avoided the direct hit.

"But even so, going so far - "

Ren wanted to argue even more but was suddenly interrupted by Ayano, who recovered her serious face.

Standing in the front and pushing Ren aside, Ayano set up Enraiha once more.

Ren Ren turned around quick-witted and agile and looked at the same thing as Ayano.

It was Yagami Kazuma's figure, slowly standing up.

"Nii-sama! "

Ren raised his voice with great joy, while simultaneously realizing he shouldn't be happy.

From here on, the battle with resume.

But right now, that tremendous sense of intimidation totally disappeared from Kazuma.

He couldn't feel anything else but a weak Kehai, just like that of a normal person without special powers.

"Nee-sama......it's fine"

Judging Kazuma didn't have anymore battle strength, Ren wanted to ask for Ayano's forgiveness. But, that moment -

"---------!? "

Ayano's eyes opened wide.

In the gap of that one instant she was focused on Ren, Kazuma was before her eyes - he approached to a point-blank range enough for their bodies to touch.

"Wha------"

It was by no means a fast movement. Rather, his walking felt slack.

And yet, for some reason she couldn't react at all.

That way of walking that slipped into the gap between her cognizance and her perception, it was unnatural because it was beyond spontaneous and didn't inspire an out of place feeling to be worthy of her vigilance.

Brushing her feet while she couldn't do nothing and while thinking she's going to fall on her ass, Enraiha's pommel was kicked up.

As if part of a comedic duo, Ayano was thrown down face up, both her hands raised.

When looking up on her field of vision, the night sky and a blurred shoe sole were reflected.

The shoe sole area was rapidly magnified and filled all her field of vision.

"------------!!"

Unable to avoid or defend, Ayano strongly closed her eyes. But even so, mercilessly, Kazuma strikes down the shoe sole with all his strength.

- On the ground, a breath away from Ayano's head lying down face up.

"Well, something like this?"

A voice missing tension reached the petrified Ayano's ear. Next to her head, the foot that even sunk into the ground was drawn back.

Lumps of earth dug up together with his foot, fell on her face in chunks.

"Eeh, aah------"

"I always pay my debts"

Under the cleared up night sky, moonlight was shining upon that fearless smiling face.

Understanding it was Kazuma's familiar tone Ren's eyes sparked.

"Nii-sama"

"Hmm, what?"

Kazuma asked back unnaturally, in really the same manner as usual. Next, he changed his line of sight at his feet as if he saw something very curious.

"So, what are you doing there? Is snugging on the ground so comfortable? "

Quickly getting up, Ayano screamed.

"Didn't you kick me and threw me down!? "

"I'm asking about the reason of you staying kicked and thrown down"

"I'm amazed by your lack of common sense! "

Shouting once more she started sweeping the dust from her hair and face.

And then she stabbed Kazuma with a dangerous gaze.

"Besides, why are you unhurt? "

"I warded it off skillfully.", declared Kazuma nonchalantly.

Those remarks were very simple but it wasn't easy to imagine how much technique finesse was need to be able to say ''I warded it off skillfully'' about that calorific value.

The specific technique must be beyond imagination.

"So, it's fine if I assume you returned to sanity?"

"Well, I don't remember not being sane"

In response to Ayano's continuing cross examination, Kazuma played dumb.

Naturally, that attitude greatly stimulated Ayano's imperial wrath.

"Ho hou, you're spouting those kind of words this late in the game? "

Groaning in a subdued voice, she grabbed Kazuma by the collar, drew his face near and glared at him at point-blank rage, their noses touching.

With a smile Kazuma continued to gaze at the angry face of the still energetic girl.

Yes, once you noticed it, it was a very simple thing.

He decided to protect, just like he swore back them.

So that he won't err again, the duty of those with power - whitewashing, it doesn't really matter.

From that time he was charmed by that red brilliance, he decided.

To exist together, to look over her and to see everything with his own eyes.

The feelings he has for Tsoi Rin, they are still here even now, unchanged.

But, he can no longer use that pretext to cut down his present.

Because there isn't just one precious thing.

From his side Kazuma brought his face closer to Ayano's scowling at him very, very close.

"Wha - W- wait!"

Ayano forgot her anger and was panicking at the quick intimacy, dangerous from another point of view.

But, Kazuma didn't stop.

The distance that was less that five centimeters became three, one and then - minus.

Bringing his lips close to the red ears of the girl that stiffened as if misunderstanding something, Kazuma whispered.

"Prepare yourself, you just reminded me. "

I'll never part once again. He decided so once again.

I won't gave up on anything. I'll obtain everything I want.

"I'm willful and greedy"

Saying so, he kissed her lightly on the nape of the neck.

"Hyan!?"

The girl who screamed without seductiveness, still didn't realized.

That she had been literally <<claimed>>.

That she was recognized as <<the spoils I'll obtain no matter what>> by the most difficult man of this world.

- Did you think you can escape?

Whether it was unlucky that she failed to hear those whispered words or whether she was fortunate - surely not even the gods know that.

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_6|Chapter 6]]
|-
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</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 5

2014-01-29T19:31:21Z

Drejzer: /* Part 4 */

== Chapter 5 - Suppression ==

=== Part 1 ===

By the time Ayano's group appeared, the fight already started.

Flying about lightning, roaring explosions, echoing screams and shouts changed the place were Pandemonium primised to descend, the Shinjuku Central Park, to a hellish picture of agonizing cries.

" - they're being really gaudy, huh? "

Kirika replied in an irresponsible tone to Ayano who murmured so in amazement.

"Yeah. After all, it seems like most of the members are participating. "

In the end, the two days passed without any kind of progress.

Not finding Pandemonium or getting hold of where Kazuma was, Ayano's group arrived to this day when Pandemonium will descent.

As the messenger of Pandemonium, the <<Grand Mage>> Utsumi Kousuke once announced all <<Seeds>>, the first one to reach Pandemonium after it showed itself, would be given an ultimate power.

It this was nothing else but a simple battle royale, the number of people giving up would be pretty big.

In front of the almost overwhelming power of the self-styled <<Fourth Class>> Utsumi, it seemed impossible to win even when forming a group.

But, the condition of winning this game was ''to reach Pandemonium first''.

Of course, there are some advantages to a simple race but there still wasn't a direct connection between combat abilities and the outcome of the battle.

Even if defeating the <<Grand Mage>> was impossible he can still be circumvented.

All the <<Seeds>> smoothly thought so. And then, deliberately to acquire ''the ultimate power''.

As a result, without missing one, they all gathered here. And they the fight began without waiting for Pandemonium to appear.

For the sake of defeating at least one rival as fast as possible.

"So, should we do something about it? "

"Does it look like you can do something about it? "

Looking at the number of <<Seeds>> decreasing by the hour, Ayano and Kirika talked together in indifferent tones.

"Wasn't your lot enough to deal with this degree of power? "

"If they were by themselves"

Behind Kirika shrugging her shoulders, there are five subordinate Jutsushi.

Comparing it to the <<Seeds>>, although in the process of rapid decrease, there were still dozens of them.

No matter how much excellent the Jutsushi were when individually compared, it was still impossible to turn ten times fold enemies powerless without killing them.

"If you let me speak frankly, the current situation is warmly welcomed. The opponents are crushing themselves on their own accord. "

"But I think the police exists only to protect the citizens"

"That depends on the situation. There's no need exhausting our war potential for the sake of protecting the human rights of some criminal", declared Kirika cool-headed.

She won't use her power to save those who can easily hurt another without ever looking back because the law cannot judge them, even if they are nothing more but Bernhardt's or Pandemonium's pieces.

"If Genma-dono would have helped us out, he would have been able to purify all <<Seeds>> in one go. "

"Aah - , no, it's not going to happen"

Ayano carelessly waved her hand at Kirika who looked at her as if investigating.

"That highly esteemed Uncle of mine has no reason to help these idiots who act violently on power borrowed from Youma. If Ojii-sama were to be right here, he would turn to ashes all these idiots ''and'' Pandemonium ''and'' the park, you know"

"Aah, that sounds good"

As if anticipating the gruesome future Ayano talked about, Kirika agreed to it calmly.

"But, why won't Genma-dono come? The enemy is Bernhardt Rhodes. Even if you are the Kannagi Clan, he's not an existence you should ignore. "

"Aah - yeah....."

With a vague a nod, Ayano and Ren exchanged a complicated glance.

"Because Oji-sama is a Kannagi Jutsushi to the core, right......."

"- I don't understand"

"Well, I think it's because he believes in me and Ren so he entrusted this to us..."

Unable to say the truth, Ayano falsified a suitable answer.

"I'm entrusting this matter to you"

The evening before the descent of Pandemonium, Genma told so to Ayano and Ren.

Naturally the two asked back, unable to agree.

"Can you tell us the reason? "

The opponent is the world's highest Majutsushi. No matter how much war potential one had, he is worrisome.

Since Tokyo's spiritual protection is the duty of Kannagi and Bernhardt's deed disturbed that, Genma's participation in the battle was inevitable, his obligation.

It wasn't something that could be overlooked because of private matters.

But, without alluding to that reason, Genma continued.

"Tomorrow, it seems Kazuma will also appear at Pandemonium."

"......it seems so"

"He already became an existence harmful to the Kannagi."

Genma's words were not incorrect.

Beside the <<Seeds>>, Kazuma's violence reached even a Special Information Storage Room Jutsushi, largely deviating from the permissible bounds.

And, although without his intention, Kazuma was even now registered with the Kannagi family name. It wasn't something they could neglect.

"We have no choice but to destroy him."

"--------!!"

That frozen declaration and the violent pressure accompanying it hit Ayano and Ren very hard.

With a start, Ayano's body shook - Ren looked at his Father with eyes full of determination.

"I will - We will persuade him!"

"Not necessary"

"But!"

"Not necessary"

Genma's voice was steady without any gaps. The accelerated growth of that power and heavy pressure that could crush a heart made Ayano curl herself up without ever raising her face.

But even so, the pressure wasn't lifted.

Wondering about it, she examined Ren's situation with a sidelong glance - with his face still raised up he caught Genma's gaze head-on.

The pressure increased again. It's purpose already migrated from coercing to opponent to downright crush him to death, the feeling of oppression was so high it made then think about the danger their lives were in.

"Won't you listen to what I say? "

"I.....won't..!"

With a hoarse but definite voice, Ren assessed his rebellion towards Genma. His forehead was full of sweat and although his grasped fists were shaking on top of his knees, the gaze he fixed on his father's eyes didn't waver for one moment.

''"Ren - when did you become so strong...?"''

In a daze that went beyond surprise, Ayano fixed her eyes on Ren's gallant figure.

Even though until now he always followed her around, a pampered child, a scared cat -

While Ayano wasn't quite present, the father and child exchanged arguments in a sharp tone.

"Beyond the fact he was born from the Head of the Kannagi Family, I cannot tolerate him to be swayed by emotions! Even if he's blood relative - no, exactly because he is, his error won't be tolerated!"

"If he dies.....if he dies he won't be able to atone! If he committed a sin, he should live all the more...isn't he supposed to redeem his faults!? "

While looking at those two, continuing to argue, Ayano suddenly felt doubt.

While insisting on Kazuma's conviction, the fact that he won't participate in the battle doesn't add up.

Not even Genma would think of trying to make her and Ren kill Kazuma by themselves.

Then, why?

Thinking about it, Genma's attitude was dubious since the beginning. He was more oppressive than necessary, his opinion resembling stubbornness.

As if he was stirring up animosity on purpose.

Ayano suddenly remembered something Juugo said long ago.

Genma disinherited Kazuma because the Kannagi Clan was a cage and if he couldn't escape from that cage by himself, he set Kazuma free.

''"Then, this is - "''

If he were to intervene, he will definitely have to kill Kazuma according to the Kannagi mission. And, as he wasn't able to instruct them contrary to the mission, that's why -

At the same time Ayano reached that conclusion, Genma and Ren's argument was about to close.

"I won't give up on anything! I'll persuade Nii-sama, I'll kill Bernhardt and I'll destroy Pandemonium, I'll show you!"

"Just try and see if you can, brat!"

Several times the volume of Ren's shout, Genma roared in a very loud voice that was just like a lion's roar.

But immediately following, he noticed Ayano's gaze staring at him in a daze.

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 199.jpg|thumb|]]

Guessing something from her eyes, Genma expressed a small wry smile and faced Ayano with a serene attitude that made his fury so far hard to believe.

"Ayano"

"Ye........yes..."

"Please take care of it"

".......!!"

Understanding her conjecture was right on the money, Ayano's face had a cramp.

''"Every last one of them - "''

It's not like she didn't understand his feelings but she couldn't help but think so.

''"Why are you trying to force it on me!? I'll do it myself, by myself!"''

".......I see"

Keeping a faint bitterness in her voice, Kirika bowed her head in assent.

She couldn't possibly comprehend Ayano's words but it was also true nothing would come out of voicing her complaints.

It doesn't matter how it's said, what's not there it's not there.

Quickly throwing away the pointless hope, there's no way but to effectively use the hand she was dealt.

"If it's like that you must preserve your power. If Pandemonium and Kazuma will appear, the situation will change, right?"

"......yeah"

"Do you anticipate it?"

"..........."

Ayano became silent and couldn't respond to Kirika's gaze without banter, loaded with serious expectations.

Honestly, her heart wasn't decided yet.

About holding Kazuma back. About blocking that man's way.

Even understating it, it was reckless action. It was like bungee jumping without a rope.

It wasn't something that could be solved by courage and effort.

No matter how she would struggle, she would certainly die - if Kazuma were to become serious.

"Nee-sama"

As if holding on to the heart of his hesitating sister, Ren grabbed Ayano's hands. His eyes already lost all their indecision.

"It will be fine. I'm sure."

"............well, ''you'' will be fine for sure", grumbled Ayano, past the time to give up.

But the situation didn't give her spare time to waver.

"It's coming", murmured Kirika giving up.

Several of the <<Seeds>> also noticed it and were running up to them with bloodshot eyes. They were aiming at getting on Pandemonium first but it wasn't unreasonable to think they will aim at them, standing still close to the park.

At this point expecting sense from them was a waste of time.

"I'll go"

Anticipating the party, Ren stepped forward.

Certainly, having Ren face the sacrifices possessed by the devil manipulating purification flames that destroyed nothing but that nature was appropriate. But -

"Wouldn't it be better for you to preserve your power? "

Using up his power before the crucial will come to nothing.

Ren stared head-on at Ayano who thought so.

"Then, are we going to let them die without helping? Because in front of something bigger a few sacrifices can't be helped? "

"That's - "

Overpowered by that earnest gaze, Ayano instinctively caught her breath.

"Even so, I'll do it. If I have a bigger power in comparison to humans, I want to protect everything with that power. I don't care if it's pride or self-righteousness. I decided to live that way. "

Declaring so without hesitation, Ren started running without waiting for a reply.

Compared with the big frames assaulting him, his body was very small.

But the brightness of that golden flame surging from his body utterly defeated the approaching <<Seeds>> in one blow.

It had no connection with level, class and so forth. That overwhelming power at totally different level exorcised and burned the devilishness without leaving any trace, moreover by delicately adjusting the after-effect, it stunned the hosts.

So, the bodies of the boys that lost consciousness were evacuated by Kirika's subordinates in the vicinity of the park.

"This is so easy"

"Isn't it by relying on civilians, public servant? "

"It's the right person in the right place. Besides - "

Taking Ayano's criticism in one stride, Kirika bragged. But, suddenly revising her attitude, she looked at Ayano.

"So, how long will you stand still?"

"........."

Without reply Ayano feebly cast her eyes down.

"Well, leaving that aside"

As if nothing happened, Kirika changed her line of sight from Ayano to the watch.

"I think Ren-kun's determination is noble but won't you wait another minute?"

"One more minute?"

Ren too looked at his watch. The time right now is 11:59 P.M.

"What happens at midnight? "

"Pandemonium will emerge"

Ayano and Ren became speechless at that sleek announcement.

"Wh- wait, when did you find such a specific moment? "

"I didn't know or anything but isn't that a general guess? There's not another more appropriate time for something belonging to the spirit world to appear in this one, no? "

"............"

"Midnight represents the threshold between yesterday and today. And the threshold between today and tomorrow. It is yesterday, today and tomorrow. The only moment when the time's absolute laws become ambiguous. Therefore the boundaries between the spirit world and this world also become ambiguous and various apparitions erode the reality - "

Finishing her song-like narration, Kirika completely changed and continued in a pragmatic tone.

"Well, it can only be that time besides Majutsushi are endlessly fussing over about agreeing with that consistency. "

"I see, then we'll wait. It will be here before long anyway. "

Agreeing to Kirika's words, Ayano nodded.

How will the situation change in response to Pandemonium's arrival - she was thinking it won't be late to start moving after seeing that.

And after ten more seconds passed, ''the time of threshold'' arrived.

The time that is and isn't where anything can happen.

Soundless, the space shook.

After a pause of one moment, this time the ground shook, involved in a physical shock. That vibration, definitely not an earthquake, was as if a huge mass was suddenly dropped on the ground -

''" - tch, aren't you doing whatever you like? "''

Cursing inside her chest, Ayano shifted her focus on the direction the abnormality seemed to originate from.

''That'' was inside an enshrouding cloud of dust. As if it continued being there without chance for a hundred years, grave, firmly.

Even though it was far, she understood it quickly - it was an antique looking shape. Declined like a dilapidated house and yet despite of that it had a decadent presence filled with dark hot air.

Just about everything was as before, the fact that it was destroyed together with the Tokyo Government Office was nothing but a dream, and Pandemonium was reigning there with its overwhelming presence.

"It's pretty far, huh? Exactly right in the center of the park? ", murmured Kirika, without showing any kind of surprise at the sudden state of urgency.

Even Ayano, similarly used to the lack of common sense, replied very calm.

"That's about right, but I won't know for sure before I get a little bit closer."

Perceiving that the power of <<Seeds>> was rapidly growing, Ayano strengthened her vigilance. Surveying the scene, the fray without rules or any kind of sense was completely interrupted.

The <<Seeds>> stood rock still as if their souls had been unplugged. Contrary to that atmosphere, the power was rising continuously.

Some worthless thing is about to happen again - Ayano believed so.

"Uuu.....uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu......"

Suddenly, one of the <<Seeds>> let out a moan. He hugged his body closely as if he was enduring something, and squat.

"Uuguuuuu.....Uruuuuraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"

A frail moan. But, that gradually changed to a scream. His face looking downward turned to the night sky, and the man shriek as if tearing his throat.

And then, a rapid variation was produced.

The man's flesh started to expand, his clothes torn off from the inside. The surface of his exposed body was covered in too much muscle than it was humanly possible, wrapping him up.

At last his head, accomplished a transformation from his skeletal structure that seemed to have ended for the present.

From the gap of his largely split mouth, sharp fangs showed and the man - howled at the moon.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNN--"

Knitting her brows Ayano watched how both his heart and body degenerated equally to that of a beast.

"Lycantrophy ----?"

"It's not something that cute.", answered Kirika looking at the surroundings.

Following that gaze, Ayano grimaced.

".........wah"

That grotesque transformation affected the majority of the <<Seeds>>.

In one case, only one part of a man's body turned while the rest remained human, another completely deviated from the human form.

In the end just like slimes of fog, they were reduced to beings unable to maintain a fixed shape.

"Ugh, is this possibly - "

"They woke up maybe? "

The real seeds living as parasites in the bodies of <<Seeds>> were Youma in a dormant state.

"In comparison with the same raw materials there is plenty of variation in their outward appearance - I think there's a discrepancy in the growth process and the host they fed on."

"This is not the place to leisurely express your reasoning, no? "

"Huh, there's nothing we can do except for this. "

Kirika replied without shyness to Ayano's retort.

".........that may be so"

There is a wide difference in ability between the human who uses the Youma's power and the one that completely became a Youma. Even if it's a low class one, the Jutsushi with low combat abilities from the Special Information Storage Room will find it a heavy burden.

"Aah, they're moving"

As Ren called Ayano to attention, they shifted they focus on the Youma.

The group of Youma that ate their hosts to exhaustion moved for the first time. Without exception, they headed for Pandemonium.

Those few <<Seeds>> that retained their awareness indomitably shuffled their feet.

A violent race began.

It was like a group of ogres competing for food. Those being in the vanguard pulled and killed each other in a combined effort, those following stepped on them and changed them to rags and if two were at the same distance they skinned each other with they fangs, not allowing the others to move forward.

Ayano's group stood rock still and silent faced with the battle several times more bloody that before.

"Eeh......, this is...."

After several seconds - completely pulling herself together, Ayano muttered to herself.

"Are they being called? "

"Or there's still a small portion of the host's consciousness - at any rate, we should stop them from reaching Pandemonium. Nothing good would come out of it."

"I agree"

Just as they were about to run after exchanging a short agreement, at that time -

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed.

The dry wind hurts the skin.

That thoroughly, thoroughly overwhelming force and the air full of killing intent spread out over the entire park like a mantle.

"What now -!?"

Bernhardt started something else - Ayano immediately thought so.

But, Kirika looked at the sky with a serious face and groaned disgusted.

"You came, huh - Kazuma"

"Kazuma!? This!?"

"Who else it there? ", declared Kirika matter of fact to Ayano, who opened her eyes wide with unconcealed fright.

"A man who rules the atmosphere so overwhelmingly - there's no one else but him, right? "

"B- but........but........"

Pressuring her body - no, the entire surrounding airspace, that oppressive intent felt only ominous.

The urge to attack was making her body feel on the edge, as if it was about to be cut down.

Similar to the release of a pack of starving wolfs, that Kehai was showing its dazzling lust.

Is this - is ''this'' - is this Kazuma's power?

"You're lying.........it cannot, be like this..........."

"I believe I told you to forget about the Kazuma you knew."

She remembered about two years before.

The avatar of a storm spreading death and destruction.

Prepared to destroy the entire world for the sake of revenge, for the sake of killing one person, that man was equivalent with a living disaster.

"This is also Kazuma. No, maybe only this is Kazuma. "

"..........let's go", Ren asked the dazed Ayano in front of Kirika trembling in fear.

That voice was carrying a fear that couldn't be concealed but nevertheless the determination to move forward doesn't shake.

"Detective Tachibana - ?"

"I apologize. From here on, it's impossible for us", determined Kirika controlling Ren's words.

"I'm sorry but beyond this point go just the two of you. We will fall back and spread a barrier around the park. Because of instinct or because they were ordered they're all heading to Pandemonium right now but if they were to meet ''him'' a few will probably run towards us."

"That's right. We're leaving it to you."

Ren agreed after thinking about it a little and urged Ayano once more.

"Let's go"

"Y- yeah...."

Maybe because she couldn't accept Kazuma's transformation yet, Ayano was hesitating with an indecisive attitude.

Seeing that, Kirika placed her hand on Ayano's shoulder as if trying to encourage her and smiled a little.

"Listen to me, Ayano-chan, I think you may be successful without having to think too much about it"

If she were told something like this in normal circumstances, Ayano's face would flush red in anger.

But, there was pretty much no reaction now. Without looking at Kirika, she answered in a murmur.

"............I'll put in my best effort"

"....................go for it"

Understanding that she didn't manage to stir Ayano, eventually Kirika sent out the girl with a feeble smile.

=== Part 2 ===

"........it turned up, huh?"

Due to the collapse of the Tokyo Government Office, overlooking the Central Park from the highest floor of the partially destroyed National Diet Building, Kazuma murmured.

Close to the center of the park, an old western style house instantly made an appearance.

A large quantity of Youki gathered and was in the process of going there but for him right now that is inconsequential.

That's right, everything else is not worth worrying about. There are just two important things.

To kill - that annoying Majutsushi.

To break - that disgusting doll imitating his beloved.

He won't let anything get in the way. He won't stop.

Because he took this power for the sake of revenge.

"Just wait, Bernhardt"

The moment he kicked the foothold and soared into the sky, Kazuma suddenly remembered.

That once, the same thing happened.

"Humph........"

Kazuma laughed at the repeating farce.

At that time, Kazuma challenged the Majutsushi for Tsoi Rin.

At that time, to rescue her. And this time, to kill.

The objective was reversed. But, the result will still be the same. Because right now, he has that much power.

Because right now, he has that much power enough to make the world obey his will, for the sake of fulfilling his objective.

''"How regretful. How unsightly even if I say so myself"''

But even so, he cannot help but think. Just like he thought thousands, tens of thousands before.

''If he only had this power back then''

"Stooooooooooop it!!"

Kazuma screamed at the top of his voice - or so he wanted but what came through his broken throat resembled a hoarse stridor not recognizable words.

The man didn't turn around.

He looked at him once at the beginning but then perfectly ignoring Kazuma's existence he performed the ceremony - and the he carried it out.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Without asking for agreement, he showed Kazuma that sad sight. The whole story of stealing everything from the existence of the woman he loved.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

He couldn't do anything. Not rescuing her, not even delaying the ceremony by at least a second.

Not allowed anything, not accomplishing anything, he lost his most precious thing.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

His hands and feet were completely broken, he couldn't stand up. He could only let out hollow moans and shed tears from his eyes that were miraculously safe.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Abruptly the weight disappeared from his back. Handling Kazuma like a baby, the familiar that mercilessly trampled him down, wanted to put his legs out of the way.

The familiar quickly backed off and went down on his knees respectfully. Of course, not in front of Kazuma. In front of its master that stepped in front of Kazuma.

Pointing hie eyeballs upward to the almost limit Kazuma looked up at the man. He no longer had the energy to move his neck.

"........Er...win......"

With a grazed voice he called the name of the enemy. The man - Erwin Leszaar looked down on Kazuma as if looking at a spot on the floor.

According to the legend, he was at the very least three hundred years old but no matter how you look at it those features were of a young man in his twenties.

Hid blond hair, blue eyes and white skin turned him to the very picture of a handsome man.

"I don't really understand but - ", Erwin asked Kazuma bending his head slightly in wonder.

"After all, why did you came here? "

"........!!"

He didn't make fun of him. That was a genuine question.

Understanding his do or die action was only recognized as a disturbance, Kazuma's body burned in humiliation.

"Thinking about it, even your situation is a little unclear. You can use some Jutsu but not enough to call yourself a Jutsushi. Aah, your <<Ki>> is nicely mature and well-rounded. It's a big deal considering how young you are! "

Without carrying about Kazuma's thoughts Erwin continued talking one-sided.

"But that's all. Are you a master of martial arts who can dabble just a little bit in Jutsu, are you some dropped out smatterer aiming to become a Jutsushi - at any rate, in front of a real Majutsushi that degree of power is mere child's play.

You understand that much, right? "

''"So what.........?"''

Kazuma responded with a gaze loaded with an infinite number of curses.

''"So, should I have abandoned her? Would it have been better to give up? "

".........Tsoi........Rin........"

He only said those two words. The name of the girl he wanted to protect but couldn't.

"Tsoi Rin? Aah, the name of the miss who became a sacrifice. Then you came here to rescue her - without considering your chances? "

As if giving praise to Kazuma's courage, a smile was etched into his lips. And then he completely changed -

"How foolish that was"

"......!!"

Kazuma's body trembled in fury. But, that body, already couldn't move even a finger.

If he could move for a second, only for a second, he will definitely bite that man's windpipe -

"At the expense of that girl, I received life. She did very well, that girl. However, your death, because you couldn't obstruct the ceremony, is really meaningless. A human should die in a more meaningful manner - don't you agree? "

"Fu....fuck, you....."

That was the greatest fury he felt so far. As if he had already died, it wasn't because his death would be in vain.

He self-consciously knew he was fatally wounded. Even assuming they'll leave him as it it without the final blow, he will die in a few hours anyway.

That was inconsequential. Because he had already lost the reason to stay alive.

''"She did very well, huh? "''

While stealing Tsoi Rin's life, the shamelessness of talking about her death as meaningful - he could never allow such a thing.

Kazuma knew the meaning of becoming a sacrifice to the devil.

That wasn't a mere corporeal death. It was the extinction of the soul, of the existence itself.

She will never be born again, the return to absolute nothingness.

The ultimate ''end''.

Even when the last judgment will come, Tsoi Rin won't be saved.

".........damn...you......."

Spitting out a jeer weaker that a sigh, Kazuma glared at Erwin.

Why, did Tsoi Rin had to die?

For the selfish desire of this man.

Why. Why. Why.

"Well then"

Losing his interest towards Kazuma, Erwin left the room.

"Clean this up"

".......Wait.....bastard........."

He reached out feebly - when he wanted to reach out he convulsed - Kazuma's right arm was crushed under the familiar's foot. Another long bone was broken.

".......Gaaah....."

While spitting out blood froth together with that small shriek, Kazuma looked up at the familiar's appearance.

With features of both demon and beast, a lower grade devil whose ugly exterior inspired revulsion in those who looked at him.

Will he be killed by something like this?

Kazuma was wrapped in a sense of helplessness. He lost the girl he had to protect, he couldn't retaliate even once against the Majutsushi he should kill, and will die here without killing at least one of those pawns?

The familiar's mug changed to sneer. Those sharp claws that mangled Kazuma many times were pushed out for show.

".......Will I.....die......?"

If those claws were to stab him, he will die this time. It wasn't a guess, he understood it was a definite fact.

He was supposed to have already lost his meaning to live. He was supposed not to mind even death.

But, even so - as expected, death is scary.

Without reason, he purely thought ''I don't want to die''. And then -

=== Part 3 ===

From Ren's mouth, a moan of unbearable fear leaked out.

Pandemonium appeared in the center of the park, as if trying to crush the Niagara waterfall.

The water plaza that was there, before the waterfall, spread out like Pandemonium's front garden.

And then - right there right now was looking like heaps of bodies and streams of blood.

Both humans and demons systemically torn to pieces evenly were lying down their contents scattered.

The head group of <<Seeds>> and <<Youma>> aiming at Pandemonium encountered ''it'' just before reaching their goal.

Exhausting the nourishment of the host, the Youma achieved a complete manifestation of their devilishness.

The demon power - regardless of orientation - governed the seeds with a strong will.

You could say that every one of them was a match for a thousand, existences that could manipulate a mighty power.

But -

"Aah......"

There was already no way of telling how many had they been. Even the distinction between the corpses of humans and demons disappeared.

In just one instant.

Everything was exterminated in a moment. By just one raging, wild Fujutsushi.

"Nii........sama......."

Overawed by the overwhelming power, Ren could do nothing else but moan.

Ayano had already lost her voice.

At the center of that raging power, ''he'' was.

Stepping over the broken pieces of those corpses, his glare fixed on Pandemonium soaring before his eyes.

Yagami Kazuma - the avatar of death and destruction ruling the windstorm.

The surging wind, like an armor, like a blade, was circling around him.

Because of the tremendous frictional heat of the atmosphere vortex, electrical discharges were born everywhere in the sky and the wind tower stabbing at the sky was colored a dazzling white.

That was literally a thunder storm. The iron hammer of the atmosphere clad in lightning, that would burn and destroy everything it touches.

"Is this........is this Nii-sama's true, power.........", murmured Ren to himself in a trembling voice.

But he realized the next moment that even that recognition was too naive.

That irrational power even under normal circumstances, was showed elevated even more.

The flickering white light was shining in the dark night, the endlessly amplificating ascending air current calling out thunder clouds overhead.

The vocal duet of rearing thunder both on heaven and earth resembled the howl of a demon beast.

"Ni......Nii-sama!"

Without seeming to have heard Ren's voice Kazuma was looking straight at Pandemonium.

Probably not taking the time to especially search for Bernhardt, he was planning to blow away the whole Pandemonium.

Certainly, in front of this kind of abuse of power, no matter how huge or solid the mansion is, it was the same as a shack.

Without withstanding it for even a second, it will definitely vanish without leaving behind even ash.

But, Ren didn't want to see his brother like that. The Kazuma he admired would never do such a thing. And above all -

"Nii-sama, please stop! Even if you do that Tsoi Rin-san won't be pleased. "

As expected, unable to ignore Tsoi Rin's name, Kazuma showed a small but immediate reaction.

Securing that effect, Ren raised his voice even more.

"Please collect yourself! Even if you get your revenge, the dead won't come back! If Tsoi Rin-san could see Nii-sama right now, I'm sure she would be sad! That's why, that's why - "

"What the fuck are you saying? "

Turning around, Kazuma looked at Ren quizzical. That face was unexpectedly calm but didn't appear like he forgot about his anger.

"How can the dead be sad? "

"Eeh, b- but......"

"Didn't I tell you before. Death is the ''end''."

Kazuma informed Ren, perplexed by the unexpected reaction, in a matter of fact.

"Those harboring dreams, those mad with hatred, those that loved others, when they die everything turns to nothing. Therefore, no matter what I do, the dead won't be delighted. They won't be sad. They don't feel - anything. "

"......nii,sama........"

"If you thought I want to kill Bernhardt because of Tsoi Rin, that's your mistake. I'll kill him because I want to kill him for myself. I'll kill those that want to get in my way. I'll kill those that get in my way. It's that simple. "

"But, Nii-sama - "

"Ren"

Kazuma interrupted coldly the appeal of his little brother, already without arguments but still wanting to stop him.

"Shut up already. Your words won't stop me"

"nii,sama......"

" - Will you get in my way, Ren? "

''If you get in my way - with words very clear to understand without listening to the second part, Kazuma gave him a warning.

Ren had no words to defeat that.

''"this is something - right?"''

With a mood that it was someone else's problem, Ayano is watching attentively the back and forth argument between the two.

If she were to judge it objectively, she thought that Ren's defeat was a reasonable consequence.

To begin with, rather than an argument, it was closer to trying to get the other party agree with what you have to say.

The person who agreed on it's response from the beginning, the person with a solid resolution that will go forward to the very last even if he's wrong, for those kind of people the words of others have no meaning.

It's obvious that those words are spent in vain.

But even so.

Right now Ayano felt an uncommon discomfort towards Kazuma.

If Kazuma is that kind of man, if he can understand reason, in spite of agreeing with his feelings when she placed the figure of that man in her field of vision, she's unable to suppress a discomforting something.

Of course, that does not mean she has a plan to stop Kazuma.

Rather, she believed that's not something a human can achieve.

Looking up at the thunder cloud heavily covering the night sky, Ayano let out a long breath of admiration.

What was Kazuma controlling right now couldn't be described by such a narrow phenomenon like wind. It was the atmosphere, the airflow and the weather itself.

Who on earth believed that such a behavior was possible for just one Jutsushi.

Right now Kazuma's power was at a totally different level even by the Kannagi's standards.

And yet, why, it wasn't all that scary?

''"Wrong, not like that. It's scary - but because it's scary, it's not scary at all"''

While murmuring inside her chest such contradictory words, Ayano started walking.

While she didn't know herself what she wanted to do.

In front, of Kazuma.

"Ne- Nee-sama.........?"

Ignoring Ren's appeal, as if protecting Pandemonium, she blocked Kazuma's way.

"Kuuu.....uu......"

In the act of doing so, the torrent of killing intent rushed towards her.

Until now she she blocked his way once or twice but this was the first time this kind of bare thirst for blood was slapped into her.

The fear was about to crush her heart.

Confronting him directly she understood it clearly. The difference between herself, and that overwhelming power

''- is this Nii-sama's true power - ''

Ren's words were resurrected in her ears.

They pierced her heart just like thorns, together with an indistinct sense of discomfort.

Looking at the sky, she thought.

''This is Kazuma's real power''

- really?

Right away, words of doubt crossed her mind. It was definitely overwhelming.

There's no mistake, from everything she saw until now this is the greatest power.

But, but even so -

" - Aah, so that's the reason"

Abruptly Ayano realized the reason for her discomfort.

That instant, both fear and cowardice became of little importance, the kind of emotions she could ignore.

She looked hard at Kazuma straightforward. Including anger and irritation for the man who fell so low.

"I understand why detective Tachibana and Ren want to stop you. Right now you're so ugly I cannot look at you. "

"Step aside. You're in the way", declared Kazuma indifferently without showing any reaction even to Ayano's words.

Ayano too, continued to ignore Kazuma.

"To be honest, I admired you. I thought that someday I'll catch up with you and you'll approve of me.

- Though in fact, there was no need to expressly tell you. "

"I won't say it a third time. Step aside"

In a monotonous tone Kazuma gave her the final warning. It did not seem that Ayano's words made an impression.

Even so, without hesitation, Ayano boldly declared.

"That's why I can't tolerate you the way you are now. I cannot accept that such an ugly thing was my landmark. I'll open your eyes even by force! "

Together with that declaration, Ayano slapped her palms together.

That dry sound of clapping hands resounded thoroughly clear, pressing down the thunder and scattering the windstorm uneventfully.

Separating the joined hands, a line of red fire connected the space between the palms.

Gripping that flame line with her right hand, and swinging in in a mowing down movement to pull it out.

The line of fire stretching for one meter, instantly materialized forming a brilliant red sword.

The vibrantly red blade, the double edged straight sword.

The blade was clad in golden flames, that appearance releasing a beautiful brilliance was so lovely it was fairy-tale like.

Pointing at him the secret treasure of the Kannagi family, the absolutely invincible conquering the devil divine sword, Enraiha, Ayano showed a fearless smile.

"The way you are right now, I can easily kill you - but don't worry. I'll go easy on you. I'll teach you how does a Spirit Jutsushi fight!"

Kazuma was silent. Following his previous notice, he didn't warn her a third time and fired a wind blade without hesitation.

Ayano swung Enraiha with all her strength at that blow filled with nothing but pure killing intent.

"Guu......uuh.........."

Unable to stop the fast wind blade mowing down, Ayano backed off several steps. Even so, enduring it without breaking her stance, she sharpened her reflexes preparing herself for the next attack.

A three stranded blow. One approaching from the front, and other two describing an arc and coming from left and right.

Ayano hit head-on the frontal attack and by purposefully letting herself be blown away she dodged those coming from the sides.

Curling up her body to let the shock loose while tumbling, she stood up by using that force.

While setting up Enraiha warily, she checked for damage.

''"Ok, it's fine. But even so, no way, I'm being over-matched - "''

The fact that she was forced back by fighting from the front was unexpected.

The Enjutsushi who was supposed to be the strongest was underpowered in front of the Fuujutsushi who was supposed to be the weakest - if it's a fight between two users beyond first-class, that was a very improbable phenomenon.

But, the reason is simple. Kazuma strength easily breaks trough what is known as common sense. It was just that.

The strongest Fujutsushi, the one Ayano knew, Kazamaki Ryouya of the Fuuga Clan and the Youma possessing him - even if once she and Kazuma managed to bring him down somehow, Kazuma right now is surpassing even that.

''"But - "''

On top of that Kazuma yet again has the trump card - the power of the Contractor sealed inside him.

"You...!!"

A tremendously heavy blow that didn't seem to be made of air, plus a freebie with a lightning supplement.

Every time they exchanged blows, escaping even Enraiha's protection, a strong numbness was running through her whole body.

''"But, but even so!"''

Does Kazuma understand? That although he's fighting her seriously he has yet to kill her, the meaning of it?

Rebuking her body becoming numb from the two layered attack - high impact and lightning strike, Ayano grasped Enraiha tightly.

''"I won't lose. I'll never lose! Not, not when Kazuma became so weak!"''

If the opponent was the real Kazuma, she would have been killed ten times already.

Because Ayano would never be able to perceive everything about those sharply honed wind blades.

Without knowing when and how she will be killed, she's only notice her head dropping down - that was supposed to be the reasonable end.

If the opponent was the real Kazuma, Ayano would never fear him.

Because it would be so natural, it would be so grand, the capacity of feeling fear wouldn't see it coming at all.

But, for Kazuma right now, she can see the upper limit.

He is certainly strong. Overwhelmingly strong. But, even so, right now she can reach him.

She has that self-confidence,

Kazuma's wind was more sharp, more fast.

There's nothing to fear from this rough, powerful attack.

So what if she's stuck by lightning? That thing is nothing more but the useless byproduct of frictional heat.

For Kazuma's real wind, there would be no need to add such extras.

It would be a high speed blow exceedingly purified, cold and sharply honed.

That was what Ayano admired, what was her objective,because it was Kazuma's battle style.

"Everything you thought me - I'll give it all back to you! "

She added a swelling power to the blade. Thoroughly finer and sharper, squeezing all that power in one point -

"Deyaaaaa!!"

Swinging down Enraiha together with a yell, the wind blade was skillfully beheaded.

"Wh.......at..........?"

"Don't be surprised by such a thing! "

Aiming at Kazuma, whose eyes were wide with surprise, Ayano plunged into him in a straight line. Without giving him the time to use Jutsu, to reach him with her sword.

Kazuma smoothly handled his body and avoided the blow that could split a bamboo in two.

He dodged even the retaliating blade as close as a millimeter. Simultaneously he jumped.

The light jump using his legs only below the knees, moved him at a distance of a few meters by riding on the wind.

Quicker than Ayano who tried once more to reduce the distance, Kazuma fired countless wind blades.

The swarm of blades approaching from every direction, circled Ayano without gaps as if it was a cage forged of blades.

"Haaa! "

Ayano rotated fer body on the axis quickly making Enraiha do one revolution.

The point of the sword drew a perfect angle thoroughly burning to nothing all the wind.

As if facing the fragments of the falling, burning wind, the color of shock seemed to paint Kazuma's face.

That only made Ayano's irritation become worse.

''"Why are you surprised by something like this? "''

Doesn't he understand yet? Doesn't he realize it yet? Even though she doesn't want to see him like that -

"Didn't you teach me all this? The meaning of power! The way to use it! The way we should be! "

She couldn't forgive him. She'll never accept it. This is not Kazuma.

''''This is not my Kazuma. ''''

I'll definitely open your eyes. Fired up by that strong decision, Ayano seeks even more power.

The power that was boiling from inside her body, the power overflowing on the entire world.

Adding it up and polishing it, she poured it on the blade held in her hand.

''"It's not enough yet. More, more - "''

According to Ayano's will, the flame gushing out from Enraiha, rapidly increased its brilliance.

At the same time, the golden flame was gradually tinged red.

"Ne, Nee-sama!? "

staring at the scarlet flame as if doubting his eyes, Ren shouted.

But, nothing except the Kazuma in front of her reached Ayano's consciousness.

Not Ren's voice and, not even the meaning of the color her flame was releasing - And then, Ayano brandished Enraiha.

''"What the heck is going on? "''

Kazuma couldn't really understand.

Why, does the likes of Ayano must give him so much trouble. No, on the contrary, right now he was completely pressured.

''''Why''''. That word, was repeated over and over in Kazuma's mind.

''''Why'''', can't he kill Ayano?

''''Why'''', is Ayano so strong?

''''Why'''', must he kill Ayano?

"------!?"

Suddenly the doubt that popped into his head stopped Kazuma's thinking.

It was supposed to be something he shouldn't even have to think about. Eliminating all obstacles, there was only that.

- Towards what purpose?

''"Isn't that obvious? To kill Bernhardt and to break Lapis. I am here, only for this reason"

"Didn't you teach me all this!? "

In Kazuma's ears, wondering to himself, Ayano's voice full of anger jumped in.

Now that you mention it, he sometime may have said something like that while acting self-important.

For someone who desired power only for revenge it was an odd thing to say but right now, thinking back on that time, he may have admired himself for it.

For the sake of protecting - Then, what happens to those he couldn't protect?

The power he obtained after losing everything - how the heck should he use it?

Even his revenge was already over.

Killing Bernhardt after this is something trivial. A simple cleaning after.

If so, maybe he wouldn't mind being killed here by Ayano.

Desperately thinking, he looked at the girl burning with anger.

He opened his eyes wide. The brilliance of the dazzling red flame stole his heart.

He saw it only once during the fight with Ryouya, Ayano's - Ayano only's flame.

He couldn't resist being fascinated. He couldn't look away.

That girl he had no interest in except the fact that she was ''the Suzerain's daughter'', the brilliance of her soul.

He had no intention of telling anyone but Kazuma secretly named that flame ''''Kouen''''.

For this girl who gives off a brilliance like that of the sun, the name ''''Kouen'''' (trad: solar prominence) suits her.

Right now, Ayano's body was clad in the same flame like that time.

It is by far more refined, a sharpened shape.

That right, just like she said, Kazuma taught her that.

The gathering and convergence of that power, with words and attitude, he continued to teach her.

This is the result of it.

The fruition of both talent and great effort, that one extremity of Enjutsu.

He, on the other hand -

Kazuma looked at the wind he was manipulating. Entrusting his overflowing power to rage, indeed it was an ugly wind.

Because he thought nothing of harmony and such, he inflicted terrible damage to the surroundings.

Of course, it was pointlessly big.

''"I can't win with this"''

In front of Kazuma, smiling bitterly, Ayano raised Enraiha overhead.

The golden flame emitted from all over her body, was focused on that blade.

And then, she swung it downwards without hesitation.

"Just wake up alreaaaaaaaaaaaaaady!"

Staring at the excellent gallant figure of the girl with all his heart, as always, Kazuma thought.

''"No, if I were to receive this blow I would sleep eternally, normally - "''

Immediately following - the surging red flame scattered the hard wind clad in lightning, defeating the mad Fujutsushi.

=== Part 4 ===

The wind died down, the thunder ceased, and the park regained his silence.

Dumbfounded, absolutely dumbfounded, Ren stared at the spectacle in front of his eyes.

Holding Enraiha, Ayano in a vigilant posture.

Forward from her, the collapsed Kazuma, his body sunk in the trunk of a tree.

None moved. No, rather that didn't move, one side couldn't move.

After several seconds - convinced Kazuma was out, Ayano raised her eyes to the night sky and let out a small sigh.

The feeling of tension that filled this place soundlessly came apart.

Just now, Ren came to his senses. He ran up to Ayano while shouting.

"Ne- Nee-sama! What a thing! "

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 237.jpg|thumb|Caption text]]

An obvious voice of reproach. But, without minding it, Ayano showed the victory sigh, smiling a smile of satisfaction.

"He he - my first victory"

"First victory, you say?.........what would have happened if you killed him!? "

The pressing question was even more reproachful, and finally noticing she was blamed Ayano spoke as if trying to justify herself.

"Aah, no, I don't think he's dead. If that were a direct hit, there would be no remaining body"

The attack had that kind of caloric value. A human body would never survive it.

The fact that Kazuma's body retained it's original form, means he had some kind of defense plan and at least avoided the direct hit.

"But even so, going so far - "

Ren wanted to argue even more but was suddenly interrupted by Ayano, who recovered her serious face.

Standing in the front and pushing Ren aside, Ayano set up Enraiha once more.

Ren Ren turned around quick-witted and agile and looked at the same thing as Ayano.

It was Yagami Kazuma's figure, slowly standing up.

"Nii-sama! "

Ren raised his voice with great joy, while simultaneously realizing he shouldn't be happy.

From here on, the battle with resume.

But right now, that tremendous sense of intimidation totally disappeared from Kazuma.

He couldn't feel anything else but a weak Kehai, just like that of a normal person without special powers.

"Nee-sama......it's fine"

Judging Kazuma didn't have anymore battle strength, Ren wanted to ask for Ayano's forgiveness. But, that moment -

"---------!? "

Ayano's eyes opened wide.

In the gap of that one instant she was focused on Ren, Kazuma was before her eyes - he approached to a point-blank range enough for their bodies to touch.

"Wha------"

It was by no means a fast movement. Rather, his walking felt slack.

And yet, for some reason she couldn't react at all.

That way of walking that slipped into the gap between her cognizance and her perception, it was unnatural because it was beyond spontaneous and didn't inspire an out of place feeling to be worthy of her vigilance.

Brushing her feet while she couldn't do nothing and while thinking she's going to fall on her ass, Enraiha's pommel was kicked up.

As if part of a comedic duo, Ayano was thrown down face up, both her hands raised.

When looking up on her field of vision, the night sky and a blurred shoe sole were reflected.

The shoe sole area was rapidly magnified and filled all her field of vision.

"------------!!"

Unable to avoid or defend, Ayano strongly closed her eyes. But even so, mercilessly, Kazuma strikes down the shoe sole with all his strength.

- On the ground, a breath away from Ayano's head lying down face up.

"Well, something like this?"

A voice missing tension reached the petrified Ayano's ear. Next to her head, the foot that even sunk into the ground was drawn back.

Lumps of earth dug up together with his foot, fell on her face in chunks.

"Eeh, aah------"

"I always pay my debts"

Under the cleared up night sky, moonlight was shining upon that fearless smiling face.

Understanding it was Kazuma's familiar tone Ren's eyes sparked.

"Nii-sama"

"Hmm, what?"

Kazuma asked back unnaturally, in really the same manner as usual. Next, he changed his line of sight at his feet as if he saw something very curious.

"So, what are you doing there? Is snugging on the ground so comfortable? "

Quickly getting up, Ayano screamed.

"Didn't you kick me and threw me down!? "

"I'm asking about the reason of you staying kicked and thrown down"

"I'm amazed by your lack of common sense! "

Shouting once more she started sweeping the dust from her hair and face.

And then she stabbed Kazuma with a dangerous gaze.

"Besides, why are you unhurt? "

"I warded it off skillfully.", declared Kazuma nonchalantly.

Those remarks were very simple but it wasn't easy to imagine how much technique finesse was need to be able to say ''I warded it off skillfully'' about that calorific value.

The specific technique must be beyond imagination.

"So, it's fine if I assume you returned to sanity?"

"Well, I don't remember not being sane"

In response to Ayano's continuing cross examination, Kazuma played dumb.

Naturally, that attitude greatly stimulated Ayano's imperial wrath.

"Ho hou, you're spouting those kind of words this late in the game? "

Groaning in a subdued voice, she grabbed Kazuma by the collar, drew his face near and glared at him at point-blank rage, their noses touching.

With a smile Kazuma continued to gaze at the angry face of the still energetic girl.

Yes, once you noticed it, it was a very simple thing.

He decided to protect, just like he swore back them.

So that he won't err again, the duty of those with power - whitewashing, it doesn't really matter.

From that time he was charmed by that red brilliance, he decided.

To exist together, to look over her and to see everything with his own eyes.

The feelings he has for Tsoi Rin, they are still here even now, unchanged.

But, he can no longer use that pretext to cut down his present.

Because there isn't just one precious thing.

From his side Kazuma brought his face closer to Ayano's scowling at him very, very close.

"Wha - W- wait!"

Ayano forgot her anger and was panicking at the quick intimacy, dangerous from another point of view.

But, Kazuma didn't stop.

The distance that was less that five centimeters became three, one and then - minus.

Bringing his lips close to the red ears of the girl that stiffened as if misunderstanding something, Kazuma whispered.

"Prepare yourself, you just reminded me. "

I'll never part once again. He decided so once again.

I won't gave up on anything. I'll obtain everything I want.

"I'm willful and greedy"

Saying so, he kissed her lightly on the rape of the neck.

"Hyan!?"

The girl who screamed without seductiveness, still didn't realized.

That she had been literally <<claimed>>.

That she was recognized as <<the spoils I'll obtain no matter what>> by the most difficult man of this world.

- Did you think you can escape?

Whether it was unlucky that she failed to hear those whispered words or whether she was fortunate - surely not even the gods know that.

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_6|Chapter 6]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 5

2014-01-29T17:26:04Z

Drejzer: /* Part 2 */

== Chapter 5 - Suppression ==

=== Part 1 ===

By the time Ayano's group appeared, the fight already started.

Flying about lightning, roaring explosions, echoing screams and shouts changed the place were Pandemonium primised to descend, the Shinjuku Central Park, to a hellish picture of agonizing cries.

" - they're being really gaudy, huh? "

Kirika replied in an irresponsible tone to Ayano who murmured so in amazement.

"Yeah. After all, it seems like most of the members are participating. "

In the end, the two days passed without any kind of progress.

Not finding Pandemonium or getting hold of where Kazuma was, Ayano's group arrived to this day when Pandemonium will descent.

As the messenger of Pandemonium, the <<Grand Mage>> Utsumi Kousuke once announced all <<Seeds>>, the first one to reach Pandemonium after it showed itself, would be given an ultimate power.

It this was nothing else but a simple battle royale, the number of people giving up would be pretty big.

In front of the almost overwhelming power of the self-styled <<Fourth Class>> Utsumi, it seemed impossible to win even when forming a group.

But, the condition of winning this game was ''to reach Pandemonium first''.

Of course, there are some advantages to a simple race but there still wasn't a direct connection between combat abilities and the outcome of the battle.

Even if defeating the <<Grand Mage>> was impossible he can still be circumvented.

All the <<Seeds>> smoothly thought so. And then, deliberately to acquire ''the ultimate power''.

As a result, without missing one, they all gathered here. And they the fight began without waiting for Pandemonium to appear.

For the sake of defeating at least one rival as fast as possible.

"So, should we do something about it? "

"Does it look like you can do something about it? "

Looking at the number of <<Seeds>> decreasing by the hour, Ayano and Kirika talked together in indifferent tones.

"Wasn't your lot enough to deal with this degree of power? "

"If they were by themselves"

Behind Kirika shrugging her shoulders, there are five subordinate Jutsushi.

Comparing it to the <<Seeds>>, although in the process of rapid decrease, there were still dozens of them.

No matter how much excellent the Jutsushi were when individually compared, it was still impossible to turn ten times fold enemies powerless without killing them.

"If you let me speak frankly, the current situation is warmly welcomed. The opponents are crushing themselves on their own accord. "

"But I think the police exists only to protect the citizens"

"That depends on the situation. There's no need exhausting our war potential for the sake of protecting the human rights of some criminal", declared Kirika cool-headed.

She won't use her power to save those who can easily hurt another without ever looking back because the law cannot judge them, even if they are nothing more but Bernhardt's or Pandemonium's pieces.

"If Genma-dono would have helped us out, he would have been able to purify all <<Seeds>> in one go. "

"Aah - , no, it's not going to happen"

Ayano carelessly waved her hand at Kirika who looked at her as if investigating.

"That highly esteemed Uncle of mine has no reason to help these idiots who act violently on power borrowed from Youma. If Ojii-sama were to be right here, he would turn to ashes all these idiots ''and'' Pandemonium ''and'' the park, you know"

"Aah, that sounds good"

As if anticipating the gruesome future Ayano talked about, Kirika agreed to it calmly.

"But, why won't Genma-dono come? The enemy is Bernhardt Rhodes. Even if you are the Kannagi Clan, he's not an existence you should ignore. "

"Aah - yeah....."

With a vague a nod, Ayano and Ren exchanged a complicated glance.

"Because Oji-sama is a Kannagi Jutsushi to the core, right......."

"- I don't understand"

"Well, I think it's because he believes in me and Ren so he entrusted this to us..."

Unable to say the truth, Ayano falsified a suitable answer.

"I'm entrusting this matter to you"

The evening before the descent of Pandemonium, Genma told so to Ayano and Ren.

Naturally the two asked back, unable to agree.

"Can you tell us the reason? "

The opponent is the world's highest Majutsushi. No matter how much war potential one had, he is worrisome.

Since Tokyo's spiritual protection is the duty of Kannagi and Bernhardt's deed disturbed that, Genma's participation in the battle was inevitable, his obligation.

It wasn't something that could be overlooked because of private matters.

But, without alluding to that reason, Genma continued.

"Tomorrow, it seems Kazuma will also appear at Pandemonium."

"......it seems so"

"He already became an existence harmful to the Kannagi."

Genma's words were not incorrect.

Beside the <<Seeds>>, Kazuma's violence reached even a Special Information Storage Room Jutsushi, largely deviating from the permissible bounds.

And, although without his intention, Kazuma was even now registered with the Kannagi family name. It wasn't something they could neglect.

"We have no choice but to destroy him."

"--------!!"

That frozen declaration and the violent pressure accompanying it hit Ayano and Ren very hard.

With a start, Ayano's body shook - Ren looked at his Father with eyes full of determination.

"I will - We will persuade him!"

"Not necessary"

"But!"

"Not necessary"

Genma's voice was steady without any gaps. The accelerated growth of that power and heavy pressure that could crush a heart made Ayano curl herself up without ever raising her face.

But even so, the pressure wasn't lifted.

Wondering about it, she examined Ren's situation with a sidelong glance - with his face still raised up he caught Genma's gaze head-on.

The pressure increased again. It's purpose already migrated from coercing to opponent to downright crush him to death, the feeling of oppression was so high it made then think about the danger their lives were in.

"Won't you listen to what I say? "

"I.....won't..!"

With a hoarse but definite voice, Ren assessed his rebellion towards Genma. His forehead was full of sweat and although his grasped fists were shaking on top of his knees, the gaze he fixed on his father's eyes didn't waver for one moment.

''"Ren - when did you become so strong...?"''

In a daze that went beyond surprise, Ayano fixed her eyes on Ren's gallant figure.

Even though until now he always followed her around, a pampered child, a scared cat -

While Ayano wasn't quite present, the father and child exchanged arguments in a sharp tone.

"Beyond the fact he was born from the Head of the Kannagi Family, I cannot tolerate him to be swayed by emotions! Even if he's blood relative - no, exactly because he is, his error won't be tolerated!"

"If he dies.....if he dies he won't be able to atone! If he committed a sin, he should live all the more...isn't he supposed to redeem his faults!? "

While looking at those two, continuing to argue, Ayano suddenly felt doubt.

While insisting on Kazuma's conviction, the fact that he won't participate in the battle doesn't add up.

Not even Genma would think of trying to make her and Ren kill Kazuma by themselves.

Then, why?

Thinking about it, Genma's attitude was dubious since the beginning. He was more oppressive than necessary, his opinion resembling stubbornness.

As if he was stirring up animosity on purpose.

Ayano suddenly remembered something Juugo said long ago.

Genma disinherited Kazuma because the Kannagi Clan was a cage and if he couldn't escape from that cage by himself, he set Kazuma free.

''"Then, this is - "''

If he were to intervene, he will definitely have to kill Kazuma according to the Kannagi mission. And, as he wasn't able to instruct them contrary to the mission, that's why -

At the same time Ayano reached that conclusion, Genma and Ren's argument was about to close.

"I won't give up on anything! I'll persuade Nii-sama, I'll kill Bernhardt and I'll destroy Pandemonium, I'll show you!"

"Just try and see if you can, brat!"

Several times the volume of Ren's shout, Genma roared in a very loud voice that was just like a lion's roar.

But immediately following, he noticed Ayano's gaze staring at him in a daze.

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 199.jpg|thumb|]]

Guessing something from her eyes, Genma expressed a small wry smile and faced Ayano with a serene attitude that made his fury so far hard to believe.

"Ayano"

"Ye........yes..."

"Please take care of it"

".......!!"

Understanding her conjecture was right on the money, Ayano's face had a cramp.

''"Every last one of them - "''

It's not like she didn't understand his feelings but she couldn't help but think so.

''"Why are you trying to force it on me!? I'll do it myself, by myself!"''

".......I see"

Keeping a faint bitterness in her voice, Kirika bowed her head in assent.

She couldn't possibly comprehend Ayano's words but it was also true nothing would come out of voicing her complaints.

It doesn't matter how it's said, what's not there it's not there.

Quickly throwing away the pointless hope, there's no way but to effectively use the hand she was dealt.

"If it's like that you must preserve your power. If Pandemonium and Kazuma will appear, the situation will change, right?"

"......yeah"

"Do you anticipate it?"

"..........."

Ayano became silent and couldn't respond to Kirika's gaze without banter, loaded with serious expectations.

Honestly, her heart wasn't decided yet.

About holding Kazuma back. About blocking that man's way.

Even understating it, it was reckless action. It was like bungee jumping without a rope.

It wasn't something that could be solved by courage and effort.

No matter how she would struggle, she would certainly die - if Kazuma were to become serious.

"Nee-sama"

As if holding on to the heart of his hesitating sister, Ren grabbed Ayano's hands. His eyes already lost all their indecision.

"It will be fine. I'm sure."

"............well, ''you'' will be fine for sure", grumbled Ayano, past the time to give up.

But the situation didn't give her spare time to waver.

"It's coming", murmured Kirika giving up.

Several of the <<Seeds>> also noticed it and were running up to them with bloodshot eyes. They were aiming at getting on Pandemonium first but it wasn't unreasonable to think they will aim at them, standing still close to the park.

At this point expecting sense from them was a waste of time.

"I'll go"

Anticipating the party, Ren stepped forward.

Certainly, having Ren face the sacrifices possessed by the devil manipulating purification flames that destroyed nothing but that nature was appropriate. But -

"Wouldn't it be better for you to preserve your power? "

Using up his power before the crucial will come to nothing.

Ren stared head-on at Ayano who thought so.

"Then, are we going to let them die without helping? Because in front of something bigger a few sacrifices can't be helped? "

"That's - "

Overpowered by that earnest gaze, Ayano instinctively caught her breath.

"Even so, I'll do it. If I have a bigger power in comparison to humans, I want to protect everything with that power. I don't care if it's pride or self-righteousness. I decided to live that way. "

Declaring so without hesitation, Ren started running without waiting for a reply.

Compared with the big frames assaulting him, his body was very small.

But the brightness of that golden flame surging from his body utterly defeated the approaching <<Seeds>> in one blow.

It had no connection with level, class and so forth. That overwhelming power at totally different level exorcised and burned the devilishness without leaving any trace, moreover by delicately adjusting the after-effect, it stunned the hosts.

So, the bodies of the boys that lost consciousness were evacuated by Kirika's subordinates in the vicinity of the park.

"This is so easy"

"Isn't it by relying on civilians, public servant? "

"It's the right person in the right place. Besides - "

Taking Ayano's criticism in one stride, Kirika bragged. But, suddenly revising her attitude, she looked at Ayano.

"So, how long will you stand still?"

"........."

Without reply Ayano feebly cast her eyes down.

"Well, leaving that aside"

As if nothing happened, Kirika changed her line of sight from Ayano to the watch.

"I think Ren-kun's determination is noble but won't you wait another minute?"

"One more minute?"

Ren too looked at his watch. The time right now is 11:59 P.M.

"What happens at midnight? "

"Pandemonium will emerge"

Ayano and Ren became speechless at that sleek announcement.

"Wh- wait, when did you find such a specific moment? "

"I didn't know or anything but isn't that a general guess? There's not another more appropriate time for something belonging to the spirit world to appear in this one, no? "

"............"

"Midnight represents the threshold between yesterday and today. And the threshold between today and tomorrow. It is yesterday, today and tomorrow. The only moment when the time's absolute laws become ambiguous. Therefore the boundaries between the spirit world and this world also become ambiguous and various apparitions erode the reality - "

Finishing her song-like narration, Kirika completely changed and continued in a pragmatic tone.

"Well, it can only be that time besides Majutsushi are endlessly fussing over about agreeing with that consistency. "

"I see, then we'll wait. It will be here before long anyway. "

Agreeing to Kirika's words, Ayano nodded.

How will the situation change in response to Pandemonium's arrival - she was thinking it won't be late to start moving after seeing that.

And after ten more seconds passed, ''the time of threshold'' arrived.

The time that is and isn't where anything can happen.

Soundless, the space shook.

After a pause of one moment, this time the ground shook, involved in a physical shock. That vibration, definitely not an earthquake, was as if a huge mass was suddenly dropped on the ground -

''" - tch, aren't you doing whatever you like? "''

Cursing inside her chest, Ayano shifted her focus on the direction the abnormality seemed to originate from.

''That'' was inside an enshrouding cloud of dust. As if it continued being there without chance for a hundred years, grave, firmly.

Even though it was far, she understood it quickly - it was an antique looking shape. Declined like a dilapidated house and yet despite of that it had a decadent presence filled with dark hot air.

Just about everything was as before, the fact that it was destroyed together with the Tokyo Government Office was nothing but a dream, and Pandemonium was reigning there with its overwhelming presence.

"It's pretty far, huh? Exactly right in the center of the park? ", murmured Kirika, without showing any kind of surprise at the sudden state of urgency.

Even Ayano, similarly used to the lack of common sense, replied very calm.

"That's about right, but I won't know for sure before I get a little bit closer."

Perceiving that the power of <<Seeds>> was rapidly growing, Ayano strengthened her vigilance. Surveying the scene, the fray without rules or any kind of sense was completely interrupted.

The <<Seeds>> stood rock still as if their souls had been unplugged. Contrary to that atmosphere, the power was rising continuously.

Some worthless thing is about to happen again - Ayano believed so.

"Uuu.....uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu......"

Suddenly, one of the <<Seeds>> let out a moan. He hugged his body closely as if he was enduring something, and squat.

"Uuguuuuu.....Uruuuuraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"

A frail moan. But, that gradually changed to a scream. His face looking downward turned to the night sky, and the man shriek as if tearing his throat.

And then, a rapid variation was produced.

The man's flesh started to expand, his clothes torn off from the inside. The surface of his exposed body was covered in too much muscle than it was humanly possible, wrapping him up.

At last his head, accomplished a transformation from his skeletal structure that seemed to have ended for the present.

From the gap of his largely split mouth, sharp fangs showed and the man - howled at the moon.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNN--"

Knitting her brows Ayano watched how both his heart and body degenerated equally to that of a beast.

"Lycantrophy ----?"

"It's not something that cute.", answered Kirika looking at the surroundings.

Following that gaze, Ayano grimaced.

".........wah"

That grotesque transformation affected the majority of the <<Seeds>>.

In one case, only one part of a man's body turned while the rest remained human, another completely deviated from the human form.

In the end just like slimes of fog, they were reduced to beings unable to maintain a fixed shape.

"Ugh, is this possibly - "

"They woke up maybe? "

The real seeds living as parasites in the bodies of <<Seeds>> were Youma in a dormant state.

"In comparison with the same raw materials there is plenty of variation in their outward appearance - I think there's a discrepancy in the growth process and the host they fed on."

"This is not the place to leisurely express your reasoning, no? "

"Huh, there's nothing we can do except for this. "

Kirika replied without shyness to Ayano's retort.

".........that may be so"

There is a wide difference in ability between the human who uses the Youma's power and the one that completely became a Youma. Even if it's a low class one, the Jutsushi with low combat abilities from the Special Information Storage Room will find it a heavy burden.

"Aah, they're moving"

As Ren called Ayano to attention, they shifted they focus on the Youma.

The group of Youma that ate their hosts to exhaustion moved for the first time. Without exception, they headed for Pandemonium.

Those few <<Seeds>> that retained their awareness indomitably shuffled their feet.

A violent race began.

It was like a group of ogres competing for food. Those being in the vanguard pulled and killed each other in a combined effort, those following stepped on them and changed them to rags and if two were at the same distance they skinned each other with they fangs, not allowing the others to move forward.

Ayano's group stood rock still and silent faced with the battle several times more bloody that before.

"Eeh......, this is...."

After several seconds - completely pulling herself together, Ayano muttered to herself.

"Are they being called? "

"Or there's still a small portion of the host's consciousness - at any rate, we should stop them from reaching Pandemonium. Nothing good would come out of it."

"I agree"

Just as they were about to run after exchanging a short agreement, at that time -

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed.

The dry wind hurts the skin.

That thoroughly, thoroughly overwhelming force and the air full of killing intent spread out over the entire park like a mantle.

"What now -!?"

Bernhardt started something else - Ayano immediately thought so.

But, Kirika looked at the sky with a serious face and groaned disgusted.

"You came, huh - Kazuma"

"Kazuma!? This!?"

"Who else it there? ", declared Kirika matter of fact to Ayano, who opened her eyes wide with unconcealed fright.

"A man who rules the atmosphere so overwhelmingly - there's no one else but him, right? "

"B- but........but........"

Pressuring her body - no, the entire surrounding airspace, that oppressive intent felt only ominous.

The urge to attack was making her body feel on the edge, as if it was about to be cut down.

Similar to the release of a pack of starving wolfs, that Kehai was showing its dazzling lust.

Is this - is ''this'' - is this Kazuma's power?

"You're lying.........it cannot, be like this..........."

"I believe I told you to forget about the Kazuma you knew."

She remembered about two years before.

The avatar of a storm spreading death and destruction.

Prepared to destroy the entire world for the sake of revenge, for the sake of killing one person, that man was equivalent with a living disaster.

"This is also Kazuma. No, maybe only this is Kazuma. "

"..........let's go", Ren asked the dazed Ayano in front of Kirika trembling in fear.

That voice was carrying a fear that couldn't be concealed but nevertheless the determination to move forward doesn't shake.

"Detective Tachibana - ?"

"I apologize. From here on, it's impossible for us", determined Kirika controlling Ren's words.

"I'm sorry but beyond this point go just the two of you. We will fall back and spread a barrier around the park. Because of instinct or because they were ordered they're all heading to Pandemonium right now but if they were to meet ''him'' a few will probably run towards us."

"That's right. We're leaving it to you."

Ren agreed after thinking about it a little and urged Ayano once more.

"Let's go"

"Y- yeah...."

Maybe because she couldn't accept Kazuma's transformation yet, Ayano was hesitating with an indecisive attitude.

Seeing that, Kirika placed her hand on Ayano's shoulder as if trying to encourage her and smiled a little.

"Listen to me, Ayano-chan, I think you may be successful without having to think too much about it"

If she were told something like this in normal circumstances, Ayano's face would flush red in anger.

But, there was pretty much no reaction now. Without looking at Kirika, she answered in a murmur.

"............I'll put in my best effort"

"....................go for it"

Understanding that she didn't manage to stir Ayano, eventually Kirika sent out the girl with a feeble smile.

=== Part 2 ===

"........it turned up, huh?"

Due to the collapse of the Tokyo Government Office, overlooking the Central Park from the highest floor of the partially destroyed National Diet Building, Kazuma murmured.

Close to the center of the park, an old western style house instantly made an appearance.

A large quantity of Youki gathered and was in the process of going there but for him right now that is inconsequential.

That's right, everything else is not worth worrying about. There are just two important things.

To kill - that annoying Majutsushi.

To break - that disgusting doll imitating his beloved.

He won't let anything get in the way. He won't stop.

Because he took this power for the sake of revenge.

"Just wait, Bernhardt"

The moment he kicked the foothold and soared into the sky, Kazuma suddenly remembered.

That once, the same thing happened.

"Humph........"

Kazuma laughed at the repeating farce.

At that time, Kazuma challenged the Majutsushi for Tsoi Rin.

At that time, to rescue her. And this time, to kill.

The objective was reversed. But, the result will still be the same. Because right now, he has that much power.

Because right now, he has that much power enough to make the world obey his will, for the sake of fulfilling his objective.

''"How regretful. How unsightly even if I say so myself"''

But even so, he cannot help but think. Just like he thought thousands, tens of thousands before.

''If he only had this power back then''

"Stooooooooooop it!!"

Kazuma screamed at the top of his voice - or so he wanted but what came through his broken throat resembled a hoarse stridor not recognizable words.

The man didn't turn around.

He looked at him once at the beginning but then perfectly ignoring Kazuma's existence he performed the ceremony - and the he carried it out.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Without asking for agreement, he showed Kazuma that sad sight. The whole story of stealing everything from the existence of the woman he loved.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

He couldn't do anything. Not rescuing her, not even delaying the ceremony by at least a second.

Not allowed anything, not accomplishing anything, he lost his most precious thing.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

His hands and feet were completely broken, he couldn't stand up. He could only let out hollow moans and shed tears from his eyes that were miraculously safe.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Abruptly the weight disappeared from his back. Handling Kazuma like a baby, the familiar that mercilessly trampled him down, wanted to put his legs out of the way.

The familiar quickly backed off and went down on his knees respectfully. Of course, not in front of Kazuma. In front of its master that stepped in front of Kazuma.

Pointing hie eyeballs upward to the almost limit Kazuma looked up at the man. He no longer had the energy to move his neck.

"........Er...win......"

With a grazed voice he called the name of the enemy. The man - Erwin Leszaar looked down on Kazuma as if looking at a spot on the floor.

According to the legend, he was at the very least three hundred years old but no matter how you look at it those features were of a young man in his twenties.

Hid blond hair, blue eyes and white skin turned him to the very picture of a handsome man.

"I don't really understand but - ", Erwin asked Kazuma bending his head slightly in wonder.

"After all, why did you came here? "

"........!!"

He didn't make fun of him. That was a genuine question.

Understanding his do or die action was only recognized as a disturbance, Kazuma's body burned in humiliation.

"Thinking about it, even your situation is a little unclear. You can use some Jutsu but not enough to call yourself a Jutsushi. Aah, your <<Ki>> is nicely mature and well-rounded. It's a big deal considering how young you are! "

Without carrying about Kazuma's thoughts Erwin continued talking one-sided.

"But that's all. Are you a master of martial arts who can dabble just a little bit in Jutsu, are you some dropped out smatterer aiming to become a Jutsushi - at any rate, in front of a real Majutsushi that degree of power is mere child's play.

You understand that much, right? "

''"So what.........?"''

Kazuma responded with a gaze loaded with an infinite number of curses.

''"So, should I have abandoned her? Would it have been better to give up? "

".........Tsoi........Rin........"

He only said those two words. The name of the girl he wanted to protect but couldn't.

"Tsoi Rin? Aah, the name of the miss who became a sacrifice. Then you came here to rescue her - without considering your chances? "

As if giving praise to Kazuma's courage, a smile was etched into his lips. And then he completely changed -

"How foolish that was"

"......!!"

Kazuma's body trembled in fury. But, that body, already couldn't move even a finger.

If he could move for a second, only for a second, he will definitely bite that man's windpipe -

"At the expense of that girl, I received life. She did very well, that girl. However, your death, because you couldn't obstruct the ceremony, is really meaningless. A human should die in a more meaningful manner - don't you agree? "

"Fu....fuck, you....."

That was the greatest fury he felt so far. As if he had already died, it wasn't because his death would be in vain.

He self-consciously knew he was fatally wounded. Even assuming they'll leave him as it it without the final blow, he will die in a few hours anyway.

That was inconsequential. Because he had already lost the reason to stay alive.

''"She did very well, huh? "''

While stealing Tsoi Rin's life, the shamelessness of talking about her death as meaningful - he could never allow such a thing.

Kazuma knew the meaning of becoming a sacrifice to the devil.

That wasn't a mere corporeal death. It was the extinction of the soul, of the existence itself.

She will never be born again, the return to absolute nothingness.

The ultimate ''end''.

Even when the last judgment will come, Tsoi Rin won't be saved.

".........damn...you......."

Spitting out a jeer weaker that a sigh, Kazuma glared at Erwin.

Why, did Tsoi Rin had to die?

For the selfish desire of this man.

Why. Why. Why.

"Well then"

Losing his interest towards Kazuma, Erwin left the room.

"Clean this up"

".......Wait.....bastard........."

He reached out feebly - when he wanted to reach out he convulsed - Kazuma's right arm was crushed under the familiar's foot. Another long bone was broken.

".......Gaaah....."

While spitting out blood froth together with that small shriek, Kazuma looked up at the familiar's appearance.

With features of both demon and beast, a lower grade devil whose ugly exterior inspired revulsion in those who looked at him.

Will he be killed by something like this?

Kazuma was wrapped in a sense of helplessness. He lost the girl he had to protect, he couldn't retaliate even once against the Majutsushi he should kill, and will die here without killing at least one of those pawns?

The familiar's mug changed to sneer. Those sharp claws that mangled Kazuma many times were pushed out for show.

".......Will I.....die......?"

If those claws were to stab him, he will die this time. It wasn't a guess, he understood it was a definite fact.

He was supposed to have already lost his meaning to live. He was supposed not to mind even death.

But, even so - as expected, death is scary.

Without reason, he purely thought ''I don't want to die''. And then -

=== Part 3 ===

From Ren's mouth, a moan of unbearable fear leaked out.

Pandemonium appeared in the center of the park, as if trying to crush the Niagara waterfall.

The water plaza that was there, before the waterfall, spread out like Pandemonium's front garden.

And then - right there right now was looking like heaps of bodies and streams of blood.

Both humans and demons systemically torn to pieces evenly were lying down their contents scattered.

The head group of <<Seeds>> and <<Youma>> aiming at Pandemonium encountered ''it'' just before reaching their goal.

Exhausting the nourishment of the host, the Youma achieved a complete manifestation of their devilishness.

The demon power - regardless of orientation - governed the seeds with a strong will.

You could say that every one of them was a match for a thousand, existences that could manipulate a mighty power.

But -

"Aah......"

There was already no way of telling how many had they been. Even the distinction between the corpses of humans and demons disappeared.

In just one instant.

Everything was exterminated in a moment. By just one raging, wild Fujutsushi.

"Nii........sama......."

Overawed by the overwhelming power, Ren could do nothing else but moan.

Ayano had already lost her voice.

At the center of that raging power, ''he'' was.

Stepping over the broken pieces of those corpses, his glare fixed on Pandemonium soaring before his eyes.

Yagami Kazuma - the avatar of death and destruction ruling the windstorm.

The surging wind, like an armor, like a blade, was circling around him.

Because of the tremendous frictional heat of the atmosphere vortex, electrical discharges were born everywhere in the sky and the wind tower stabbing at the sky was colored a dazzling white.

That was literally a thunder storm. The iron hammer of the atmosphere clad in lightning, that would burn and destroy everything it touches.

"Is this........is this Nii-sama's true, power.........", murmured Ren to himself in a trembling voice.

But he realized the next moment that even that recognition was too naive.

That irrational power even under normal circumstances, was showed elevated even more.

The flickering white light was shining in the dark night, the endlessly amplificating ascending air current calling out thunder clouds overhead.

The vocal duet of rearing thunder both on heaven and earth resembled the howl of a demon beast.

"Ni......Nii-sama!"

Without seeming to have heard Ren's voice Kazuma was looking straight at Pandemonium.

Probably not taking the time to especially search for Bernhardt, he was planning to blow away the whole Pandemonium.

Certainly, in front of this kind of abuse of power, no matter how huge or solid the mansion is, it was the same as a shack.

Without withstanding it for even a second, it will definitely vanish without leaving behind even ash.

But, Ren didn't want to see his brother like that. The Kazuma he admired would never do such a thing. And above all -

"Nii-sama, please stop! Even if you do that Tsoi Rin-san won't be pleased. "

As expected, unable to ignore Tsoi Rin's name, Kazuma showed a small but immediate reaction.

Securing that effect, Ren raised his voice even more.

"Please collect yourself! Even if you get your revenge, the dead won't come back! If Tsoi Rin-san could see Nii-sama right now, I'm sure she would be sad! That's why, that's why - "

"What the fuck are you saying? "

Turning around, Kazuma looked at Ren quizzical. That face was unexpectedly calm but didn't appear like he forgot about his anger.

"How can the dead be sad? "

"Eeh, b- but......"

"Didn't I tell you before. Death is the ''end''."

Kazuma informed Ren, perplexed by the unexpected reaction, in a matter of fact.

"Those harboring dreams, those mad with hatred, those that loved others, when they die everything turns to nothing. Therefore, no matter what I do, the dead won't be delighted. They won't be sad. They don't feel - anything. "

"......nii,sama........"

"If you thought I want to kill Bernhardt because of Tsoi Rin, that's your mistake. I'll kill him because I want to kill him for myself. I'll kill those that want to get in my way. I'll kill those that get in my way. It's that simple. "

"But, Nii-sama - "

"Ren"

Kazuma interrupted coldly the appeal of his little brother, already without arguments but still wanting to stop him.

"Shut up already. Your words won't stop me"

"nii,sama......"

" - Will you get in my way, Ren? "

''If you get in my way - with words very clear to understand without listening to the second part, Kazuma gave him a warning.

Ren had no words to defeat that.

''"this is something - right?"''

With a mood that it was someone else's problem, Ayano is watching attentively the back and forth argument between the two.

If she were to judge it objectively, she thought that Ren's defeat was a reasonable consequence.

To begin with, rather than an argument, it was closer to trying to get the other party agree with what you have to say.

The person who agreed on it's response from the beginning, the person with a solid resolution that will go forward to the very last even if he's wrong, for those kind of people the words of others have no meaning.

It's obvious that those words are spent in vain.

But even so.

Right now Ayano felt an uncommon discomfort towards Kazuma.

If Kazuma is that kind of man, if he can understand reason, in spite of agreeing with his feelings when she placed the figure of that man in her field of vision, she's unable to suppress a discomforting something.

Of course, that does not mean she has a plan to stop Kazuma.

Rather, she believed that's not something a human can achieve.

Looking up at the thunder cloud heavily covering the night sky, Ayano let out a long breath of admiration.

What was Kazuma controlling right now couldn't be described by such a narrow phenomenon like wind. It was the atmosphere, the airflow and the weather itself.

Who on earth believed that such a behavior was possible for just one Jutsushi.

Right now Kazuma's power was at a totally different level even by the Kannagi's standards.

And yet, why, it wasn't all that scary?

''"Wrong, not like that. It's scary - but because it's scary, it's not scary at all"''

While murmuring inside her chest such contradictory words, Ayano started walking.

While she didn't know herself what she wanted to do.

In front, of Kazuma.

"Ne- Nee-sama.........?"

Ignoring Ren's appeal, as if protecting Pandemonium, she blocked Kazuma's way.

"Kuuu.....uu......"

In the act of doing so, the torrent of killing intent rushed towards her.

Until now she she blocked his way once or twice but this was the first time this kind of bare thirst for blood was slapped into her.

The fear was about to crush her heart.

Confronting him directly she understood it clearly. The difference between herself, and that overwhelming power

''- is this Nii-sama's true power - ''

Ren's words were resurrected in her ears.

They pierced her heart just like thorns, together with an indistinct sense of discomfort.

Looking at the sky, she thought.

''This is Kazuma's real power''

- really?

Right away, words of doubt crossed her mind. It was definitely overwhelming.

There's no mistake, from everything she saw until now this is the greatest power.

But, but even so -

" - Aah, so that's the reason"

Abruptly Ayano realized the reason for her discomfort.

That instant, both fear and cowardice became of little importance, the kind of emotions she could ignore.

She looked hard at Kazuma straightforward. Including anger and irritation for the man who fell so low.

"I understand why detective Tachibana and Ren want to stop you. Right now you're so ugly I cannot look at you. "

"Step aside. You're in the way", declared Kazuma indifferently without showing any reaction even to Ayano's words.

Ayano too, continued to ignore Kazuma.

"To be honest, I admired you. I thought that someday I'll catch up with you and you'll approve of me.

- Though in fact, there was no need to expressly tell you. "

"I won't say it a third time. Step aside"

In a monotonous tone Kazuma gave her the final warning. It did not seem that Ayano's words made an impression.

Even so, without hesitation, Ayano boldly declared.

"That's why I can't tolerate you the way you are now. I cannot accept that such an ugly thing was my landmark. I'll open your eyes even by force! "

Together with that declaration, Ayano slapped her palms together.

That dry sound of clapping hands resounded thoroughly clear, pressing down the thunder and scattering the windstorm uneventfully.

Separating the joined hands, a line of red fire connected the space between the palms.

Gripping that flame line with her right hand, and swinging in in a mowing down movement to pull it out.

The line of fire stretching for one meter, instantly materialized forming a brilliant red sword.

The vibrantly red blade, the double edged straight sword.

The blade was clad in golden flames, that appearance releasing a beautiful brilliance was so lovely it was fairy-tale like.

Pointing at him the secret treasure of the Kannagi family, the absolutely invincible conquering the devil divine sword, Enraiha, Ayano showed a fearless smile.

"The way you are right now, I can easily kill you - but don't worry. I'll go easy on you. I'll teach you how does a Spirit Jutsushi fight!"

Kazuma was silent. Following his previous notice, he didn't warn her a third time and fired a wind blade without hesitation.

Ayano swung Enraiha with all her strength at that blow filled with nothing but pure killing intent.

"Guu......uuh.........."

Unable to stop the fast wind blade mowing down, Ayano backed off several steps. Even so, enduring it without breaking her stance, she sharpened her reflexes preparing herself for the next attack.

A three stranded blow. One approaching from the front, and other two describing an arc and coming from left and right.

Ayano hit head-on the frontal attack and by purposefully letting herself be blown away she dodged those coming from the sides.

Curling up her body to let the shock loose while tumbling, she stood up by using that force.

While setting up Enraiha warily, she checked for damage.

''"Ok, it's fine. But even so, no way, I'm being over-matched - "''

The fact that she was forced back by fighting from the front was unexpected.

The Enjutsushi who was supposed to be the strongest was underpowered in front of the Fuujutsushi who was supposed to be the weakest - if it's a fight between two users beyond first-class, that was a very improbable phenomenon.

But, the reason is simple. Kazuma strength easily breaks trough what is known as common sense. It was just that.

The strongest Fujutsushi, the one Ayano knew, Kazamaki Ryouya of the Fuuga Clan and the Youma possessing him - even if once she and Kazuma managed to bring him down somehow, Kazuma right now is surpassing even that.

''"But - "''

On top of that Kazuma yet again has the trump card - the power of the Contractor sealed inside him.

"You...!!"

A tremendously heavy blow that didn't seem to be made of air, plus a freebie with a lightning supplement.

Every time they exchanged blows, escaping even Enraiha's protection, a strong numbness was running through her whole body.

''"But, but even so!"''

Does Kazuma understand? That although he's fighting her seriously he has yet to kill her, the meaning of it?

Rebuking her body becoming numb from the two layered attack - high impact and lightning strike, Ayano grasped Enraiha tightly.

''"I won't lose. I'll never lose! Not, not when Kazuma became so weak!"''

If the opponent was the real Kazuma, she would have been killed ten times already.

Because Ayano would never be able to perceive everything about those sharply honed wind blades.

Without knowing when and how she will be killed, she's only notice her head dropping down - that was supposed to be the reasonable end.

If the opponent was the real Kazuma, Ayano would never fear him.

Because it would be so natural, it would be so grand, the capacity of feeling fear wouldn't see it coming at all.

But, for Kazuma right now, she can see the upper limit.

He is certainly strong. Overwhelmingly strong. But, even so, right now she can reach him.

She has that self-confidence,

Kazuma's wind was more sharp, more fast.

There's nothing to fear from this rough, powerful attack.

So what if she's stuck by lightning? That thing is nothing more but the useless byproduct of frictional heat.

For Kazuma's real wind, there would be no need to add such extras.

It would be a high speed blow exceedingly purified, cold and sharply honed.

That was what Ayano admired, what was her objective,because it was Kazuma's battle style.

"Everything you thought me - I'll give it all back to you! "

She added a swelling power to the blade. Thoroughly finer and sharper, squeezing all that power in one point -

"Deyaaaaa!!"

Swinging down Enraiha together with a yell, the wind blade was skillfully beheaded.

"Wh.......at..........?"

"Don't be surprised by such a thing! "

Aiming at Kazuma, whose eyes were wide with surprise, Ayano plunged into him in a straight line. Without giving him the time to use Jutsu, to reach him with her sword.

Kazuma smoothly handled his body and avoided the blow that could split a bamboo in two.

He dodged even the retaliating blade as close as a millimeter. Simultaneously he jumped.

The light jump using his legs only below the knees, moved him at a distance of a few meters by riding on the wind.

Quicker than Ayano who tried once more to reduce the distance, Kazuma fired countless wind blades.

The swarm of blades approaching from every direction, circled Ayano without gaps as if it was a cage forged of blades.

"Haaa! "

Ayano rotated fer body on the axis quickly making Enraiha do one revolution.

The point of the sword drew a perfect angle thoroughly burning to nothing all the wind.

As if facing the fragments of the falling, burning wind, the color of shock seemed to paint Kazuma's face.

That only made Ayano's irritation become worse.

''"Why are you surprised by something like this? "''

Doesn't he understand yet? Doesn't he realize it yet? Even though she doesn't want to see him like that -

"Didn't you teach me all this? The meaning of power! The way to use it! The way we should be! "

She couldn't forgive him. She'll never accept it. This is not Kazuma.

''''This is not my Kazuma. ''''

I'll definitely open your eyes. Fired up by that strong decision, Ayano seeks even more power.

The power that was boiling from inside her body, the power overflowing on the entire world.

Adding it up and polishing it, she poured it on the blade held in her hand.

''"It's not enough yet. More, more - "''

According to Ayano's will, the flame gushing out from Enraiha, rapidly increased its brilliance.

At the same time, the golden flame was gradually tinged red.

"Ne, Nee-sama!? "

staring at the scarlet flame as if doubting his eyes, Ren shouted.

But, nothing except the Kazuma in front of her reached Ayano's consciousness.

Not Ren's voice and, not even the meaning of the color her flame was releasing - And then, Ayano brandished Enraiha.

''"What the heck is going on? "''

Kazuma couldn't really understand.

Why, does the likes of Ayano must give him so much trouble. No, on the contrary, right now he was completely pressured.

''''Why''''. That word, was repeated over and over in Kazuma's mind.

''''Why'''', can't he kill Ayano?

''''Why'''', is Ayano so strong?

''''Why'''', must he kill Ayano?

"------!?"

Suddenly the doubt that popped into his head stopped Kazuma's thinking.

It was supposed to be something he shouldn't even have to think about. Eliminating all obstacles, there was only that.

- Towards what purpose?

''"Isn't that obvious? To kill Bernhardt and to break Lapis. I am here, only for this reason"

"Didn't you teach me all this!? "

In Kazuma's ears, wondering to himself, Ayano's voice full of anger jumped in.

Now that you mention it, he sometime may have said something like that while acting self-important.

For someone who desired power only for revenge it was an odd thing to say but right now, thinking back on that time, he may have admired himself for it.

For the sake of protecting - Then, what happens to those he couldn't protect?

The power he obtained after losing everything - how the heck should he use it?

Even his revenge was already over.

Killing Bernhardt after this is something trivial. A simple cleaning after.

If so, maybe he wouldn't mind being killed here by Ayano.

Desperately thinking, he looked at the girl burning with anger.

He opened his eyes wide. The brilliance of the dazzling red flame stole his heart.

He saw it only once during the fight with Ryouya, Ayano's - Ayano only's flame.

He couldn't resist being fascinated. He couldn't look away.

That girl he had no interest in except the fact that she was ''the Suzerain's daughter'', the brilliance of her soul.

He had no intention of telling anyone but Kazuma secretly named that flame ''''Kouen''''.

For this girl who gives off a brilliance like that of the sun, the name ''''Kouen'''' (trad: solar prominence) suits her.

Right now, Ayano's body was clad in the same flame like that time.

It is by far more refined, a sharpened shape.

That right, just like she said, Kazuma taught her that.

The gathering and convergence of that power, with words and attitude, he continued to teach her.

This is the result of it.

The fruition of both talent and great effort, that one extremity of Enjutsu.

He, on the other hand -

Kazuma looked at the wind he was manipulating. Entrusting his overflowing power to rage, indeed it was an ugly wind.

Because he thought nothing of harmony and such, he inflicted terrible damage to the surroundings.

Of course, it was pointlessly big.

''"I can't win with this"''

In front of Kazuma, smiling bitterly, Ayano raised Enraiha overhead.

The golden flame emitted from all over her body, was focused on that blade.

And then, she swung it downwards without hesitation.

"Just wake up alreaaaaaaaaaaaaaady!"

Staring at the excellent gallant figure of the girl with all his heart, as always, Kazuma thought.

''"No, if I were to receive this blow I would sleep eternally, normally - "''

Immediately following - the surging red flame scattered the hard wind clad in lightning, defeating the mad Fujutsushi.

=== Part 4 ===

The wind died down, the thunder ceased, and the park regained his silence.

Dumbfounded, absolutely dumbfounded, Ren stared at the spectacle in front of his eyes.

Holding Enraiha, Ayano in a vigilant posture.

Forward from her, the collapsed Kazuma, his body sunk in the trunk of a tree.

None moved. No, rather that didn't move, one side couldn't move.

After several seconds - convinced Kazuma was out, Ayano raised her eyes to the night sky and let out a small sigh.

The feeling of tension that filled this place soundlessly came apart.

Just now, Ren came to his senses. He ran up to Ayano while shouting.

"Ne- Nee-sama! What a thing! "

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 237.jpg|thumb|Caption text]]

An obvious voice of reproach. But, without minding it, Ayano showed the victory sigh, smiling a smile of satisfaction.

"He he - my first victory"

"First victory, you say?.........what would have happened if you killed him!? "

The pressing question was even more reproachful, and finally noticing she was blamed Ayano spoke as if trying to justify herself.

"Aah, no, I don't think he's dead. If that were a direct hit, there would be no remaining body"

The attack had that kind of caloric value. A human body would never survive it.

The fact that Kazuma's body retained it's original form, means he had some kind of defense plan and at least avoided the direct hit.

"But even so, going so far - "

Ren wanted to argue even more but was suddenly interrupted by Ayano, who recovered her serious face.

Standing in the front and pushing Ren aside, Ayano set up Enraiha once more.

Ren Ren turned around quick-witted and agile and looked at the same thing as Ayano.

It was Yagami Kazuma's figure, slowly standing up.

"Nii-sama! "

Ren raised his voice with great joy, while simultaneously realizing he shouldn't be happy.

From here on, the battle with resume.

But right now, that tremendous sense of intimidation totally disappeared from Kazuma.

He couldn't feel anything else but a weak Kehai, just like that of a normal person without special powers.

"Nee-sama......it's fine"

Judging Kazuma didn't have anymore battle strength, Ren wanted to ask for Ayano's forgiveness. But, that moment -

"---------!? "

Ayano's eyes opened wide.

In the gap of that one instant she was focused on Ren, Kazuma was before her eyes - he approached to a point-blank range enough for their bodies to touch.

"Wha------"

It was by no means a fast movement. Rather, his walking felt slack.

And yet, for some reason she couldn't react at all.

That way of walking that slipped into the gap between her cognizance and her perception, it was unnatural because it was beyond spontaneous and didn't inspire an out of place feeling to be worthy of her vigilance.

Brushing her feet while she couldn't do nothing and while thinking she's going to fall on her ass, Enraiha's pommel was kicked up.

As if part of a comedic duo, Ayano was thrown down face up, both her hands raised.

When looking up on her field of vision, the night sky and a blurred shoe sole were reflected.

The shoe sole area was rapidly magnified and filled all her field of vision.

"------------!!"

Unable to avoid or defend, Ayano strongly closed her eyes. But even so, mercilessly, Kazuma strikes down the shoe sole with all his strength.

- On the ground, a breath away from Ayano's head lying down face up.

"Well, something like this?"

A voice missing tension reached the petrified Ayano's ear. Next to her head, the foot that even sunk into the ground was drawn back.

Lumps of earth dug up together with his foot, fell on her face in chunks.

"Eeh, aah------"

"I always pay my debts"

Under the cleared up night sky, moonlight was shining upon that fearless smiling face.

Understanding it was Kazuma's familiar tone Ren's eyes sparked.

"Nii-sama"

"Hmm, what?"

Kazuma asked back unnaturally, in really the same manner as usual. Next, he changed his line of sight at his feet as if he saw something very curious.

"So, what are you doing there? Is snugging on the ground so comfortable? "

Quickly getting up, Ayano screamed.

"Didn't you kick me and threw me down!? "

"I'm asking about the reason of you staying kicked and thrown down"

"I'm amazed by your lack of common sense! "

Shouting once more she started sweeping the dust from her hair and face.

And then she stabbed Kazuma with a dangerous gaze.

"Besides, why are you unhurt? "

"I warded it off skillfully.", declared Kazuma nonchalantly.

Those remarks were very simple but it wasn't easy to imagine how much technique finesse was need to be able to say ''I warded it off skillfully'' about that calorific value.

The specific technique must be beyond imagination.

"So, it's fine if I assume you returned to sanity?"

"Well, I don't remember not being sane"

In response to Ayano's continuing cross examination, Kazuma played dumb.

Naturally, that attitude greatly stimulated Ayano's imperial wrath.

"Ho hou, you're spouting those kind of words this late in the game? "

Groaning in a subdued voice, she grabbed Kazuma by the collar, drew his face near and glared at him at point-blank rage, their noses touching.

With a smile Kazuma continued to gaze at the angry face of the still energetic girl.

Yes, once you noticed it, it was a very simple thing.

He decided to protect, just like he swore back them.

So that he won't err again, the duty of those with power - whitewashing, it doesn't really matter.

From that time he was charmed by that red brilliance, he decided.

To exist together, to look over her and to see everything with his own eyes.

The feelings he has for Tsoi Rin, they are still here even now, unchanged.

But, he can no longer use that pretext to cut down his present.

Because there isn't just one precious thing.

From his side Kazuma brought his face closer to Ayano's scowling at him very, very close.

"Wha - W- wait!"

Ayano forgot her anger and was panicking at the quick intimacy, dangerous from another point of view.

But, Kazuma didn't stop.

The distance that was less that five centimeters became three, one and then - minus.

Bringing his lips close to the red ears of the girl that stiffened as if misunderstanding something, Kazuma whispered.

"Prepare yourself, you just reminded me. "

I'll never part once again. He decided so once again.

I won't gave up on anything. I'll obtain everything I want.

"I willful and greedy"

Saying so, he kissed her lightly on the rape of the neck.

"Hyan!?"

The girl who screamed without seductiveness, still didn't realized.

That she had been literally <<claimed>>.

That she was recognized as <<the spoils I'll obtain no matter what>> by the most difficult man of this world.

- Did you think you can escape?

Whether it was unlucky that she failed to hear those whispered words or whether she was fortunate - surely not even the gods know that.

<noinclude>
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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_6|Chapter 6]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 5

2014-01-26T22:10:13Z

Drejzer: /* Chapter 5 - Suppression */

== Chapter 5 - Suppression ==

=== Part 1 ===

By the time Ayano's group appeared, the fight already started.

Flying about lightning, roaring explosions, echoing screams and shouts changed the place were Pandemonium primised to descend, the Shinjuku Central Park, to a hellish picture of agonizing cries.

" - they're being really gaudy, huh? "

Kirika replied in an irresponsible tone to Ayano who murmured so in amazement.

"Yeah. After all, it seems like most of the members are participating. "

In the end, the two days passed without any kind of progress.

Not finding Pandemonium or getting hold of where Kazuma was, Ayano's group arrived to this day when Pandemonium will descent.

As the messenger of Pandemonium, the <<Grand Mage>> Utsumi Kousuke once announced all <<Seeds>>, the first one to reach Pandemonium after it showed itself, would be given an ultimate power.

It this was nothing else but a simple battle royale, the number of people giving up would be pretty big.

In front of the almost overwhelming power of the self-styled <<Fourth Class>> Utsumi, it seemed impossible to win even when forming a group.

But, the condition of winning this game was ''to reach Pandemonium first''.

Of course, there are some advantages to a simple race but there still wasn't a direct connection between combat abilities and the outcome of the battle.

Even if defeating the <<Grand Mage>> was impossible he can still be circumvented.

All the <<Seeds>> smoothly thought so. And then, deliberately to acquire ''the ultimate power''.

As a result, without missing one, they all gathered here. And they the fight began without waiting for Pandemonium to appear.

For the sake of defeating at least one rival as fast as possible.

"So, should we do something about it? "

"Does it look like you can do something about it? "

Looking at the number of <<Seeds>> decreasing by the hour, Ayano and Kirika talked together in indifferent tones.

"Wasn't your lot enough to deal with this degree of power? "

"If they were by themselves"

Behind Kirika shrugging her shoulders, there are five subordinate Jutsushi.

Comparing it to the <<Seeds>>, although in the process of rapid decrease, there were still dozens of them.

No matter how much excellent the Jutsushi were when individually compared, it was still impossible to turn ten times fold enemies powerless without killing them.

"If you let me speak frankly, the current situation is warmly welcomed. The opponents are crushing themselves on their own accord. "

"But I think the police exists only to protect the citizens"

"That depends on the situation. There's no need exhausting our war potential for the sake of protecting the human rights of some criminal", declared Kirika cool-headed.

She won't use her power to save those who can easily hurt another without ever looking back because the law cannot judge them, even if they are nothing more but Bernhardt's or Pandemonium's pieces.

"If Genma-dono would have helped us out, he would have been able to purify all <<Seeds>> in one go. "

"Aah - , no, it's not going to happen"

Ayano carelessly waved her hand at Kirika who looked at her as if investigating.

"That highly esteemed Uncle of mine has no reason to help these idiots who act violently on power borrowed from Youma. If Ojii-sama were to be right here, he would turn to ashes all these idiots ''and'' Pandemonium ''and'' the park, you know"

"Aah, that sounds good"

As if anticipating the gruesome future Ayano talked about, Kirika agreed to it calmly.

"But, why won't Genma-dono come? The enemy is Bernhardt Rhodes. Even if you are the Kannagi Clan, he's not an existence you should ignore. "

"Aah - yeah....."

With a vague a nod, Ayano and Ren exchanged a complicated glance.

"Because Oji-sama is a Kannagi Jutsushi to the core, right......."

"- I don't understand"

"Well, I think it's because he believes in me and Ren so he entrusted this to us..."

Unable to say the truth, Ayano falsified a suitable answer.

"I'm entrusting this matter to you"

The evening before the descent of Pandemonium, Genma told so to Ayano and Ren.

Naturally the two asked back, unable to agree.

"Can you tell us the reason? "

The opponent is the world's highest Majutsushi. No matter how much war potential one had, he is worrisome.

Since Tokyo's spiritual protection is the duty of Kannagi and Bernhardt's deed disturbed that, Genma's participation in the battle was inevitable, his obligation.

It wasn't something that could be overlooked because of private matters.

But, without alluding to that reason, Genma continued.

"Tomorrow, it seems Kazuma will also appear at Pandemonium."

"......it seems so"

"He already became an existence harmful to the Kannagi."

Genma's words were not incorrect.

Beside the <<Seeds>>, Kazuma's violence reached even a Special Information Storage Room Jutsushi, largely deviating from the permissible bounds.

And, although without his intention, Kazuma was even now registered with the Kannagi family name. It wasn't something they could neglect.

"We have no choice but to destroy him."

"--------!!"

That frozen declaration and the violent pressure accompanying it hit Ayano and Ren very hard.

With a start, Ayano's body shook - Ren looked at his Father with eyes full of determination.

"I will - We will persuade him!"

"Not necessary"

"But!"

"Not necessary"

Genma's voice was steady without any gaps. The accelerated growth of that power and heavy pressure that could crush a heart made Ayano curl herself up without ever raising her face.

But even so, the pressure wasn't lifted.

Wondering about it, she examined Ren's situation with a sidelong glance - with his face still raised up he caught Genma's gaze head-on.

The pressure increased again. It's purpose already migrated from coercing to opponent to downright crush him to death, the feeling of oppression was so high it made then think about the danger their lives were in.

"Won't you listen to what I say? "

"I.....won't..!"

With a hoarse but definite voice, Ren assessed his rebellion towards Genma. His forehead was full of sweat and although his grasped fists were shaking on top of his knees, the gaze he fixed on his father's eyes didn't waver for one moment.

''"Ren - when did you become so strong...?"''

In a daze that went beyond surprise, Ayano fixed her eyes on Ren's gallant figure.

Even though until now he always followed her around, a pampered child, a scared cat -

While Ayano wasn't quite present, the father and child exchanged arguments in a sharp tone.

"Beyond the fact he was born from the Head of the Kannagi Family, I cannot tolerate him to be swayed by emotions! Even if he's blood relative - no, exactly because he is, his error won't be tolerated!"

"If he dies.....if he dies he won't be able to atone! If he committed a sin, he should live all the more...isn't he supposed to redeem his faults!? "

While looking at those two, continuing to argue, Ayano suddenly felt doubt.

While insisting on Kazuma's conviction, the fact that he won't participate in the battle doesn't add up.

Not even Genma would think of trying to make her and Ren kill Kazuma by themselves.

Then, why?

Thinking about it, Genma's attitude was dubious since the beginning. He was more oppressive than necessary, his opinion resembling stubbornness.

As if he was stirring up animosity on purpose.

Ayano suddenly remembered something Juugo said long ago.

Genma disinherited Kazuma because the Kannagi Clan was a cage and if he couldn't escape from that cage by himself, he set Kazuma free.

''"Then, this is - "''

If he were to intervene, he will definitely have to kill Kazuma according to the Kannagi mission. And, as he wasn't able to instruct them contrary to the mission, that's why -

At the same time Ayano reached that conclusion, Genma and Ren's argument was about to close.

"I won't give up on anything! I'll persuade Nii-sama, I'll kill Bernhardt and I'll destroy Pandemonium, I'll show you!"

"Just try and see if you can, brat!"

Several times the volume of Ren's shout, Genma roared in a very loud voice that was just like a lion's roar.

But immediately following, he noticed Ayano's gaze staring at him in a daze.

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 199.jpg|thumb|]]

Guessing something from her eyes, Genma expressed a small wry smile and faced Ayano with a serene attitude that made his fury so far hard to believe.

"Ayano"

"Ye........yes..."

"Please take care of it"

".......!!"

Understanding her conjecture was right on the money, Ayano's face had a cramp.

''"Every last one of them - "''

It's not like she didn't understand his feelings but she couldn't help but think so.

''"Why are you trying to force it on me!? I'll do it myself, by myself!"''

".......I see"

Keeping a faint bitterness in her voice, Kirika bowed her head in assent.

She couldn't possibly comprehend Ayano's words but it was also true nothing would come out of voicing her complaints.

It doesn't matter how it's said, what's not there it's not there.

Quickly throwing away the pointless hope, there's no way but to effectively use the hand she was dealt.

"If it's like that you must preserve your power. If Pandemonium and Kazuma will appear, the situation will change, right?"

"......yeah"

"Do you anticipate it?"

"..........."

Ayano became silent and couldn't respond to Kirika's gaze without banter, loaded with serious expectations.

Honestly, her heart wasn't decided yet.

About holding Kazuma back. About blocking that man's way.

Even understating it, it was reckless action. It was like bungee jumping without a rope.

It wasn't something that could be solved by courage and effort.

No matter how she would struggle, she would certainly die - if Kazuma were to become serious.

"Nee-sama"

As if holding on to the heart of his hesitating sister, Ren grabbed Ayano's hands. His eyes already lost all their indecision.

"It will be fine. I'm sure."

"............well, ''you'' will be fine for sure", grumbled Ayano, past the time to give up.

But the situation didn't give her spare time to waver.

"It's coming", murmured Kirika giving up.

Several of the <<Seeds>> also noticed it and were running up to them with bloodshot eyes. They were aiming at getting on Pandemonium first but it wasn't unreasonable to think they will aim at them, standing still close to the park.

At this point expecting sense from them was a waste of time.

"I'll go"

Anticipating the party, Ren stepped forward.

Certainly, having Ren face the sacrifices possessed by the devil manipulating purification flames that destroyed nothing but that nature was appropriate. But -

"Wouldn't it be better for you to preserve your power? "

Using up his power before the crucial will come to nothing.

Ren stared head-on at Ayano who thought so.

"Then, are we going to let them die without helping? Because in front of something bigger a few sacrifices can't be helped? "

"That's - "

Overpowered by that earnest gaze, Ayano instinctively caught her breath.

"Even so, I'll do it. If I have a bigger power in comparison to humans, I want to protect everything with that power. I don't care if it's pride or self-righteousness. I decided to live that way. "

Declaring so without hesitation, Ren started running without waiting for a reply.

Compared with the big frames assaulting him, his body was very small.

But the brightness of that golden flame surging from his body utterly defeated the approaching <<Seeds>> in one blow.

It had no connection with level, class and so forth. That overwhelming power at totally different level exorcised and burned the devilishness without leaving any trace, moreover by delicately adjusting the after-effect, it stunned the hosts.

So, the bodies of the boys that lost consciousness were evacuated by Kirika's subordinates in the vicinity of the park.

"This is so easy"

"Isn't it by relying on civilians, public servant? "

"It's the right person in the right place. Besides - "

Taking Ayano's criticism in one stride, Kirika bragged. But, suddenly revising her attitude, she looked at Ayano.

"So, how long will you stand still?"

"........."

Without reply Ayano feebly cast her eyes down.

"Well, leaving that aside"

As if nothing happened, Kirika changed her line of sight from Ayano to the watch.

"I think Ren-kun's determination is noble but won't you wait another minute?"

"One more minute?"

Ren too looked at his watch. The time right now is 11:59 P.M.

"What happens at midnight? "

"Pandemonium will emerge"

Ayano and Ren became speechless at that sleek announcement.

"Wh- wait, when did you find such a specific moment? "

"I didn't know or anything but isn't that a general guess? There's not another more appropriate time for something belonging to the spirit world to appear in this one, no? "

"............"

"Midnight represents the threshold between yesterday and today. And the threshold between today and tomorrow. It is yesterday, today and tomorrow. The only moment when the time's absolute laws become ambiguous. Therefore the boundaries between the spirit world and this world also become ambiguous and various apparitions erode the reality - "

Finishing her song-like narration, Kirika completely changed and continued in a pragmatic tone.

"Well, it can only be that time besides Majutsushi are endlessly fussing over about agreeing with that consistency. "

"I see, then we'll wait. It will be here before long anyway. "

Agreeing to Kirika's words, Ayano nodded.

How will the situation change in response to Pandemonium's arrival - she was thinking it won't be late to start moving after seeing that.

And after ten more seconds passed, ''the time of threshold'' arrived.

The time that is and isn't where anything can happen.

Soundless, the space shook.

After a pause of one moment, this time the ground shook, involved in a physical shock. That vibration, definitely not an earthquake, was as if a huge mass was suddenly dropped on the ground -

''" - tch, aren't you doing whatever you like? "''

Cursing inside her chest, Ayano shifted her focus on the direction the abnormality seemed to originate from.

''That'' was inside an enshrouding cloud of dust. As if it continued being there without chance for a hundred years, grave, firmly.

Even though it was far, she understood it quickly - it was an antique looking shape. Declined like a dilapidated house and yet despite of that it had a decadent presence filled with dark hot air.

Just about everything was as before, the fact that it was destroyed together with the Tokyo Government Office was nothing but a dream, and Pandemonium was reigning there with its overwhelming presence.

"It's pretty far, huh? Exactly right in the center of the park? ", murmured Kirika, without showing any kind of surprise at the sudden state of urgency.

Even Ayano, similarly used to the lack of common sense, replied very calm.

"That's about right, but I won't know for sure before I get a little bit closer."

Perceiving that the power of <<Seeds>> was rapidly growing, Ayano strengthened her vigilance. Surveying the scene, the fray without rules or any kind of sense was completely interrupted.

The <<Seeds>> stood rock still as if their souls had been unplugged. Contrary to that atmosphere, the power was rising continuously.

Some worthless thing is about to happen again - Ayano believed so.

"Uuu.....uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu......"

Suddenly, one of the <<Seeds>> let out a moan. He hugged his body closely as if he was enduring something, and squat.

"Uuguuuuu.....Uruuuuraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!"

A frail moan. But, that gradually changed to a scream. His face looking downward turned to the night sky, and the man shriek as if tearing his throat.

And then, a rapid variation was produced.

The man's flesh started to expand, his clothes torn off from the inside. The surface of his exposed body was covered in too much muscle than it was humanly possible, wrapping him up.

At last his head, accomplished a transformation from his skeletal structure that seemed to have ended for the present.

From the gap of his largely split mouth, sharp fangs showed and the man - howled at the moon.

"WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNN--"

Knitting her brows Ayano watched how both his heart and body degenerated equally to that of a beast.

"Lycantrophy ----?"

"It's not something that cute.", answered Kirika looking at the surroundings.

Following that gaze, Ayano grimaced.

".........wah"

That grotesque transformation affected the majority of the <<Seeds>>.

In one case, only one part of a man's body turned while the rest remained human, another completely deviated from the human form.

In the end just like slimes of fog, they were reduced to beings unable to maintain a fixed shape.

"Ugh, is this possibly - "

"They woke up maybe? "

The real seeds living as parasites in the bodies of <<Seeds>> were Youma in a dormant state.

"In comparison with the same raw materials there is plenty of variation in their outward appearance - I think there's a discrepancy in the growth process and the host they fed on."

"This is not the place to leisurely express your reasoning, no? "

"Huh, there's nothing we can do except for this. "

Kirika replied without shyness to Ayano's retort.

".........that may be so"

There is a wide difference in ability between the human who uses the Youma's power and the one that completely became a Youma. Even if it's a low class one, the Jutsushi with low combat abilities from the Special Information Storage Room will find it a heavy burden.

"Aah, they're moving"

As Ren called Ayano to attention, they shifted they focus on the Youma.

The group of Youma that ate their hosts to exhaustion moved for the first time. Without exception, they headed for Pandemonium.

Those few <<Seeds>> that retained their awareness indomitably shuffled their feet.

A violent race began.

It was like a group of ogres competing for food. Those being in the vanguard pulled and killed each other in a combined effort, those following stepped on them and changed them to rags and if two were at the same distance they skinned each other with they fangs, not allowing the others to move forward.

Ayano's group stood rock still and silent faced with the battle several times more bloody that before.

"Eeh......, this is...."

After several seconds - completely pulling herself together, Ayano muttered to herself.

"Are they being called? "

"Or there's still a small portion of the host's consciousness - at any rate, we should stop them from reaching Pandemonium. Nothing good would come out of it."

"I agree"

Just as they were about to run after exchanging a short agreement, at that time -

Suddenly, the atmosphere changed.

The dry wind hurts the skin.

That thoroughly, thoroughly overwhelming force and the air full of killing intent spread out over the entire park like a mantle.

"What now -!?"

Bernhardt started something else - Ayano immediately thought so.

But, Kirika looked at the sky with a serious face and groaned disgusted.

"You came, huh - Kazuma"

"Kazuma!? This!?"

"Who else it there? ", declared Kirika matter of fact to Ayano, who opened her eyes wide with unconcealed fright.

"A man who rules the atmosphere so overwhelmingly - there's no one else but him, right? "

"B- but........but........"

Pressuring her body - no, the entire surrounding airspace, that oppressive intent felt only ominous.

The urge to attack was making her body feel on the edge, as if it was about to be cut down.

Similar to the release of a pack of starving wolfs, that Kehai was showing its dazzling lust.

Is this - is ''this'' - is this Kazuma's power?

"You're lying.........it cannot, be like this..........."

"I believe I told you to forget about the Kazuma you knew."

She remembered about two years before.

The avatar of a storm spreading death and destruction.

Prepared to destroy the entire world for the sake of revenge, for the sake of killing one person, that man was equivalent with a living disaster.

"This is also Kazuma. No, maybe only this is Kazuma. "

"..........let's go", Ren asked the dazed Ayano in front of Kirika trembling in fear.

That voice was carrying a fear that couldn't be concealed but nevertheless the determination to move forward doesn't shake.

"Detective Tachibana - ?"

"I apologize. From here on, it's impossible for us", determined Kirika controlling Ren's words.

"I'm sorry but beyond this point go just the two of you. We will fall back and spread a barrier around the park. Because of instinct or because they were ordered they're all heading to Pandemonium right now but if they were to meet ''him'' a few will probably run towards us."

"That's right. We're leaving it to you."

Ren agreed after thinking about it a little and urged Ayano once more.

"Let's go"

"Y- yeah...."

Maybe because she couldn't accept Kazuma's transformation yet, Ayano was hesitating with an indecisive attitude.

Seeing that, Kirika placed her hand on Ayano's shoulder as if trying to encourage her and smiled a little.

"Listen to me, Ayano-chan, I think you may be successful without having to think too much about it"

If she were told something like this in normal circumstances, Ayano's face would flush red in anger.

But, there was pretty much no reaction now. Without looking at Kirika, she answered in a murmur.

"............I'll put in my best effort"

"....................go for it"

Understanding that she didn't manage to stir Ayano, eventually Kirika sent out the girl with a feeble smile.

=== Part 2 ===

"........it turned up, huh?"

Due to the collapse of the Tokyo Government Office, overlooking the Central Park from the highest floor of the partially destroyed National Diet Building, Kazuma murmured.

Close to the center of the park, an old western style house instantly made an appearance.

A large quantity of Youki gathered and was in the process of going there but for him right now that is inconsequential.

That's right, everything else is not worth worrying about. There are just two important things.

To kill - that annoying Majutsushi.

To break - that disgusting doll imitating his beloved.

He won't let anything get in the way. He won't stop.

Because he took this power for the sake of revenge.

"Just wait, Bernhardt"

The moment he kicked the foothold and soared into the sky, Kazuma suddenly remembered.

That once, the same thing happened.

"Humph........"

Kazuma laughed at the repeating farce.

At that time, Kazuma challenged the Majutsushi for Tsoi Rin.

At that time, to rescue her. And this time, to kill.

The objective was reversed. But, the result will still be the same. Because right now, he has that much power.

Because right now, he has that much power enough to make the world obey his will, for the sake of fulfilling his objective.

''"How regretful. How unsightly even if I say so myself"''

But even so, he cannot help but think. Just like he thought thousands, tens of thousands before.

''If he only had this power back then''

"Stooooooooooop it!!"

Kazuma screamed at the top of his voice - or so he wanted but what came through his broken throat resembled a hoarse stridor not recognizable words.

The man didn't turned around.

He looked at him once at the beginning but then perfectly ignoring Kazuma's existence he performed the ceremony - and the he carried it out.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Without asking for agreement, he showed Kazuma that sad sight. The whole story of stealing everything from the existence of the woman he loved.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

He couldn't do anything. Not rescuing her, not even delaying the ceremony by at least a second.

Not allowed anything, not accomplishing anything, he lost his most precious thing.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

His hands and feet were completely broken, he couldn't stand up. He could only let out hollow moans and shed tears from his eyes that were miraculously safe.

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa"

Abruptly the weight disappeared from his back. Handling Kazuma like a baby, the familiar that mercilessly trampled him down, wanted to put his legs out of the way.

The familiar quickly backed off and went down on his knees respectfully. Of course, not in front of Kazuma. In front of its master that stepped in front of Kazuma.

Pointing hie eyeballs upward to the almost limit Kazuma looked up at the man. He no longer had the energy to move his neck.

"........Er...win......"

With a grazed voice he called the name of the enemy. The man - Erwin Leszaar looked down on Kazuma as if looking at a spot on the floor.

According to the legend, he was at the very least three hundred years old but no matter how you look at it those features were of a young man in his twenties.

Hid blond hair, blue eyes and white skin turned him to the very picture of a handsome man.

"I don't really understand but - ", Erwin asked Kazuma bending his head slightly in wonder.

"After all, why did you came here? "

"........!!"

He didn't make fun of him. That was a genuine question.

Understanding his do or die action was only recognized as a disturbance, Kazuma's body burned in humiliation.

"Thinking about it, even your situation is a little unclear. You can use some Jutsu but not enough to call yourself a Jutsushi. Aah, your <<Ki>> is nicely mature and well-rounded. It's a big deal considering how young you are! "

Without carrying about Kazuma's thoughts Erwin continued talking one-sided.

"But that's all. Are you a master of martial arts who can dabble just a little bit in Jutsu, are you some dropped out smatterer aiming to become a Jutsushi - at any rate, in front of a real Majutsushi that degree of power is mere child's play.

You understand that much, right? "

''"So what.........?"''

Kazuma responded with a gaze loaded with an infinite number of curses.

''"So, should I have abandoned her? Would it have been better to give up? "

".........Tsoi........Rin........"

He only said those two words. The name of the girl he wanted to protect but couldn't.

"Tsoi Rin? Aah, the name of the miss who became a sacrifice. Then you came here to rescue her - without considering your chances? "

As if giving praise to Kazuma's courage, a smile was etched into his lips. And then he completely changed -

"How foolish that was"

"......!!"

Kazuma's body trembled in fury. But, that body, already couldn't move even a finger.

If he could move for a second, only for a second, he will definitely bite that man's windpipe -

"At the expense of that girl, I received life. She did very well, that girl. However, your death, because you couldn't obstruct the ceremony, is really meaningless. A human should die in a more meaningful manner - don't you agree? "

"Fu....fuck, you....."

That was the greatest fury he felt so far. As if he had already died, it wasn't because his death would be in vain.

He self-consciously knew he was fatally wounded. Even assuming they'll leave him as it it without the final blow, he will die in a few hours anyway.

That was inconsequential. Because he had already lost the reason to stay alive.

''"She did very well, huh? "''

While stealing Tsoi Rin's life, the shamelessness of talking about her death as meaningful - he could never allow such a thing.

Kazuma knew the meaning of becoming a sacrifice to the devil.

That wasn't a mere corporeal death. It was the extinction of the soul, of the existence itself.

She will never be born again, the return to absolute nothingness.

The ultimate ''end''.

Even when the last judgment will come, Tsoi Rin won't be saved.

".........damn...you......."

Spitting out a jeer weaker that a sigh, Kazuma glared at Erwin.

Why, did Tsoi Rin had to die?

For the selfish desire of this man.

Why. Why. Why.

"Well then"

Losing his interest towards Kazuma, Erwin left the room.

"Clean this up"

".......Wait.....bastard........."

He reached out feebly - when he wanted to reach out he convulsed - Kazuma's right arm was crushed under the familiar's foot. Another long bone was broken.

".......Gaaah....."

While spitting out blood froth together with that small shriek, Kazuma looked up at the familiar's appearance.

With features of both demon and beast, a lower grade devil whose ugly exterior inspired revulsion in those who looked at him.

Will he be killed by something like this?

Kazuma was wrapped in a sense of helplessness. He lost the girl he had to protect, he couldn't retaliate even once against the Majutsushi he should kill, and will die here without killing at least one of those pawns?

The familiar's mug changed to sneer. Those sharp claws that mangled Kazuma many times were pushed out for show.

".......Will I.....die......?"

If those claws were to stab him, he will die this time. It wasn't a guess, he understood it was a definite fact.

He was supposed to have already lost his meaning to live. He was supposed not to mind even death.

But, even so - as expected, death is scary.

Without reason, he purely thought ''I don't want to die''. And then -

=== Part 3 ===

From Ren's mouth, a moan of unbearable fear leaked out.

Pandemonium appeared in the center of the park, as if trying to crush the Niagara waterfall.

The water plaza that was there, before the waterfall, spread out like Pandemonium's front garden.

And then - right there right now was looking like heaps of bodies and streams of blood.

Both humans and demons systemically torn to pieces evenly were lying down their contents scattered.

The head group of <<Seeds>> and <<Youma>> aiming at Pandemonium encountered ''it'' just before reaching their goal.

Exhausting the nourishment of the host, the Youma achieved a complete manifestation of their devilishness.

The demon power - regardless of orientation - governed the seeds with a strong will.

You could say that every one of them was a match for a thousand, existences that could manipulate a mighty power.

But -

"Aah......"

There was already no way of telling how many had they been. Even the distinction between the corpses of humans and demons disappeared.

In just one instant.

Everything was exterminated in a moment. By just one raging, wild Fujutsushi.

"Nii........sama......."

Overawed by the overwhelming power, Ren could do nothing else but moan.

Ayano had already lost her voice.

At the center of that raging power, ''he'' was.

Stepping over the broken pieces of those corpses, his glare fixed on Pandemonium soaring before his eyes.

Yagami Kazuma - the avatar of death and destruction ruling the windstorm.

The surging wind, like an armor, like a blade, was circling around him.

Because of the tremendous frictional heat of the atmosphere vortex, electrical discharges were born everywhere in the sky and the wind tower stabbing at the sky was colored a dazzling white.

That was literally a thunder storm. The iron hammer of the atmosphere clad in lightning, that would burn and destroy everything it touches.

"Is this........is this Nii-sama's true, power.........", murmured Ren to himself in a trembling voice.

But he realized the next moment that even that recognition was too naive.

That irrational power even under normal circumstances, was showed elevated even more.

The flickering white light was shining in the dark night, the endlessly amplificating ascending air current calling out thunder clouds overhead.

The vocal duet of rearing thunder both on heaven and earth resembled the howl of a demon beast.

"Ni......Nii-sama!"

Without seeming to have heard Ren's voice Kazuma was looking straight at Pandemonium.

Probably not taking the time to especially search for Bernhardt, he was planning to blow away the whole Pandemonium.

Certainly, in front of this kind of abuse of power, no matter how huge or solid the mansion is, it was the same as a shack.

Without withstanding it for even a second, it will definitely vanish without leaving behind even ash.

But, Ren didn't want to see his brother like that. The Kazuma he admired would never do such a thing. And above all -

"Nii-sama, please stop! Even if you do that Tsoi Rin-san won't be pleased. "

As expected, unable to ignore Tsoi Rin's name, Kazuma showed a small but immediate reaction.

Securing that effect, Ren raised his voice even more.

"Please collect yourself! Even if you get your revenge, the dead won't come back! If Tsoi Rin-san could see Nii-sama right now, I'm sure she would be sad! That's why, that's why - "

"What the fuck are you saying? "

Turning around, Kazuma looked at Ren quizzical. That face was unexpectedly calm but didn't appear like he forgot about his anger.

"How can the dead be sad? "

"Eeh, b- but......"

"Didn't I tell you before. Death is the ''end''."

Kazuma informed Ren, perplexed by the unexpected reaction, in a matter of fact.

"Those harboring dreams, those mad with hatred, those that loved others, when they die everything turns to nothing. Therefore, no matter what I do, the dead won't be delighted. They won't be sad. They don't feel - anything. "

"......nii,sama........"

"If you thought I want to kill Bernhardt because of Tsoi Rin, that's your mistake. I'll kill him because I want to kill him for myself. I'll kill those that want to get in my way. I'll kill those that get in my way. It's that simple. "

"But, Nii-sama - "

"Ren"

Kazuma interrupted coldly the appeal of his little brother, already without arguments but still wanting to stop him.

"Shut up already. Your words won't stop me"

"nii,sama......"

" - Will you get in my way, Ren? "

''If you get in my way - with words very clear to understand without listening to the second part, Kazuma gave him a warning.

Ren had no words to defeat that.

''"this is something - right?"''

With a mood that it was someone else's problem, Ayano is watching attentively the back and forth argument between the two.

If she were to judge it objectively, she thought that Ren's defeat was a reasonable consequence.

To begin with, rather than an argument, it was closer to trying to get the other party agree with what you have to say.

The person who agreed on it's response from the beginning, the person with a solid resolution that will go forward to the very last even if he's wrong, for those kind of people the words of others have no meaning.

It's obvious that those words are spent in vain.

But even so.

Right now Ayano felt an uncommon discomfort towards Kazuma.

If Kazuma is that kind of man, if he can understand reason, in spite of agreeing with his feelings when she placed the figure of that man in her field of vision, she's unable to suppress a discomforting something.

Of course, that does not mean she has a plan to stop Kazuma.

Rather, she believed that's not something a human can achieve.

Looking up at the thunder cloud heavily covering the night sky, Ayano let out a long breath of admiration.

What was Kazuma controlling right now couldn't be described by such a narrow phenomenon like wind. It was the atmosphere, the airflow and the weather itself.

Who on earth believed that such a behavior was possible for just one Jutsushi.

Right now Kazuma's power was at a totally different level even by the Kannagi's standards.

And yet, why, it wasn't all that scary?

''"Wrong, not like that. It's scary - but because it's scary, it's not scary at all"''

While murmuring inside her chest such contradictory words, Ayano started walking.

While she didn't know herself what she wanted to do.

In front, of Kazuma.

"Ne- Nee-sama.........?"

Ignoring Ren's appeal, as if protecting Pandemonium, she blocked Kazuma's way.

"Kuuu.....uu......"

In the act of doing so, the torrent of killing intent rushed towards her.

Until now she she blocked his way once or twice but this was the first time this kind of bare thirst for blood was slapped into her.

The fear was about to crush her heart.

Confronting him directly she understood it clearly. The difference between herself, and that overwhelming power

''- is this Nii-sama's true power - ''

Ren's words were resurrected in her ears.

They pierced her heart just like thorns, together with an indistinct sense of discomfort.

Looking at the sky, she thought.

''This is Kazuma's real power''

- really?

Right away, words of doubt crossed her mind. It was definitely overwhelming.

There's no mistake, from everything she saw until now this is the greatest power.

But, but even so -

" - Aah, so that's the reason"

Abruptly Ayano realized the reason for her discomfort.

That instant, both fear and cowardice became of little importance, the kind of emotions she could ignore.

She looked hard at Kazuma straightforward. Including anger and irritation for the man who fell so low.

"I understand why detective Tachibana and Ren want to stop you. Right now you're so ugly I cannot look at you. "

"Step aside. You're in the way", declared Kazuma indifferently without showing any reaction even to Ayano's words.

Ayano too, continued to ignore Kazuma.

"To be honest, I admired you. I thought that someday I'll catch up with you and you'll approve of me.

- Though in fact, there was no need to expressly tell you. "

"I won't say it a third time. Step aside"

In a monotonous tone Kazuma gave her the final warning. It did not seem that Ayano's words made an impression.

Even so, without hesitation, Ayano boldly declared.

"That's why I can't tolerate you the way you are now. I cannot accept that such an ugly thing was my landmark. I'll open your eyes even by force! "

Together with that declaration, Ayano slapped her palms together.

That dry sound of clapping hands resounded thoroughly clear, pressing down the thunder and scattering the windstorm uneventfully.

Separating the joined hands, a line of red fire connected the space between the palms.

Gripping that flame line with her right hand, and swinging in in a mowing down movement to pull it out.

The line of fire stretching for one meter, instantly materialized forming a brilliant red sword.

The vibrantly red blade, the double edged straight sword.

The blade was clad in golden flames, that appearance releasing a beautiful brilliance was so lovely it was fairy-tale like.

Pointing at him the secret treasure of the Kannagi family, the absolutely invincible conquering the devil divine sword, Enraiha, Ayano showed a fearless smile.

"The way you are right now, I can easily kill you - but don't worry. I'll go easy on you. I'll teach you how does a Spirit Jutsushi fight!"

Kazuma was silent. Following his previous notice, he didn't warn her a third time and fired a wind blade without hesitation.

Ayano swung Enraiha with all her strength at that blow filled with nothing but pure killing intent.

"Guu......uuh.........."

Unable to stop the fast wind blade mowing down, Ayano backed off several steps. Even so, enduring it without breaking her stance, she sharpened her reflexes preparing herself for the next attack.

A three stranded blow. One approaching from the front, and other two describing an arc and coming from left and right.

Ayano hit head-on the frontal attack and by purposefully letting herself be blown away she dodged those coming from the sides.

Curling up her body to let the shock loose while tumbling, she stood up by using that force.

While setting up Enraiha warily, she checked for damage.

''"Ok, it's fine. But even so, no way, I'm being over-matched - "''

The fact that she was forced back by fighting from the front was unexpected.

The Enjutsushi who was supposed to be the strongest was underpowered in front of the Fuujutsushi who was supposed to be the weakest - if it's a fight between two users beyond first-class, that was a very improbable phenomenon.

But, the reason is simple. Kazuma strength easily breaks trough what is known as common sense. It was just that.

The strongest Fujutsushi, the one Ayano knew, Kazamaki Ryouya of the Fuuga Clan and the Youma possessing him - even if once she and Kazuma managed to bring him down somehow, Kazuma right now is surpassing even that.

''"But - "''

On top of that Kazuma yet again has the trump card - the power of the Contractor sealed inside him.

"You...!!"

A tremendously heavy blow that didn't seem to be made of air, plus a freebie with a lightning supplement.

Every time they exchanged blows, escaping even Enraiha's protection, a strong numbness was running through her whole body.

''"But, but even so!"''

Does Kazuma understand? That although he's fighting her seriously he has yet to kill her, the meaning of it?

Rebuking her body becoming numb from the two layered attack - high impact and lightning strike, Ayano grasped Enraiha tightly.

''"I won't lose. I'll never lose! Not, not when Kazuma became so weak!"''

If the opponent was the real Kazuma, she would have been killed ten times already.

Because Ayano would never be able to perceive everything about those sharply honed wind blades.

Without knowing when and how she will be killed, she's only notice her head dropping down - that was supposed to be the reasonable end.

If the opponent was the real Kazuma, Ayano would never fear him.

Because it would be so natural, it would be so grand, the capacity of feeling fear wouldn't see it coming at all.

But, for Kazuma right now, she can see the upper limit.

He is certainly strong. Overwhelmingly strong. But, even so, right now she can reach him.

She has that self-confidence,

Kazuma's wind was more sharp, more fast.

There's nothing to fear from this rough, powerful attack.

So what if she's stuck by lightning? That thing is nothing more but the useless byproduct of frictional heat.

For Kazuma's real wind, there would be no need to add such extras.

It would be a high speed blow exceedingly purified, cold and sharply honed.

That was what Ayano admired, what was her objective,because it was Kazuma's battle style.

"Everything you thought me - I'll give it all back to you! "

She added a swelling power to the blade. Thoroughly finer and sharper, squeezing all that power in one point -

"Deyaaaaa!!"

Swinging down Enraiha together with a yell, the wind blade was skillfully beheaded.

"Wh.......at..........?"

"Don't be surprised by such a thing! "

Aiming at Kazuma, whose eyes were wide with surprise, Ayano plunged into him in a straight line. Without giving him the time to use Jutsu, to reach him with her sword.

Kazuma smoothly handled his body and avoided the blow that could split a bamboo in two.

He dodged even the retaliating blade as close as a millimeter. Simultaneously he jumped.

The light jump using his legs only below the knees, moved him at a distance of a few meters by riding on the wind.

Quicker than Ayano who tried once more to reduce the distance, Kazuma fired countless wind blades.

The swarm of blades approaching from every direction, circled Ayano without gaps as if it was a cage forged of blades.

"Haaa! "

Ayano rotated fer body on the axis quickly making Enraiha do one revolution.

The point of the sword drew a perfect angle thoroughly burning to nothing all the wind.

As if facing the fragments of the falling, burning wind, the color of shock seemed to paint Kazuma's face.

That only made Ayano's irritation become worse.

''"Why are you surprised by something like this? "''

Doesn't he understand yet? Doesn't he realize it yet? Even though she doesn't want to see him like that -

"Didn't you teach me all this? The meaning of power! The way to use it! The way we should be! "

She couldn't forgive him. She'll never accept it. This is not Kazuma.

''''This is not my Kazuma. ''''

I'll definitely open your eyes. Fired up by that strong decision, Ayano seeks even more power.

The power that was boiling from inside her body, the power overflowing on the entire world.

Adding it up and polishing it, she poured it on the blade held in her hand.

''"It's not enough yet. More, more - "''

According to Ayano's will, the flame gushing out from Enraiha, rapidly increased its brilliance.

At the same time, the golden flame was gradually tinged red.

"Ne, Nee-sama!? "

staring at the scarlet flame as if doubting his eyes, Ren shouted.

But, nothing except the Kazuma in front of her reached Ayano's consciousness.

Not Ren's voice and, not even the meaning of the color her flame was releasing - And then, Ayano brandished Enraiha.

''"What the heck is going on? "''

Kazuma couldn't really understand.

Why, does the likes of Ayano must give him so much trouble. No, on the contrary, right now he was completely pressured.

''''Why''''. That word, was repeated over and over in Kazuma's mind.

''''Why'''', can't he kill Ayano?

''''Why'''', is Ayano so strong?

''''Why'''', must he kill Ayano?

"------!?"

Suddenly the doubt that popped into his head stopped Kazuma's thinking.

It was supposed to be something he shouldn't even have to think about. Eliminating all obstacles, there was only that.

- Towards what purpose?

''"Isn't that obvious? To kill Bernhardt and to break Lapis. I am here, only for this reason"

"Didn't you teach me all this!? "

In Kazuma's ears, wondering to himself, Ayano's voice full of anger jumped in.

Now that you mention it, he sometime may have said something like that while acting self-important.

For someone who desired power only for revenge it was an odd thing to say but right now, thinking back on that time, he may have admired himself for it.

For the sake of protecting - Then, what happens to those he couldn't protect?

The power he obtained after losing everything - how the heck should he use it?

Even his revenge was already over.

Killing Bernhardt after this is something trivial. A simple cleaning after.

If so, maybe he wouldn't mind being killed here by Ayano.

Desperately thinking, he looked at the girl burning with anger.

He opened his eyes wide. The brilliance of the dazzling red flame stole his heart.

He saw it only once during the fight with Ryouya, Ayano's - Ayano only's flame.

He couldn't resist being fascinated. He couldn't look away.

That girl he had no interest in except the fact that she was ''the Suzerain's daughter'', the brilliance of her soul.

He had no intention of telling anyone but Kazuma secretly named that flame ''''Kouen''''.

For this girl who gives off a brilliance like that of the sun, the name ''''Kouen'''' (trad: solar prominence) suits her.

Right now, Ayano's body was clad in the same flame like that time.

It is by far more refined, a sharpened shape.

That right, just like she said, Kazuma taught her that.

The gathering and convergence of that power, with words and attitude, he continued to teach her.

This is the result of it.

The fruition of both talent and great effort, that one extremity of Enjutsu.

He, on the other hand -

Kazuma looked at the wind he was manipulating. Entrusting his overflowing power to rage, indeed it was an ugly wind.

Because he thought nothing of harmony and such, he inflicted terrible damage to the surroundings.

Of course, it was pointlessly big.

''"I can't win with this"''

In front of Kazuma, smiling bitterly, Ayano raised Enraiha overhead.

The golden flame emitted from all over her body, was focused on that blade.

And then, she swung it downwards without hesitation.

"Just wake up alreaaaaaaaaaaaaaady!"

Staring at the excellent gallant figure of the girl with all his heart, as always, Kazuma thought.

''"No, if I were to receive this blow I would sleep eternally, normally - "''

Immediately following - the surging red flame scattered the hard wind clad in lightning, defeating the mad Fujutsushi.

=== Part 4 ===

The wind died down, the thunder ceased, and the park regained his silence.

Dumbfounded, absolutely dumbfounded, Ren stared at the spectacle in front of his eyes.

Holding Enraiha, Ayano in a vigilant posture.

Forward from her, the collapsed Kazuma, his body sunk in the trunk of a tree.

None moved. No, rather that didn't move, one side couldn't move.

After several seconds - convinced Kazuma was out, Ayano raised her eyes to the night sky and let out a small sigh.

The feeling of tension that filled this place soundlessly came apart.

Just now, Ren came to his senses. He ran up to Ayano while shouting.

"Ne- Nee-sama! What a thing! "

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 237.jpg|thumb|Caption text]]

An obvious voice of reproach. But, without minding it, Ayano showed the victory sigh, smiling a smile of satisfaction.

"He he - my first victory"

"First victory, you say?.........what would have happened if you killed him!? "

The pressing question was even more reproachful, and finally noticing she was blamed Ayano spoke as if trying to justify herself.

"Aah, no, I don't think he's dead. If that were a direct hit, there would be no remaining body"

The attack had that kind of caloric value. A human body would never survive it.

The fact that Kazuma's body retained it's original form, means he had some kind of defense plan and at least avoided the direct hit.

"But even so, going so far - "

Ren wanted to argue even more but was suddenly interrupted by Ayano, who recovered her serious face.

Standing in the front and pushing Ren aside, Ayano set up Enraiha once more.

Ren Ren turned around quick-witted and agile and looked at the same thing as Ayano.

It was Yagami Kazuma's figure, slowly standing up.

"Nii-sama! "

Ren raised his voice with great joy, while simultaneously realizing he shouldn't be happy.

From here on, the battle with resume.

But right now, that tremendous sense of intimidation totally disappeared from Kazuma.

He couldn't feel anything else but a weak Kehai, just like that of a normal person without special powers.

"Nee-sama......it's fine"

Judging Kazuma didn't have anymore battle strength, Ren wanted to ask for Ayano's forgiveness. But, that moment -

"---------!? "

Ayano's eyes opened wide.

In the gap of that one instant she was focused on Ren, Kazuma was before her eyes - he approached to a point-blank range enough for their bodies to touch.

"Wha------"

It was by no means a fast movement. Rather, his walking felt slack.

And yet, for some reason she couldn't react at all.

That way of walking that slipped into the gap between her cognizance and her perception, it was unnatural because it was beyond spontaneous and didn't inspire an out of place feeling to be worthy of her vigilance.

Brushing her feet while she couldn't do nothing and while thinking she's going to fall on her ass, Enraiha's pommel was kicked up.

As if part of a comedic duo, Ayano was thrown down face up, both her hands raised.

When looking up on her field of vision, the night sky and a blurred shoe sole were reflected.

The shoe sole area was rapidly magnified and filled all her field of vision.

"------------!!"

Unable to avoid or defend, Ayano strongly closed her eyes. But even so, mercilessly, Kazuma strikes down the shoe sole with all his strength.

- On the ground, a breath away from Ayano's head lying down face up.

"Well, something like this?"

A voice missing tension reached the petrified Ayano's ear. Next to her head, the foot that even sunk into the ground was drawn back.

Lumps of earth dug up together with his foot, fell on her face in chunks.

"Eeh, aah------"

"I always pay my debts"

Under the cleared up night sky, moonlight was shining upon that fearless smiling face.

Understanding it was Kazuma's familiar tone Ren's eyes sparked.

"Nii-sama"

"Hmm, what?"

Kazuma asked back unnaturally, in really the same manner as usual. Next, he changed his line of sight at his feet as if he saw something very curious.

"So, what are you doing there? Is snugging on the ground so comfortable? "

Quickly getting up, Ayano screamed.

"Didn't you kick me and threw me down!? "

"I'm asking about the reason of you staying kicked and thrown down"

"I'm amazed by your lack of common sense! "

Shouting once more she started sweeping the dust from her hair and face.

And then she stabbed Kazuma with a dangerous gaze.

"Besides, why are you unhurt? "

"I warded it off skillfully.", declared Kazuma nonchalantly.

Those remarks were very simple but it wasn't easy to imagine how much technique finesse was need to be able to say ''I warded it off skillfully'' about that calorific value.

The specific technique must be beyond imagination.

"So, it's fine if I assume you returned to sanity?"

"Well, I don't remember not being sane"

In response to Ayano's continuing cross examination, Kazuma played dumb.

Naturally, that attitude greatly stimulated Ayano's imperial wrath.

"Ho hou, you're spouting those kind of words this late in the game? "

Groaning in a subdued voice, she grabbed Kazuma by the collar, drew his face near and glared at him at point-blank rage, their noses touching.

With a smile Kazuma continued to gaze at the angry face of the still energetic girl.

Yes, once you noticed it, it was a very simple thing.

He decided to protect, just like he swore back them.

So that he won't err again, the duty of those with power - whitewashing, it doesn't really matter.

From that time he was charmed by that red brilliance, he decided.

To exist together, to look over her and to see everything with his own eyes.

The feelings he has for Tsoi Rin, they are still here even now, unchanged.

But, he can no longer use that pretext to cut down his present.

Because there isn't just one precious thing.

From his side Kazuma brought his face closer to Ayano's scowling at him very, very close.

"Wha - W- wait!"

Ayano forgot her anger and was panicking at the quick intimacy, dangerous from another point of view.

But, Kazuma didn't stop.

The distance that was less that five centimeters became three, one and then - minus.

Bringing his lips close to the red ears of the girl that stiffened as if misunderstanding something, Kazuma whispered.

"Prepare yourself, you just reminded me. "

I'll never part once again. He decided so once again.

I won't gave up on anything. I'll obtain everything I want.

"I willful and greedy"

Saying so, he kissed her lightly on the rape of the neck.

"Hyan!?"

The girl who screamed without seductiveness, still didn't realized.

That she had been literally <<claimed>>.

That she was recognized as <<the spoils I'll obtain no matter what>> by the most difficult man of this world.

- Did you think you can escape?

Whether it was unlucky that she failed to hear those whispered words or whether she was fortunate - surely not even the gods know that.

<noinclude>
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|-
| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_6|Chapter 6]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 4

2014-01-26T21:57:36Z

Drejzer: /* Part 3 */

== Chapter 4 - Determination and hesitation and... ==

=== Part 1 ===

Lying upside-down on the bed in her room, Ayano let out a profound breath, emptying her lungs.

Burring her face in the pillow, she let out all her power. After several seconds -

"........Stopping Kazuma, huh........"

Those isolated grumbled words, naturally, reached no one's ears bur her own.

A second sigh.

Sluggishly turning around, she look upwards. She held her hand out in front oh her eyes blocking the fluorescent light.

''"What are you telling me to do........"''

That complaint without ambition vanished inside her chest without a voice.

No matter how she thought about it, there wasn't even a particle of a chance of success.

Just who on earth will try and stop that man, that snapped and lost even his discrimination ability.

Recalling the conversation during the evening, Ayano let out a third sigh.

"Do you understand what you're saying - Ren? "

"Let's stop Nii-sama"

Entering the room, Ren declared so without even the returning home greeting.

At the abrupt thing, Ayano stared at Ren in wonder. And then, she scowled.

She perceived in the boy's eyes the same light of determination just like that time.

"Ren? What happened, so suddenly? "

Close to the bewildered Ayano, Kirika pointed a sharp gaze to Ren. She asked to verify.

"You met him? "

Ren nodded in silence.

"in Shinjuku. He was tormenting a group of five <<Seeds>> as he tried to find information about Pandemonium. "

"......Isn't that usual? "

Not understanding why Ren's expression was so stiff, Ayano replied in a light tone.

But, without showing her even the shadow of a smile, he declared with serious look.

"It's different. "

He had no hesitation and yet those eyes were carrying so much concern it was heartbreaking.

"That was different."

"........Ren? "

"........I see"

Contrastive to the bewildered Ayano, without showing her disturbance despite disappointment, Kirika accepted Ren's words as the truth.

Changing the cross-examination partner, Ayano pressed Kirika for an answer.

"Hey, detective Tachibana? "

"What? "

Kirika received it calmly, sipping from the tea that got cold.

"There's nothing really to be surprised about. The likelihood of the conjecture made only changed to a verified truth. "

"Verified, you say......."

"Rather than Kazuma changing, it's more like he returned to the way he was before. Not listening to Ren-kun trying to restrain him, on the contrary, not forgiving even him if he were to become an obstacle - or something like that. "

Fleetingly looking at Ren, Kirika searched for confirmation. Ren made a tiny, but clear nod.

"Did Kazuma..........Ren? "

Faced with the impossible situation, Ayano's consciousness froze.

She couldn't imagine that.

Ayano knew best just how much Kazuma was doting on Ren.

More important than anyone and anything, almost like a beloved child.

"That.......cannot be..."

"It's the truth. Accept it. "

But, the reality was even more unfeeling. Kirika's words woke up Ayano without asking whether she wants to or not.

"Ren........?"

Trying to comfort a wounded boy or else trying to cling on someone she wants to deny this nightmare-like reality - not sure which was it herself, she sought Ren.

He was right in front of her eyes.

It seemed he drew near while she was in a daze. He went down on his knees on the tatami mat so that their eyes were at the same level and looked hard at Ayano with an earnest gaze.

"We're stopping Nii-sama", declared Ren without doubt in a tone loaded with determination.

"The fact that Nii-sama is angry, that he wants revenge is maybe to be expected. But, even if he would do so, no one would become happy. No one will be pleased. The number of sad people would only go up. "

"Aah, yes......that's right"

"I want Nii-sama to smile, I want him to be happy! That's why, that's why this is - "

Visibly overawed by Ren drawing near, Ayano shrunk away little by little.

She understood those feelings very well. Extremely well, but -

"But, how?"

If he were to say he had a plan, she wanted to know it by all means. The plan ''to stop'' that man.

If the objective was ''to kill'' it may be possible.

If she, Ren and then Genma were to form a group and attack him, a Contractor as he may be, she didn't believe he could go against them.

However - when it comes to take him alive...

Is that not something impossible for humans? Ayano thought so, very seriously.

At the very least, it wasn't something Enraiha, specialized in offensive ability, could accomplish.

" ------hey, Ayano-chan"

While thinking so, Kirika meddled in with an amazed face.

"You, can you think of nothing but feat of strength since the beginning? "

"What else is there? "

Feeling she was made fun off, Ayano pouted.

"Ren's persuasion didn't work, right? If that's the case, it won't matter what I say"

".....No, you see, I want Ayano-chan to open Kazuma's eyes with her ''''love''''"

"Sorry. That's outside my area of expertise. ", declared Ayano right away.

"Ayano-chan, don't you want Kazuma to return to normal? "

"I want it, of course I want it but do you want me to be all teary-eyed and say: ''Forget about Tsoi Rin and look at me♥'' !?"

"Yes"

"Not even if I die!!"

A seemingly sad gaze pierced Ayano, who replied immediately.

"Nee-sama......why are you saying such things? Do you hate Nii-sama? "

"This is not a problem of likes and dislikes! If I were to tell such chilly words, even the usual Kazuma will laugh scornfully! That's obviously useless! "

"It's not the usual Kazuma so it will be effective! "

"That's not true. "

Ayano blocked it all.

"That guy, doesn't see me as a ''woman''."

".................well, anyway"

Trying to avoid a direct answer, Kirika said to both Ayano and Ren.

"I leave Kazuma to you. It doesn't matter by what means - just do something"

"Yes!"

"............."

Throwing a side-long glance to Ren replaying vigorously, Ayano scowled at Kirika with a sullen face.

But, without minding that attitude, Kirika bowed her head grandly absolutely satisfied and Ren's eyes gleamed as he gripped Ayano's hands.

"Nee-sama, let's do our best! "

"................................................................."

Watching intently in silence the boy awfully full of fighting spirit, inside her heart, Ayano let out a deep, deep sigh.

''"Geez......."''

On her bed, Ayano tossed and turned, thinking about what she should do and what she can do.

No matter how she thought about it, it doesn't appear likely she can stop Kazuma. But -

'' - We're stopping Nii-sama - ''

She remembered Ren's words full of determination.

Because it's Ren, he must know about the fact that the difference in power between her and Kazuma is like that between heaven and earth, that it's close to impossible to stop Kazuma.

But even so, Ren declared Kazuma must be stopped no matter what.

That means, Ren judged Kazuma to be so much more dangerous right now. For his surroundings and, for Kazuma himself.

"What is he doing....?"

She recalled Kazuma's face from the time Tokyo Government office collapsed.

Anger, hatred and grief - a mix of many emotions and a disturbed, dangerous countenance unbelievable from the normal Kazuma.

She thought it was something transient.

She believed he already got back on his feet.

Kazuma - because it's Kazuma, he will be fine -

She believed so without question.

But, thinking about it calmly, Kazuma is just twenty two. Nothing else but what the society would call a ''youngster''.

The unreasonable one is the one asking absolute power and immutability from him.

Thinking about it, Kazuma lost control of himself before.

For example at the time the man manipulating the running widely Ogami Misao gave his name, Michael Harley.

Or like when Ayano was about to finish off Lapis -

"....................aau......."

Digging up an unpleasant memory, Ayano sunk into the bed once more.

She buried her head in the pillow and groaned feebly.

Tsoi Rin - the ''enemy'' Ayano must fight. The young lady idolized because of her death.

With such an opponent, how is she supposed to take Kazuma back.

''"Besides, why do I have to - "''

Saying she understood Kazuma's feelings was prideful maybe but she understood his feelings got hurt.

But even so, it doesn't mean he'll be forgiven no matter what.

Because of Kazuma, Nanase was abducted.

An ordinary girl who shouldn't have been involved in this world was swallowed up by the battle.

No matter what his reason is, she won't tolerate that.

''"I decided. As I thought, I'll beat him down"''

Screwing with both hands the innocent pillow, Ayano decided so.

The chances of success were exceedingly low, she didn't know the method but it was still better that the alternative and above all, she felt refreshed.

Feeling like she settled one more problem, Ayano's thoughts changed.

What she was most anxious of was the body of her friend kidnapped by Utsumi.

''"Is Nanase all right........"''

=== Part 2 ===

A heavy silence was ruling the space.

The basement of a desolated, abandoned building.

That space, primary ruled by nothing but emptiness, was now full of a different kind of silence.

The number of humans reaching a hundred gathered in the great hall were giving birth to this silence.

A hundred human beings, the silence of a hundred.

That was clearly different from the silence born out of emptiness, it was a silence that made one feel a packed reaction.

But even if it was silence, it wasn't tidy by any means.

The air, the atmosphere were were only coercing to silence the group that was gathered here by no ordinary means.

Rather, you could say it was the antipode of it. There were rare groups of people but most of them were rare wolfs that seemed to have forgotten the spirit of cooperation inside their mothers' wombs.

The <<Seeds>> rampaging on the stage called Shinjuku - all of them were gathered here. Not one was missing.

Properly speaking, it wasn't a likely event.

All those people who regarded other like nothing more but XP were gathered in this place.

It's impossible that conflict won't arise.

But, they were waiting in absolute silence.

Although not being forced they canceled everything else, although they weren't ordered they refrained from fights, only waiting.

Without holding even the slightest doubt about the unnatural occurrence.

Then, at this place were everyone was gathered, just one regular person was mixed up.

- No, calling her normal was too much maybe, but at the very least she wasn't a <<Seed>>.

Without putting on air, she just observed the surroundings in a casual manner.

Men and women with bad disposition were filling up the hall. Of course, there wasn't any running electricity but the bonfires placed here and there illuminated the gloomy indoor.

The atmosphere was so strained that if one were to throw a firecracker in, a great brawl would start on the spot.

Wrapped around by the atmosphere of that critical situation, the girl thought.

''"I wonder, is there enough ventilation to build a fire inside such a small basement? "''

The usually peculiar train of thought. The proprietor of a mental structure indifferent to the sense of urgency even this late in the game was obviously no one else but Ayano's close friend, Yukari Shinomiya.

The insides were the same as usual but on the outside, she had a fairly drastic image change.

She wore a black leather jacket and a tight miniskirt. Stiletto short boots. She daringly exposed her legs without any stockings, producing an obscene contrast between her all black outfit and her white skin.

What's more, her features were sharpened by the make-up and that image wearing thin sunglasses changed her to a completely different person from the usually gentle girl.

That appearance wafting with aggressive sex-appeal even made those muscled men want to call her ''Nee-san''.

Such being the case, Yukari melted in the middle of the <<Seeds>> without feeling out of place and without scruple she started gathering information.

- Right now no one was talking so that means she couldn't get obtain anything.

But - suddenly, the silence was broken.

''"-------?"''

Feeling doubtful but without showing any of those emotions on the outside, Yukari observed the state of the surroundings.

The <<Seeds>> - all of them, strengthened the alertness and looked around with impregnable glances.

It seems they could feel something that escaped the regular human.

"Where........."

"Close........"

The all <<Seeds>> looking in different directions, without exchanging words or signals, collected their gazes in the same direction as if they previously agreed on.

The wall.

For Yukari it looked just like a usual wall. A bleak, bare, gray wall. There was nothing there to look at of to talk about -

''"Eeh? Hey, is that - "''

Drawing that conclusion, Yukari remembered a strangely uncomfortable feeling. She looked closely once more at the wall that was the focal point and then at those surroundings.

" - aah"

She suddenly noticed.

There wasn't anyone in front of that wall.

Those gazes didn't gathered there to look at it. From the beginning, that space gaping wide in front of that wall was becoming less crowded.

In spite of the fact that there were enough people inside the room to make one feel oppressive.

Especially carefully the bonfires were concentrated in front of the wall delimitation the space.

Once you realized it, it was obvious. That was a stage. The curtains bells were heard, the spectators focused on the stage, it was only that.

''"'This is.......kind of clumsy? "''

The straightforward stage setting, the ostentatious gap - what will happen there from now on, Yukari was more uneasy about that rather than the fact she will definitely be spotted since she couldn't recognize such an overt abnormality.

It would still be alright if her cognizant ability was disturbed because she used some hallucinogen but the magic stuff couldn't be helped.

But, there's no point in trying to run from here. First of all she should confirm the escape route and then wait for further development.

Suddenly, something abnormal happened.

Everyone was gazing steadily the ashen wall. The texture of the cold, hard concrete undulated as if embarrassed by those ardent eyes, flickered and started twisting.

The irregular wave gradually changed to concentric ripples with a diameter of a little over two meters.

And then -

The entrance went through the undulating concrete and he - appeared.

A magician. He was looking exactly like a magician from the fairy tales.

His hole body was wrapped in a black robe. Because the rove was covering the most of him, his face wasn't visible. Particularly thorough he was even holding a a curved staff made of wood in his hand.

That appearance was seen by everyone in this place. Even the person most separated from the stage could see without interruption as the robe figure's entire body was filling the field of vision.

Because, the <<Magician>> was floating in midair. As if there was an invisible foothold, it was very safe and firm.

A wordless commotion leaked out from the mouth of the seeds.

In contrast to them, frequently manipulating unusual powers, that exceedingly simple power seemed easy enough to handle. But they didn't have the power to levitate or spring through the wall.

The existence who could easily exercise the mysterious power they don't have but even if they did they couldn't possibly use - the awe and fear regarding that man of absolute strength, and then becoming self conscious of it and gazing at him with secondhand hostility, the <<Seeds>> were scowling at the <<Magician>>

The black robe calmly caught that gaze. The swelling thirst for blood was electrifying the space.

But, in contrast with that -

''"Waah - waah - waah - "''

Absolutely dumbfounded Yukari was looking at the girl standing still behind the <<Magician>>.

In an inflammatory bondage look, she was even carrying a huge halberd. Her outward appearance was standing out but because she lacked vitality just like a doll, she didn't receive attention.

Yukari knew well that girl just like her folding herself back from the <<Magician>>'s overwhelming presence scattering around.

As the close friend of both Yukari and Ayano, the girl whose whereabouts were completely unknown after being kidnapped by Utsumi.

''"Na- Nanase-chan......"''

It was Kudou Nanase.

But she couldn't be filled with happiness for finding her. Nanase clearly lost her consciousness.

The brilliance of will and life that made her who she was couldn't be felt.

Although she was before her eyes, it resembled the empty shell of Kudou Nanase. Her body trembling with resentment for having her friend looked down upon, Yukari glared at the magician in black robes.

''"That means - he must be Utsumi-kun?"''

Adding the fact that Nanase was accompanying him, the possibility was extremely high.

When she tried to peek inside, looking closely at the center of the robe, as expected, she cannot see his face.

The moment she thought she should approach a little more, bravely defying the danger, the <<Magician>> lightly pushed out his staff. Only by doing that, the room full of commotion suddenly fell silent.

Looking at reality, an extremely powerful clout was controlling this space.

"Chosen ones"

The <<Magician>>'s voice tore the silence. That voice that was by no means grand, resounded clearly to the nooks and corners of the room.

"You did good responding to the call. I thank you in place of Bernhard, the lord of Pandemonium. "

Naturally, those words stated he was Pandemonium's proxy. The <<Seeds>> let out a murmur of surprise.

"My name is <<Grand Mage>>. I am a gifted person just like you. But - I am <<Fourth Class>>"

"Whaaat!?"

Here and there, shouts of shock erupted. That was understandable. Whose gathered at that place - meaning the <<Seeds>> confirmed until now, were <<First Class>> and <<Second Class>>. The <<Third Class>> was the stuff of rumors. The <<Fourth Class>> was similar to a wild idea.

No, it had been similar. Until now.

"Im- impossible!"

From somewhere a shout of objection was raised.

"We haven't even heard rumors about the existence of someone like you! Without anyone knowing, it's impossible to save enough XP for the <<Third Class>> itself - "

"..................."

The <<Grand Mage>>'s small shoulder shook.

Hidden by the hood, his face couldn't be seen. But, it was obvious for everyone looking. That the <<Grand Mage>> was sneering.

"Bastard..........."

"For those like you, not blessed with talent, accustoming your bodies through fights may be necessary. But, I am different. "

Unnaturally ignoring the exasperated man, the <<Grand Mage>> talked in a voice full of superiority.

"Besides, XP is nothing else but the work of accommodating power in the bodies of those without accomplishments. The thing called magical power and the assimilation of it for those powerless must be finely tuned in time over and over. "

Casually informed of the mechanism behind the level up that no one knew before, the <<Seeds>> were rendered speechless.

That detailed knowledge by far more profound than that of <<Seeds>> - was the best evidence the <<Grand Mage>> was at the center of this series of events, at the center of Pandemonium.

"But, I am different. I, who held the greatest ability since the beginning, could receive a great amount of power without any kind of adjustment and was able to manipulate it.

Do you understand? For those truly great, there's no need for great effort. They will obtain what they desire just like that - precisely because that is allowed, they are being called prodigies. "

"............!!"

The faces of the <<Seeds>> became stiff at the tremendously prideful words. And then, several quick-tempered people, threw themselves upon the <<Grand Mage>> still levitating in the air.

"Do you think we'll listen to this......"

"Don't be so cocky........!"

No matter what sort of power they had, they didn't understand. Just before touching him, a spherical field sparkled around the <<Grand Mage>> and repelled the attackers.

"There's an everlasting barrier around my surroundings. It's impossible for the offensive abilities of <<Second Class>> to pierce through. "

"................."

The <<Seeds>> - especially those who wanted to continuously attack the <<Grand Mage>> with bloody faces received the next attack back.

It wasn't only that the attack was defended against but that they received an unusual amount of damage. Those sorry states convulsing in fear were close to the agony of death.

"So, I'll impart the words of Bernhard, the lord of Pandemonium. "

The <<Grand Mage>> changed the topic as if nothing happened.

Understanding that was the main issue of this meeting, everyone listened closely.

"Three days from now on - "

In the silent hall, the voice of an oracle clearly reverberated.

"Seventy two hours from now on, Pandemonium will descend on the physical world. The location is Shinjuku Central Park."

As if giving the audience time to understand, the <<Grand Mage>> interrupted his words.

He took a large breath, and then continued.

"To celebrate the descent, you will be granted a present. Those who desire power, should head for Pandemonium. The one who arrives first, will receive my ultimate power. One no one will be able to go against. An absolutely unrivaled power. "

When the <<Grand Mage>> shut his mouth, the hall was packed with commotion.

An ultimate power. One no one will be able to go against. An absolutely unrivaled power.

- they wanted it.

At the same time, everyone thought so. They desired it. They desired it no matter what. But, to do so -

".........."

"............"

Dangerous gazes were exchanged everywhere. The race already started. Remove the obstacles was obviously the fastest way.

But - at the same time, they noticed. The existence of the biggest obstacle.

Everyone's eyes flooded with conspiring, made the <<Grand Mage>>'s body tremble. He laughed.

"That's right, I'm the one who'll win"

As if talking about a definite result, he declared.

"By kicking you all to the side, I'll reach Pandemonium first. And then, I'll receive even more power, and reach the <<Fifth Class>>"

" .......!!"

"But there is also a chance for you. If you could defeat me, there's no doubt that person will become the strongest. I won't stop you if you want to run. "

Finishing with those affected words, he shrugged his shoulders underneath the robe. At the plain provocation, the killing intent voltage rapidly jumped up.

Ignoring the piercing killing intent the <<Grand Mage>> declared.

"Only those sincerely desiring power should come. Of course, you're free to do what you want in the meantime. Pandemonium doesn't try to restrict you in any way. I'm looking forward the time I'll fight with you. "

"...................."

Holding her breath, calmly, extremely calmly, Yukari caught the <<Grand Mage>>'s words.

Fumbling and confirming the IC recorded she grasped tightly inside her pocket was indeed recording, she took a light breath.

This seemed like the last directive from Pandemonium. Staying here any longer has no purpose.

She was worried about Nanase but she couldn't help her by herself. Deciding it was time to go, she looked once more at the <<Grand Mage>>.

"------tch!"

Their eyes met directly. Inside the hood, his lips were curving - she didn't know why but she clearly knew it.

''"Baaad........"''

The moment she sensed she was recognized, Yukari turned around and began to run.

She should have run and escaped calmly in such a way as to not attract attention but the situation was already developing beyond that.

Thrusting away those who stood in her way and pushing them aside, without caring about the public notice she ran like a startled hare.

Running up the stairs, she left the building. No one seemed to pursue her but she relax just yet.

She must quickly hide herself - wiping her body enough to breath hard, Yukari kicked the asphalt.

- and, a few minutes after.

Yukari took refuge in an inhabited room from another building. Because she was panicking, she neglected tracking her current position and couldn't identify even the buildings' name.

From the start, Yukari's strong point was intelligence gathering but being a spy was outside her area of expertise.

She didn't know how to successfully escape while being chased, besides she had no way of fighting a magic user.

She did prepared a weapon for self defense but she had no confidence she could use it.

"Hmmm, it was too rash, huh? "

For the sake of saving Nanase, for the sake of helping Ayano, she tried to sneak in knowing it was dangerous but as expected, it was too impertinent.

If she were to get caught, she'll also become an encumbrance to Ayano.

".....Whatever. First of all, I must notify Ayano-chan - "

Instantly shaking off the feeling of shame, Yukari took out her phone.

She was only half-convinced before she heard his voice but she finally had definite proof.

The <<Grand Mage>> was Utsumi. She must tell that to Ayano no matter what.

She clapped the key with so much speed it left an after-print. She sent mail after mail.

- That activity continued intermittently for several minutes.

=== Part 3 ===

Since the morning the case first started in, today too, Kirika got through the Kannagi Gate on her practically daily visit.

Her work finally reached a point where she could pause and only by remembering for how many days she only took naps, the look of fatigue was engraved deeper on Kirika's face.

But Ayano's complexion,even compared to that, could hardly be called sunny.

" ---------What happened? "

Kirika bluntly asked Ayano, standing near the entrance door next to the two Deva Kings caring thunder clouds.

Normally at such times she would act amiably as if trying to soothe Ayano but she was obviously not that flexible today.

"..................."

In silence, Ayano pushed out her telephone. If her memory served her correctly in spite of drowsiness and fatigue, it was supposed to be her own.

"---------? "

Ayano frankly informed the puzzled Kirika.

"Mail"

"Is it all right to look? "

Instead of an answer, just a nod. Judging the silence as a positive answer, Kirika opened the email folder with a practiced hand.

"By the way........."

With a dry voice, Ayano asked Kirika fiddling with the telephone.

"Did you know all <<Seeds>> were summoned by Pandemonium yesterday? "

"----------!? No."

The hand pressing keys stopped, and Kirika flipped up with a face full of surprise.

Ayano waived her bangs in open despair.

"Why couldn't you lot notice something even a mere high school girl could? "

".......I can't answer that"

The origin of that information, and the guess of who the mail originator was, it was all in the log.

As feared, mails from Yukari were lining up. She read the first.

''''"Descent of Pandemonium in the Shinjuku Central Park three days from now on. The ultimate power people will finally arrived at. "''''

"........that was rash"

"Isn't it because the Police can't be relied on? "

Responding at those harsh words with a bitter smile, she read the next.

''''"Utsumi. <<Grand Mage>>. <<Fourth Class>>. The emissary from Pandemonium. "

"Shit......."

''''"Nanase-chan is sexy......."''''

".........what?"

Kirika was amazed at the suddenly queer content. As she was already reading it, she wondered if she understood what was so surprising.

Ayano explained in a worn-out voice.

"It means Nanase is close to Utsumi. Dressed in some filth he liked so much. "

"........Aah, I see........."

Not finding any other appropriate comments, she made agreeable comments absentmindedly. The next mail.

The literary stile was suddenly different.

''''"Right now I am in one room of some desolated, unknown building. The <<Grand Mage>> Utsumi noticed me. He is definitely chasing me, right? "''''

"..........this is?"

"You'll know once you read"

Coldly, Ayano refused any explanation. Rather than sorrow, that face showed a different emotion -

''''"It's impossible for the mighty magical power of the <<Grand Mage>> to miss me. It's terrifying. My heart is frozen by the sound of a running mouse"''''

"......Hey, just wait.........."

".........."

When she raised her face, Ayano turned hers away. An obstinate silence.

''''"I hear a voice. The <<Grand Mage>> is calling my name. He's getting closer. Perhaps, he already found me. That devilish man is only doing this to scare me"''''

Next.

''''"The sound of footsteps reverberates. Gan, gan, he's intentionally loud. He's drawing near. He's here - In what a terrifying thing I involved myself. Dear god!"''''

Next.

''''"Aaah - I'm already broken. Someone, if you're reading this mail, tell my pet, Ball. That I was foolish. I was the one at fault for not accepting his advice. The footsteps stopped. Instead the sound of the revolving knock can be heard. Knock-knock, knock-knock. Aah, he's there. He is on the other side of the door. He's opening the door. A ghastly creak is raised, slowly. From the gap of the opening door, a pale, bony hand stretches - Aaaah, aaaaaahhhh!!"''''

That was the last.

After looking at the phone screed dumbfounded for a while, Kirika asked the sullen Ayano.

"Errrrr, so - Shinomiya-san? "

".........Didn't return to her home"

If that is true - rather than an exaggeration, this mail is true. Exchanged for precious information, it means that one of Ayano's friends was captured yet again.

"How to say it, she's a terrible child"

In a lot of ways.

Probably reading between those lines, Ayano silently flipped out.

Tearing off the phone from Kirika's hands, she threw it into the ground with all her strength.

"Are you the protagonist of some novel from a hundred years ago!? Who the fuck is Ball!? If you have time to write '' Aaaah, aaaaaahhhh!!'' hurry and run away!!"

"No, well, wasn't it because she didn't think she could run away? Besides, she wanted to at least send the information before getting caught, no? "

Kirika tried to somehow cover for her but -

"Even that clumsy mystery novel!? "

".......that's.......well........"

As one would expect, she couldn't defend that.

"But, being able to confirm Nanase-san's survival is a small mercy. That's why, I'm sure even Shinomiya-san - "

"It's not only about being alive, right? She's a woman, you know!? "

Unable to find peace in Kirika's words, Ayano repelled them with unconcealed wrath. Kirika also felt the same.

"........I apologizes"

"It's not like I blame you or anything. About Yukari, the responsibility is all hers. She was supposed to know it would be dangerous. "

Finally calming down after all the shouting, this time Ayano covered for Kirika.

"The problem is, what do do next? "

"..........that's true"

Even more apologetic, Kirika's voice became smaller.

"To say it frankly, the possibility of us finding Pandemonium in the next two days is close to zero. I think we can only try to be perfectly ready for when it descends. "

"..........."

"I'm sorry. If at least Kazuma would be here"

They both understood that was a meaningless assumption.

Ayano ignored those words as if she didn't even heard them and glared at the wall as if it was her mortal enemy.

"Yukari, Nanase......please be well........"

A frail murmur escaped.

=== Part 4 ===

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 185.jpg|thumb|]]

Leaping through space, the <<Grand Mage>> Utsumi, made an appearance in Pandemonium's lobby. Behind him, Nanase and Yukari, restrained by Nanase, followed.

"Nanase-chan, it hurts - Be a little more gentle - "

Her wrists grasped with enough force to make her bones creak, Yukari cried and begged for mercy. But, Nanase didn't have the slightest reaction. Obviously, the force wasn't loosened.

"It's useless. Nanase only listens to my commands. ", declared Utsumi boastful.

Hearing that, Yukari demanded in a friendly tone.

"Then please order her, Utsumi-kun. "

"I am <<Grand Mage>>. I cast away my ordinary name. "

"Ordinary? Did Utsumi-kun became a priest? "

With a smiling face without the slightest ill-will, Yukari asked innocently.

Utsumi's body trembled and after a few seconds, he turned his back on them and walked out without saying anything. Without being ordered, Nanase followed him.

Obviously, since she was caught by Nanase, so was Yukari.

"Where are you going - ?"

Without reply Utsumi strutted in the big mansion as if he owned the place.

Without knocking, he opened three sets of doors and finally Yukari met the master of the mansion.

A tall man cloaked in a red mantle, a simple mask was covering his face.

For Yukari the background of the man impeccability dressed, as if he expected visitors was very clear.

Bowing her head, she smiled sweetly.

"Good evening, you're Bernhardt-san I suppose. I apologize for the sudden visit - "

"Don't worry about it. Visitors are always welcome. You can think of it as your own house. "

With a composed attitude, the master of Pandemonium bowed his head. The atmosphere friendly on the surface was rotating slowly in the space between the two.

"By the way, my name is Vesalius. It may be a bit difficult to remember by the Japanese but I'd rather you addressed me correctly. "

"Aah, this cannot be, I'm sorry for making a mistake"

"No, you're not to blame. Please don't take offense. "

"I understand. Confusing your name with someone else's was very impolite"

Even a normal human would understand this atmosphere packed with tension behind the smiling faces.

But what was there was a doll who lost her will and a thickheaded or rather thick skinned baka pretending to be important.

Irritated by what he perceived as a gentle atmosphere, Utsumi forced his way through those two.

"This is no guest, she's my prisoner! This woman became a police spy and tried to get her hands on information about Pandemonium!"

" -----Hou?"

Including light reprimand in his gaze, Bernhardt stared at Yukari. Yukari stuck out her tongue in mischief and lightly knocked her head.

"Ehe he he - I'm sorry"

"Geez, what a troublesome Ojou-san"

"............only that? "

Seeing Bernhardt who was about to overlook Yukari's deed with a wry smile, Utsumi asked in a sharp voice.

Bernhardt answered as a matter of course.

"It doesn't matter whether she found out something or not. The fact that the Police will intervene in the ceremony has already been factored in. There is no uncertainty factor. "

" - What if they find this place before the ceremony? "

"They won't"

A definite statement.

"I know the Special Information Storage Room's war potential. Even if this woman were to have a transmission instrument and send this specific coordinates, entrance is impossible."

"Hee.....what incredible self-confidence"

"It's not self-confidence but the statement of mere facts. Apart from that - did you sent the message? "

With an arrogant attitude, Utsumi nodded whev asked by Bernhardt about the right and wrongs of being an errand boy.

"Aah, I told them. Almost everyone was gathered. But, why must we be so roundabout about it? Wouldn't it have been easier just to send an order? "

"Leading people brings various troubles and uncertainties. It's more efficient to let them be independent. "

"Independence! Independence? That's rich - "

As if he heard some very funny story, Utsumi abruptly burst in a roar of laughter.

"Ha ha ha! Aha ha ha ha! Bua ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !!"

Bernhardt was indifferently looking Utsumi, rolling about with laughter monstrously rather that lively, like he was one part of the landscape.

"Aah, don't worry about it. He sometimes gets like this. "

"Ha..........haa....."

Yukari vaguely nodded, overcome with surprise.

Not hearing that exchange, Utsumi continued to laugh endlessly.

The line of sight of that expressionless doll looked like that of a researcher observing an experimental animal.

But, immediately following,

"Oh, by the way, is the preparation over?"

As if someone pressed his switch, Utsumi returned to a normal state.

From frenzy to serenity - a bizarre change of attitude without any kind of midway passage.

Bernhardt faced that extremely calmly.

"Yes, it just became so"

"In other words, your duty is already over."

" - Hmm"

From inside the mask, the indication of a thin smile floated.

The words of rebellion impossible to misunderstand, the thirst to kill received by his body made the master of Pandemonium breathe hard.

"Will you challenge me with the power I gave you, boy? "

"The pupil is supposed to overcome his teacher sooner or later. "

Yet again, with an attitude full of self-confidence and composure Utsumi strikes again.

Not one willing to step aside, their glints in the eyes gave off sparks.

"I will obtain everything! No one is able to oppose me!"

Drunken with power, the boy changed his words to shouts.

That was the signal of the starting battle.

<noinclude>

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter 3|Chapter 3]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_5|Chapter 5]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 4

2014-01-26T21:33:18Z

Drejzer: /* Part 2 */

== Chapter 4 - Determination and hesitation and... ==

=== Part 1 ===

Lying upside-down on the bed in her room, Ayano let out a profound breath, emptying her lungs.

Burring her face in the pillow, she let out all her power. After several seconds -

"........Stopping Kazuma, huh........"

Those isolated grumbled words, naturally, reached no one's ears bur her own.

A second sigh.

Sluggishly turning around, she look upwards. She held her hand out in front oh her eyes blocking the fluorescent light.

''"What are you telling me to do........"''

That complaint without ambition vanished inside her chest without a voice.

No matter how she thought about it, there wasn't even a particle of a chance of success.

Just who on earth will try and stop that man, that snapped and lost even his discrimination ability.

Recalling the conversation during the evening, Ayano let out a third sigh.

"Do you understand what you're saying - Ren? "

"Let's stop Nii-sama"

Entering the room, Ren declared so without even the returning home greeting.

At the abrupt thing, Ayano stared at Ren in wonder. And then, she scowled.

She perceived in the boy's eyes the same light of determination just like that time.

"Ren? What happened, so suddenly? "

Close to the bewildered Ayano, Kirika pointed a sharp gaze to Ren. She asked to verify.

"You met him? "

Ren nodded in silence.

"in Shinjuku. He was tormenting a group of five <<Seeds>> as he tried to find information about Pandemonium. "

"......Isn't that usual? "

Not understanding why Ren's expression was so stiff, Ayano replied in a light tone.

But, without showing her even the shadow of a smile, he declared with serious look.

"It's different. "

He had no hesitation and yet those eyes were carrying so much concern it was heartbreaking.

"That was different."

"........Ren? "

"........I see"

Contrastive to the bewildered Ayano, without showing her disturbance despite disappointment, Kirika accepted Ren's words as the truth.

Changing the cross-examination partner, Ayano pressed Kirika for an answer.

"Hey, detective Tachibana? "

"What? "

Kirika received it calmly, sipping from the tea that got cold.

"There's nothing really to be surprised about. The likelihood of the conjecture made only changed to a verified truth. "

"Verified, you say......."

"Rather than Kazuma changing, it's more like he returned to the way he was before. Not listening to Ren-kun trying to restrain him, on the contrary, not forgiving even him if he were to become an obstacle - or something like that. "

Fleetingly looking at Ren, Kirika searched for confirmation. Ren made a tiny, but clear nod.

"Did Kazuma..........Ren? "

Faced with the impossible situation, Ayano's consciousness froze.

She couldn't imagine that.

Ayano knew best just how much Kazuma was doting on Ren.

More important than anyone and anything, almost like a beloved child.

"That.......cannot be..."

"It's the truth. Accept it. "

But, the reality was even more unfeeling. Kirika's words woke up Ayano without asking whether she wants to or not.

"Ren........?"

Trying to comfort a wounded boy or else trying to cling on someone she wants to deny this nightmare-like reality - not sure which was it herself, she sought Ren.

He was right in front of her eyes.

It seemed he drew near while she was in a daze. He went down on his knees on the tatami mat so that their eyes were at the same level and looked hard at Ayano with an earnest gaze.

"We're stopping Nii-sama", declared Ren without doubt in a tone loaded with determination.

"The fact that Nii-sama is angry, that he wants revenge is maybe to be expected. But, even if he would do so, no one would become happy. No one will be pleased. The number of sad people would only go up. "

"Aah, yes......that's right"

"I want Nii-sama to smile, I want him to be happy! That's why, that's why this is - "

Visibly overawed by Ren drawing near, Ayano shrunk away little by little.

She understood those feelings very well. Extremely well, but -

"But, how?"

If he were to say he had a plan, she wanted to know it by all means. The plan ''to stop'' that man.

If the objective was ''to kill'' it may be possible.

If she, Ren and then Genma were to form a group and attack him, a Contractor as he may be, she didn't believe he could go against them.

However - when it comes to take him alive...

Is that not something impossible for humans? Ayano thought so, very seriously.

At the very least, it wasn't something Enraiha, specialized in offensive ability, could accomplish.

" ------hey, Ayano-chan"

While thinking so, Kirika meddled in with an amazed face.

"You, can you think of nothing but feat of strength since the beginning? "

"What else is there? "

Feeling she was made fun off, Ayano pouted.

"Ren's persuasion didn't work, right? If that's the case, it won't matter what I say"

".....No, you see, I want Ayano-chan to open Kazuma's eyes with her ''''love''''"

"Sorry. That's outside my area of expertise. ", declared Ayano right away.

"Ayano-chan, don't you want Kazuma to return to normal? "

"I want it, of course I want it but do you want me to be all teary-eyed and say: ''Forget about Tsoi Rin and look at me♥'' !?"

"Yes"

"Not even if I die!!"

A seemingly sad gaze pierced Ayano, who replied immediately.

"Nee-sama......why are you saying such things? Do you hate Nii-sama? "

"This is not a problem of likes and dislikes! If I were to tell such chilly words, even the usual Kazuma will laugh scornfully! That's obviously useless! "

"It's not the usual Kazuma so it will be effective! "

"That's not true. "

Ayano blocked it all.

"That guy, doesn't see me as a ''woman''."

".................well, anyway"

Trying to avoid a direct answer, Kirika said to both Ayano and Ren.

"I leave Kazuma to you. It doesn't matter by what means - just do something"

"Yes!"

"............."

Throwing a side-long glance to Ren replaying vigorously, Ayano scowled at Kirika with a sullen face.

But, without minding that attitude, Kirika bowed her head grandly absolutely satisfied and Ren's eyes gleamed as he gripped Ayano's hands.

"Nee-sama, let's do our best! "

"................................................................."

Watching intently in silence the boy awfully full of fighting spirit, inside her heart, Ayano let out a deep, deep sigh.

''"Geez......."''

On her bed, Ayano tossed and turned, thinking about what she should do and what she can do.

No matter how she thought about it, it doesn't appear likely she can stop Kazuma. But -

'' - We're stopping Nii-sama - ''

She remembered Ren's words full of determination.

Because it's Ren, he must know about the fact that the difference in power between her and Kazuma is like that between heaven and earth, that it's close to impossible to stop Kazuma.

But even so, Ren declared Kazuma must be stopped no matter what.

That means, Ren judged Kazuma to be so much more dangerous right now. For his surroundings and, for Kazuma himself.

"What is he doing....?"

She recalled Kazuma's face from the time Tokyo Government office collapsed.

Anger, hatred and grief - a mix of many emotions and a disturbed, dangerous countenance unbelievable from the normal Kazuma.

She thought it was something transient.

She believed he already got back on his feet.

Kazuma - because it's Kazuma, he will be fine -

She believed so without question.

But, thinking about it calmly, Kazuma is just twenty two. Nothing else but what the society would call a ''youngster''.

The unreasonable one is the one asking absolute power and immutability from him.

Thinking about it, Kazuma lost control of himself before.

For example at the time the man manipulating the running widely Ogami Misao gave his name, Michael Harley.

Or like when Ayano was about to finish off Lapis -

"....................aau......."

Digging up an unpleasant memory, Ayano sunk into the bed once more.

She buried her head in the pillow and groaned feebly.

Tsoi Rin - the ''enemy'' Ayano must fight. The young lady idolized because of her death.

With such an opponent, how is she supposed to take Kazuma back.

''"Besides, why do I have to - "''

Saying she understood Kazuma's feelings was prideful maybe but she understood his feelings got hurt.

But even so, it doesn't mean he'll be forgiven no matter what.

Because of Kazuma, Nanase was abducted.

An ordinary girl who shouldn't have been involved in this world was swallowed up by the battle.

No matter what his reason is, she won't tolerate that.

''"I decided. As I thought, I'll beat him down"''

Screwing with both hands the innocent pillow, Ayano decided so.

The chances of success were exceedingly low, she didn't know the method but it was still better that the alternative and above all, she felt refreshed.

Feeling like she settled one more problem, Ayano's thoughts changed.

What she was most anxious of was the body of her friend kidnapped by Utsumi.

''"Is Nanase all right........"''

=== Part 2 ===

A heavy silence was ruling the space.

The basement of a desolated, abandoned building.

That space, primary ruled by nothing but emptiness, was now full of a different kind of silence.

The number of humans reaching a hundred gathered in the great hall were giving birth to this silence.

A hundred human beings, the silence of a hundred.

That was clearly different from the silence born out of emptiness, it was a silence that made one feel a packed reaction.

But even if it was silence, it wasn't tidy by any means.

The air, the atmosphere were were only coercing to silence the group that was gathered here by no ordinary means.

Rather, you could say it was the antipode of it. There were rare groups of people but most of them were rare wolfs that seemed to have forgotten the spirit of cooperation inside their mothers' wombs.

The <<Seeds>> rampaging on the stage called Shinjuku - all of them were gathered here. Not one was missing.

Properly speaking, it wasn't a likely event.

All those people who regarded other like nothing more but XP were gathered in this place.

It's impossible that conflict won't arise.

But, they were waiting in absolute silence.

Although not being forced they canceled everything else, although they weren't ordered they refrained from fights, only waiting.

Without holding even the slightest doubt about the unnatural occurrence.

Then, at this place were everyone was gathered, just one regular person was mixed up.

- No, calling her normal was too much maybe, but at the very least she wasn't a <<Seed>>.

Without putting on air, she just observed the surroundings in a casual manner.

Men and women with bad disposition were filling up the hall. Of course, there wasn't any running electricity but the bonfires placed here and there illuminated the gloomy indoor.

The atmosphere was so strained that if one were to throw a firecracker in, a great brawl would start on the spot.

Wrapped around by the atmosphere of that critical situation, the girl thought.

''"I wonder, is there enough ventilation to build a fire inside such a small basement? "''

The usually peculiar train of thought. The proprietor of a mental structure indifferent to the sense of urgency even this late in the game was obviously no one else but Ayano's close friend, Yukari Shinomiya.

The insides were the same as usual but on the outside, she had a fairly drastic image change.

She wore a black leather jacket and a tight miniskirt. Stiletto short boots. She daringly exposed her legs without any stockings, producing an obscene contrast between her all black outfit and her white skin.

What's more, her features were sharpened by the make-up and that image wearing thin sunglasses changed her to a completely different person from the usually gentle girl.

That appearance wafting with aggressive sex-appeal even made those muscled men want to call her ''Nee-san''.

Such being the case, Yukari melted in the middle of the <<Seeds>> without feeling out of place and without scruple she started gathering information.

- Right now no one was talking so that means she couldn't get obtain anything.

But - suddenly, the silence was broken.

''"-------?"''

Feeling doubtful but without showing any of those emotions on the outside, Yukari observed the state of the surroundings.

The <<Seeds>> - all of them, strengthened the alertness and looked around with impregnable glances.

It seems they could feel something that escaped the regular human.

"Where........."

"Close........"

The all <<Seeds>> looking in different directions, without exchanging words or signals, collected their gazes in the same direction as if they previously agreed on.

The wall.

For Yukari it looked just like a usual wall. A bleak, bare, gray wall. There was nothing there to look at of to talk about -

''"Eeh? Hey, is that - "''

Drawing that conclusion, Yukari remembered a strangely uncomfortable feeling. She looked closely once more at the wall that was the focal point and then at those surroundings.

" - aah"

She suddenly noticed.

There wasn't anyone in front of that wall.

Those gazes didn't gathered there to look at it. From the beginning, that space gaping wide in front of that wall was becoming less crowded.

In spite of the fact that there were enough people inside the room to make one feel oppressive.

Especially carefully the bonfires were concentrated in front of the wall delimitation the space.

Once you realized it, it was obvious. That was a stage. The curtains bells were heard, the spectators focused on the stage, it was only that.

''"'This is.......kind of clumsy? "''

The straightforward stage setting, the ostentatious gap - what will happen there from now on, Yukari was more uneasy about that rather than the fact she will definitely be spotted since she couldn't recognize such an overt abnormality.

It would still be alright if her cognizant ability was disturbed because she used some hallucinogen but the magic stuff couldn't be helped.

But, there's no point in trying to run from here. First of all she should confirm the escape route and then wait for further development.

Suddenly, something abnormal happened.

Everyone was gazing steadily the ashen wall. The texture of the cold, hard concrete undulated as if embarrassed by those ardent eyes, flickered and started twisting.

The irregular wave gradually changed to concentric ripples with a diameter of a little over two meters.

And then -

The entrance went through the undulating concrete and he - appeared.

A magician. He was looking exactly like a magician from the fairy tales.

His hole body was wrapped in a black robe. Because the rove was covering the most of him, his face wasn't visible. Particularly thorough he was even holding a a curved staff made of wood in his hand.

That appearance was seen by everyone in this place. Even the person most separated from the stage could see without interruption as the robe figure's entire body was filling the field of vision.

Because, the <<Magician>> was floating in midair. As if there was an invisible foothold, it was very safe and firm.

A wordless commotion leaked out from the mouth of the seeds.

In contrast to them, frequently manipulating unusual powers, that exceedingly simple power seemed easy enough to handle. But they didn't have the power to levitate or spring through the wall.

The existence who could easily exercise the mysterious power they don't have but even if they did they couldn't possibly use - the awe and fear regarding that man of absolute strength, and then becoming self conscious of it and gazing at him with secondhand hostility, the <<Seeds>> were scowling at the <<Magician>>

The black robe calmly caught that gaze. The swelling thirst for blood was electrifying the space.

But, in contrast with that -

''"Waah - waah - waah - "''

Absolutely dumbfounded Yukari was looking at the girl standing still behind the <<Magician>>.

In an inflammatory bondage look, she was even carrying a huge halberd. Her outward appearance was standing out but because she lacked vitality just like a doll, she didn't receive attention.

Yukari knew well that girl just like her folding herself back from the <<Magician>>'s overwhelming presence scattering around.

As the close friend of both Yukari and Ayano, the girl whose whereabouts were completely unknown after being kidnapped by Utsumi.

''"Na- Nanase-chan......"''

It was Kudou Nanase.

But she couldn't be filled with happiness for finding her. Nanase clearly lost her consciousness.

The brilliance of will and life that made her who she was couldn't be felt.

Although she was before her eyes, it resembled the empty shell of Kudou Nanase. Her body trembling with resentment for having her friend looked down upon, Yukari glared at the magician in black robes.

''"That means - he must be Utsumi-kun?"''

Adding the fact that Nanase was accompanying him, the possibility was extremely high.

When she tried to peek inside, looking closely at the center of the robe, as expected, she cannot see his face.

The moment she thought she should approach a little more, bravely defying the danger, the <<Magician>> lightly pushed out his staff. Only by doing that, the room full of commotion suddenly fell silent.

Looking at reality, an extremely powerful clout was controlling this space.

"Chosen ones"

The <<Magician>>'s voice tore the silence. That voice that was by no means grand, resounded clearly to the nooks and corners of the room.

"You did good responding to the call. I thank you in place of Bernhard, the lord of Pandemonium. "

Naturally, those words stated he was Pandemonium's proxy. The <<Seeds>> let out a murmur of surprise.

"My name is <<Grand Mage>>. I am a gifted person just like you. But - I am <<Fourth Class>>"

"Whaaat!?"

Here and there, shouts of shock erupted. That was understandable. Whose gathered at that place - meaning the <<Seeds>> confirmed until now, were <<First Class>> and <<Second Class>>. The <<Third Class>> was the stuff of rumors. The <<Fourth Class>> was similar to a wild idea.

No, it had been similar. Until now.

"Im- impossible!"

From somewhere a shout of objection was raised.

"We haven't even heard rumors about the existence of someone like you! Without anyone knowing, it's impossible to save enough XP for the <<Third Class>> itself - "

"..................."

The <<Grand Mage>>'s small shoulder shook.

Hidden by the hood, his face couldn't be seen. But, it was obvious for everyone looking. That the <<Grand Mage>> was sneering.

"Bastard..........."

"For those like you, not blessed with talent, accustoming your bodies through fights may be necessary. But, I am different. "

Unnaturally ignoring the exasperated man, the <<Grand Mage>> talked in a voice full of superiority.

"Besides, XP is nothing else but the work of accommodating power in the bodies of those without accomplishments. The thing called magical power and the assimilation of it for those powerless must be finely tuned in time over and over. "

Casually informed of the mechanism behind the level up that no one knew before, the <<Seeds>> were rendered speechless.

That detailed knowledge by far more profound than that of <<Seeds>> - was the best evidence the <<Grand Mage>> was at the center of this series of events, at the center of Pandemonium.

"But, I am different. I, who held the greatest ability since the beginning, could receive a great amount of power without any kind of adjustment and was able to manipulate it.

Do you understand? For those truly great, there's no need for great effort. They will obtain what they desire just like that - precisely because that is allowed, they are being called prodigies. "

"............!!"

The faces of the <<Seeds>> became stiff at the tremendously prideful words. And then, several quick-tempered people, threw themselves upon the <<Grand Mage>> still levitating in the air.

"Do you think we'll listen to this......"

"Don't be so cocky........!"

No matter what sort of power they had, they didn't understand. Just before touching him, a spherical field sparkled around the <<Grand Mage>> and repelled the attackers.

"There's an everlasting barrier around my surroundings. It's impossible for the offensive abilities of <<Second Class>> to pierce through. "

"................."

The <<Seeds>> - especially those who wanted to continuously attack the <<Grand Mage>> with bloody faces received the next attack back.

It wasn't only that the attack was defended against but that they received an unusual amount of damage. Those sorry states convulsing in fear were close to the agony of death.

"So, I'll impart the words of Bernhard, the lord of Pandemonium. "

The <<Grand Mage>> changed the topic as if nothing happened.

Understanding that was the main issue of this meeting, everyone listened closely.

"Three days from now on - "

In the silent hall, the voice of an oracle clearly reverberated.

"Seventy two hours from now on, Pandemonium will descend on the physical world. The location is Shinjuku Central Park."

As if giving the audience time to understand, the <<Grand Mage>> interrupted his words.

He took a large breath, and then continued.

"To celebrate the descent, you will be granted a present. Those who desire power, should head for Pandemonium. The one who arrives first, will receive my ultimate power. One no one will be able to go against. An absolutely unrivaled power. "

When the <<Grand Mage>> shut his mouth, the hall was packed with commotion.

An ultimate power. One no one will be able to go against. An absolutely unrivaled power.

- they wanted it.

At the same time, everyone thought so. They desired it. They desired it no matter what. But, to do so -

".........."

"............"

Dangerous gazes were exchanged everywhere. The race already started. Remove the obstacles was obviously the fastest way.

But - at the same time, they noticed. The existence of the biggest obstacle.

Everyone's eyes flooded with conspiring, made the <<Grand Mage>>'s body tremble. He laughed.

"That's right, I'm the one who'll win"

As if talking about a definite result, he declared.

"By kicking you all to the side, I'll reach Pandemonium first. And then, I'll receive even more power, and reach the <<Fifth Class>>"

" .......!!"

"But there is also a chance for you. If you could defeat me, there's no doubt that person will become the strongest. I won't stop you if you want to run. "

Finishing with those affected words, he shrugged his shoulders underneath the robe. At the plain provocation, the killing intent voltage rapidly jumped up.

Ignoring the piercing killing intent the <<Grand Mage>> declared.

"Only those sincerely desiring power should come. Of course, you're free to do what you want in the meantime. Pandemonium doesn't try to restrict you in any way. I'm looking forward the time I'll fight with you. "

"...................."

Holding her breath, calmly, extremely calmly, Yukari caught the <<Grand Mage>>'s words.

Fumbling and confirming the IC recorded she grasped tightly inside her pocket was indeed recording, she took a light breath.

This seemed like the last directive from Pandemonium. Staying here any longer has no purpose.

She was worried about Nanase but she couldn't help her by herself. Deciding it was time to go, she looked once more at the <<Grand Mage>>.

"------tch!"

Their eyes met directly. Inside the hood, his lips were curving - she didn't know why but she clearly knew it.

''"Baaad........"''

The moment she sensed she was recognized, Yukari turned around and began to run.

She should have run and escaped calmly in such a way as to not attract attention but the situation was already developing beyond that.

Thrusting away those who stood in her way and pushing them aside, without caring about the public notice she ran like a startled hare.

Running up the stairs, she left the building. No one seemed to pursue her but she relax just yet.

She must quickly hide herself - wiping her body enough to breath hard, Yukari kicked the asphalt.

- and, a few minutes after.

Yukari took refuge in an inhabited room from another building. Because she was panicking, she neglected tracking her current position and couldn't identify even the buildings' name.

From the start, Yukari's strong point was intelligence gathering but being a spy was outside her area of expertise.

She didn't know how to successfully escape while being chased, besides she had no way of fighting a magic user.

She did prepared a weapon for self defense but she had no confidence she could use it.

"Hmmm, it was too rash, huh? "

For the sake of saving Nanase, for the sake of helping Ayano, she tried to sneak in knowing it was dangerous but as expected, it was too impertinent.

If she were to get caught, she'll also become an encumbrance to Ayano.

".....Whatever. First of all, I must notify Ayano-chan - "

Instantly shaking off the feeling of shame, Yukari took out her phone.

She was only half-convinced before she heard his voice but she finally had definite proof.

The <<Grand Mage>> was Utsumi. She must tell that to Ayano no matter what.

She clapped the key with so much speed it left an after-print. She sent mail after mail.

- That activity continued intermittently for several minutes.

=== Part 3 ===

Since the morning the case first started in, today too, Kirika got through the Kannagi Gate on her practically daily visit.

Her work finally reached a point where she could pause and only by remembering for how many days she only took naps, the look of fatigue was engraved deeper on Kirika's face.

But Ayano's complexion,even compared to that, could hardly be called sunny.

" ---------What happened? "

Kirika bluntly asked Ayano, standing near the entrance door next to the two Deva Kings caring thunder clouds.

Normally at such times she would act amiably as if trying to soothe Ayano but she was obviously not that flexible today.

"..................."

In silence, Ayano pushed out her telephone. If her memory served her correctly in spite of drowsiness and fatigue, it was supposed to be her own.

"---------? "

Ayano frankly informed the puzzled Kirika.

"Mail"

"Is it all right to look? "

Instead of an answer, just a nod. Judging the silence as a positive answer, Kirika opened the email folder with a practiced hand.

"By the way........."

With a dry voice, Ayano asked Kirika fiddling with the telephone.

"Did you know all <<Seeds>> were summoned by Pandemonium yesterday? "

"----------!? No."

Th hand pressing keys stopped, and Kirika flipped up with a face full of surprise.

Ayano waived her bangs in open despair.

"Why couldn't you lot notice something even a mere high school girl could? "

".......I can't answer that"

The origin of that information, and the guess of who the mail originator was, it was all in the log.

As feared, mails from Yukari were lining up. She read the first.

''''"Descent of Pandemonium in the Shinjuku Central Park three days from now on. The ultimate power people will finally arrived at. "''''

"........that was rash"

"Isn't it because the Police can't be relied on? "

Responding at those harsh words with a bitter smile, she read the next.

''''"Utsumi. <<Grand Mage>>. <<Fourth Class>>. The emissary from Pandemonium. "

"Shit......."

''''"Nanase-chan is sexy......."''''

".........what?"

Kirika was amazed at the suddenly queer content. As she was already reading it, she wondered if she understood what was so surprising.

Ayano explained in a worn-out voice.

"It means Nanase is close to Utsumi. Dressed in some filth he liked so much. "

"........Aah, I see........."

Not finding any other appropriate comments, she made agreeable comments absentmindedly. The next mail.

The literary stile was suddenly different.

''''"Right now I am in one room of some desolated, unknown building. The <<Grand Mage>> Utsumi noticed me. He is definitely chasing me, right? "''''

"..........this is?"

"You'll know once you read"

Coldly, Ayano refused any explanation. Rather than sorrow, that face showed a different emotion -

''''"It's impossible for the mighty magical power of the <<Grand Mage>> to miss me. It's terrifying. My heart is frozen by the sound of a running mouse"''''

"......Hey, just wait.........."

".........."

When she raised her face, Ayano turned hers away. An obstinate silence.

''''"I hear a voice. The <<Grand Mage>> is calling my name. He's getting closer. Perhaps, he already found me. That devilish man is only doing this to scare me"''''

Next.

''''"The sound of footsteps reverberates. Gan, gan, he's intentionally loud. He's drawing near. He's here - In what a terrifying thing I involved myself. Dear god!"''''

Next.

''''"Aaah - I'm already broken. Someone, if you're reading this mail, tell my pet, Ball. That I was foolish. I was the one at fault for not accepting his advice. The footsteps stopped. Instead the sound of the revolving knock can be heard. Knock-knock, knock-knock. Aah, he's there. He is on the other side of the door. He's opening the door. A ghastly creak is raised, slowly. From the gap of the opening door, a pale, bony hand stretches - Aaaah, aaaaaahhhh!!"''''

That was the last.

After looking at the phone screed dumbfounded for a while, Kirika asked the sullen Ayano.

"Errrrr, so - Shinomiya-san? "

".........Didn't return to her home"

If that is true - rather than an exaggeration, this mail is true. Exchanged for precious information, it means that one of Ayano's friends was captured yet again.

"How to say it, she's a terrible child"

In a lot of ways.

Probably reading between those lines, Ayano silently flipped out.

Tearing off the phone from Kirika's hands, she threw it into the ground with all her strength.

"Are you the protagonist of some novel from a hundred years ago!? Who the fuck is Ball!? If you have time to write '' Aaaah, aaaaaahhhh!!'' hurry and run away!!"

"No, well, wasn't it because she didn't think she could run away? Besides, she wanted to at least send the information before getting caught, no? "

Kirika tried to somehow cover for her but -

"Even that clumsy mystery novel!? "

".......that's.......well........"

As one would expect, she couldn't defend that.

"But, being able to confirm Nanase-san's survival is a small mercy. That's why, I'm sure even Shinomiya-san - "

"It's not only about being alive, right? She's a woman, you know!? "

Unable to find peace in Kirika's words, Ayano repelled them with unconcealed wrath. Kirika also felt the same.

"........I apologizes"

"It's not like I blame you or anything. About Yukari, the responsibility is all hers. She was supposed to know it would be dangerous. "

Finally calming down after all the shouting, this time Ayano covered for Kirika.

"The problem is, what do do next? "

"..........that's true"

Even more apologetic, Kirika's voice became smaller.

"To say it frankly, the possibility of us finding Pandemonium in the next two days is close to zero. I think we can only try to be perfectly ready for when it descends. "

"..........."

"I'm sorry. If at least Kazuma would be here"

They both understood that was a meaningless assumption.

Ayano ignored those words as if she didn't even heard them and glared at the wall as if it was her mortal enemy.

"Yukari, Nanase......please be well........"

A frail murmur escaped.

=== Part 4 ===

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 185.jpg|thumb|]]

Leaping through space, the <<Grand Mage>> Utsumi, made an appearance in Pandemonium's lobby. Behind him, Nanase and Yukari, restrained by Nanase, followed.

"Nanase-chan, it hurts - Be a little more gentle - "

Her wrists grasped with enough force to make her bones creak, Yukari cried and begged for mercy. But, Nanase didn't have the slightest reaction. Obviously, the force wasn't loosened.

"It's useless. Nanase only listens to my commands. ", declared Utsumi boastful.

Hearing that, Yukari demanded in a friendly tone.

"Then please order her, Utsumi-kun. "

"I am <<Grand Mage>>. I cast away my ordinary name. "

"Ordinary? Did Utsumi-kun became a priest? "

With a smiling face without the slightest ill-will, Yukari asked innocently.

Utsumi's body trembled and after a few seconds, he turned his back on them and walked out without saying anything. Without being ordered, Nanase followed him.

Obviously, since she was caught by Nanase, so was Yukari.

"Where are you going - ?"

Without reply Utsumi strutted in the big mansion as if he owned the place.

Without knocking, he opened three sets of doors and finally Yukari met the master of the mansion.

A tall man cloaked in a red mantle, a simple mask was covering his face.

For Yukari the background of the man impeccability dressed, as if he expected visitors was very clear.

Bowing her head, she smiled sweetly.

"Good evening, you're Bernhardt-san I suppose. I apologize for the sudden visit - "

"Don't worry about it. Visitors are always welcome. You can think of it as your own house. "

With a composed attitude, the master of Pandemonium bowed his head. The atmosphere friendly on the surface was rotating slowly in the space between the two.

"By the way, my name is Vesalius. It may be a bit difficult to remember by the Japanese but I'd rather you addressed me correctly. "

"Aah, this cannot be, I'm sorry for making a mistake"

"No, you're not to blame. Please don't take offense. "

"I understand. Confusing your name with someone else's was very impolite"

Even a normal human would understand this atmosphere packed with tension behind the smiling faces.

But what was there was a doll who lost her will and a thickheaded or rather thick skinned baka pretending to be important.

Irritated by what he perceived as a gentle atmosphere, Utsumi forced his way through those two.

"This is no guest, she's my prisoner! This woman became a police spy and tried to get her hands on information about Pandemonium!"

" -----Hou?"

Including light reprimand in his gaze, Bernhardt stared at Yukari. Yukari stuck out her tongue in mischief and lightly knocked her head.

"Ehe he he - I'm sorry"

"Geez, what a troublesome Ojou-san"

"............only that? "

Seeing Bernhardt who was about to overlook Yukari's deed with a wry smile, Utsumi asked in a sharp voice.

Bernhardt answered as a matter of course.

"It doesn't matter whether she found out something or not. The fact that the Police will intervene in the ceremony has already been factored in. There is no uncertainty factor. "

" - What if they find this place before the ceremony? "

"They won't"

A definite statement.

"I know the Special Information Storage Room's war potential. Even if this woman were to have a transmission instrument and send this specific coordinates, entrance is impossible."

"Hee.....what incredible self-confidence"

"It's not self-confidence but the statement of mere facts. Apart from that - did you sent the message? "

With an arrogant attitude, Utsumi nodded whev asked by Bernhardt about the right and wrongs of being an errand boy.

"Aah, I told them. Almost everyone was gathered. But, why must we be so roundabout about it? Wouldn't it have been easier just to send an order? "

"Leading people brings various troubles and uncertainties. It's more efficient to let them be independent. "

"Independence! Independence? That's rich - "

As if he heard some very funny story, Utsumi abruptly burst in a roar of laughter.

"Ha ha ha! Aha ha ha ha! Bua ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha !!"

Bernhardt was indifferently looking Utsumi, rolling about with laughter monstrously rather that lively, like he was one part of the landscape.

"Aah, don't worry about it. He sometimes gets like this. "

"Ha..........haa....."

Yukari vaguely nodded, overcome with surprise.

Not hearing that exchange, Utsumi continued to laugh endlessly.

The line of sight of that expressionless doll looked like that of a researcher observing an experimental animal.

But, immediately following,

"Oh, by the way, is the preparation over?"

As if someone pressed his switch, Utsumi returned to a normal state.

From frenzy to serenity - a bizarre change of attitude without any kind of midway passage.

Bernhardt faced that extremely calmly.

"Yes, it just became so"

"In other words, your duty is already over."

" - Hmm"

From inside the mask, the indication of a thin smile floated.

The words of rebellion impossible to misunderstand, the thirst to kill received by his body made the master of Pandemonium breathe hard.

"Will you challenge me with the power I gave you, boy? "

"The pupil is supposed to overcome his teacher sooner or later. "

Yet again, with an attitude full of self-confidence and composure Utsumi strikes again.

Not one willing to step aside, their glints in the eyes gave off sparks.

"I will obtain everything! No one is able to oppose me!"

Drunken with power, the boy changed his words to shouts.

That was the signal of the starting battle.

<noinclude>

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter 3|Chapter 3]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_5|Chapter 5]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume5 Chapter 3

2014-01-26T15:14:59Z

Drejzer: /* Part 3 */

== Chapter 3 - The ones doing secret maneuvers ==

=== Part 1 ===

A door was opened suddenly without even knocking.

Both Bernhardt, enjoying dancing after a meal, and Lapis, who served at dinner shifted their attention on the door.

The face that was very similar to a toad looked at the two with haughtiness.

"Is it over? "

"Yeah"

Vesalius asked without looking surprised and the toad - Utsumi Kousuke, nodded in a manner not at all related to modesty.

"I perfectly made the power you gave me my own. No one is able to defy me now"

"Good for you", replied Bernhardt uninterested.

Sensing that monotonous tone was teasing him, Utsumi raised his eyebrows.

"Do you have some complaint? "

"Never "

Unperturbed by Utsumi's question heavy with intimidation, Bernhardt slowly shook his head.

"I am truly glad. No matter how accomplished one is, you managed to jump over <<Second Class>> and go straight to the <<Seed>>. Isn't it normal to worry? "

"Then......it's fine"

Although sullen like an infant, in outline Utsumi showed consent.

"By the way, I plan to stay here for a little while....."

"Don't mind me"

Bernhardt agreed without hesitation.

"This Pandemonium exists for the sake of accommodating you, the chosen ones. What's more, at present you're the only <<Second Class>> <<Seed>> - you can be called elite among the elite. You can use it as you will"

He was adding one thing to another.

"Luckily, there are plenty of guest-rooms. "

"............"

Utsumi's body trembled at the chill of having his true intention seen through. But he immediately smoothed his face over and showed a nihilistic smile.

"You saved me some trouble"

Convinced of the fact that they didn't notice he became frightened from the bottom of his heart, Utsumi left the room.

"Fuu - "

At the small sound made by the closing door, Bernhardt showed a small smile and pressed the tea cup to his lips once more.

"No, he has a wonderful outstanding talent. If not for the issue of his outward appearance, he could be a prime field candidate. "

" - yes"

Lapis bowed her head slightly. Without missing that faint gap, Bernhardt observed his servant only by moving his line of sight.

"Are you dissatisfied? "

".....no"

"Say it. I won't get angry.

Repeatedly asked a question, after a faint indecision, Lapis opened her mouth.

"I'm not.......dissatisfied. Just - "

"Just? "

"I am unable to understand Master's intention. "

"Hmm "

After showing a contemplating manner for a brief period of time, Bernhardt spoke.

"I understand what you're trying to say. The data gathering is almost over. Keeping at it further has no meaning. "

In silence Lapis consented.

"In addition, detaining that boy not understanding etiquette in Pandemonium has no reason. "

The nod this time came slightly quicker. Perhaps he peeked inside her skirt.

"Certainly it could be said it's meaningless stopping in this country further, for the sake of executing the ''plan''. "

"Then, shall we go back to Headquarters? "

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 101.jpg|thumb|]]

"Don't say stupid things"

Bernhardt curtly refused the servant's words.

"Why would we go home now? From here on it will become interesting. "

"Interesting.......?"

"That's right. We certainly accomplished our goal. But people who only live to accomplish goals are miserable creatures. Enjoying the process of arriving at one's goal not only by pushing forward on the shortest distance but straying from it at times - such flexibility is essential for a human. Do you understand? "

Gazing at her master talking about triumphantly, Lapis bends her head slightly to the side, looking perplexed.

"It's because I'm not human........"

"It has nothing to do with that. "

Bernhardt concluded clearly.

"If so, as a being with a heart, let me rephrase that. I don't remember creating you like a doll. It would be troublesome if you didn't follow my orders but making you to obey blindly would have been in vain. "

"......Do I even hold the flexibility to enjoy myself in the process? "

"Hmm, the ingredients for it are all supposed to be there. Or else - you don't want to meet him again? "

At those remarks that seem to tease her, Lapis' facial expression shook for the first time.

"I - "

Little by little, slowly, she spoke with those trembling lips.

"I am - "

Bernhardt quietly looked at Lapis, unable to continue those words, becoming silent altogether. In that gaze, something similar with love dwelt beyond a doubt.

"Hesitating is fine, being worried is fine. Those experiences will make your heart grow. Your heart, still resembling that of a puppet will bud from your own will. Understand that's why I assigned the greatest mission to you. "

"........yes, Master. As you please. "

Although still confused, Lapis nodded meekly.

The gap between that puppet-like reply and her contrastively bewildered facial expression satisfied Bernhardt exceedingly.

=== Part 2 ===

Late at night - although spring, at these hours still unpleasantly cold, a Jutsushi from the Special Information Storage Room, Kurahashi Izumi was waiting inside the car for the enemy's attack.

"Haaah......"

She lost count how many times she let out a miserable sigh from her red lips.

She played with the handle in irritation and grumbled words she said a dozen times already.

"Geez, why must we do this? Even though he already have piles of stuff to do......."

"Well, it can't be helped right? "

Next to her, settled in the passenger seat, trying to shrink his large build in the constrained space, Kumagai Yuki spoke so to calm her.

"It's an refutable truth this is our responsibility since we let Utsumi escape. Besides, if we could seize Utsumi for a second time, we'll have a good clue about Pandemonium - "

"Shut up. Be silent, stupid. "

Izumi ruthlessly knocked down Kumagai's words trying to raise their will to work.

"I know that without you telling me. But since our man force is scarce even at the best of times, setting a 24 hour guard made of Jutsushi for the sake of a civilian who might or migt not be attacked, don't you think that's pointless? "

"........If you think so, wouldn't it have been better not to forcibly drag me here? I was in the middle of my work. "

"Hou - "

Izumi stared at the grumbling Kumagai with eyes closed partly giving an ominous expression.

"Let's hear it then, what is it that you can do while I'm not there? "

"No, that, I certainly cannot use my power but, if it's just a normal search then - "

"There are already excellent people for that who can do it a hundred times better. If you were to join them you'll only be a hindrance. "

"Uuu......"

His best objection mercilessly crushed, Kumagai groaned.

"Enough already, just go and buy something. It's getting suffocating with you inside the car. "

"Yes........"

Those were some arbitrary comments for someone who called him but Kumagai nodded without complaint. No matter how bossy the other party is, that manner was beyond submissive.

This man, was either extremely timid or the other person grabbed hold of his weakness or possibly both.

Anyhow, Kumagai shrunk his body as much as possible, got down from the car in low spirits and walked to the convenience store.

"Hump"

Glaring at that retreating figure, Izumi concentrated her consciousness on the surroundings lookout for the second time.

Although one might say she shouldn't have bothered. The barrier was already up. At the center of the house that was the subject of their protection, the amulets put up in twelve directions sanctified the interior of that space. Something as corrupted as a curse could never come inside.

She had that self-confidence. But -

"The Chief was unreasonable about this"

Kirika's indication was not to protect the barrier or retaliate. But search for where was Utsumi hiding by following the thread of intent and restrain him.

It's simple to defend against the curses of an amateur. As it is the opponent can be defeated and brought back.

In that case, according to the proverb ''If you curse someone dig two graves'' the Jutsushi who doubled the curse should certainly die.

But, if they were to do so the Pandemonium trail will come to an end.

Therefore, it was imperative to capture Utsumi. They established he was the only person to have a class change at the new Pandemonium.

'' - If it's you, you can do it♥ - ''

''Do it yourself! ''

Although she spat at the unreasonable request made by her boss with a smiling face in her mind, Izumi was painfully aware of her honesty that didn't allow her to cut corners.

"Good grief...."

Deciding in her heart she will once again vent her anger on Kumagai when he returns, she sharpened her awareness.

And after a few minutes - that, came along.

An impact that pressured her. The ominous surge of curses wrapping her body send shivers to the muscles along her spine.

"It's coming.......! "

While grimacing because of discomfort Izumi promptly made a seal.

"On Abakya Beiroshya Magabadara - "

She chanted the incantation as sections. The web of thought knitted in a complex manner entangled, seized and removed the curses.

"Kuuh, it's unexpectedly strong......"

She heard it was the <<Second Rank>> but those were some rough hexes that exceeded her expectation. They were pushing forward like a violent horse on the invisible barrier that blocked his way.

"But, it's not so bad I can't control it! "

There's no need to resist against power with power. If the opponent's ability is powerful, it's better to stop the other side by sidestepping, handling and weaken his force little by little.

The difference between an amateur and a specialist is not power but the skill to accurately manage that power.

The force of those violent but unskillful thoughts, little by little but in a steady way, was reduced.

Izumi was fortifying her protection even more while simultaneously tracing those thoughts.

" - !? "

She could swore. She didn't make any mistake. But the instant she searched for Utsumi's whereabouts, the twelve amulets simultaneously lost their effectiveness.

It wasn't the reaction of burning off because they couldn't endure the curses and burst. This was -

"The amulets have been physically destroyed!? He came here personally!? "

Without thinking Izumi shouted but she immediately rejected that reasoning.

A few days ago, when they interrogated him after the arrest, they thoroughly investigated that thing's personality. Utsumi was consistently an menial, underhanded man.

Naturally, it's impossible for him to bravely defy a danger.

His brand of magic, the power to attack from a separate place where he's safe, it's something truly suitable for him.

"Then, he has an accomplice? "

That was also improbable. Who the heck would become an ally to such a vulgar man? -

There were a lot of questions but now was not the time to indulge in speculation.

Right now, the girl she should protect had been presented in front of Utsumi in a completely defenseless condition.

"Kuu......"

Kicking the door, Izumi rushed outside. But the foot that was about to break into a run was forced back after the first step.

"Yo. It must be difficult staying up so late. "

That voice without any tension came drifting from before her eyes.

For how long he'd been there, deceiving even Izumi's perception fully concentrated on searching for the enemy, the man stood straight on her way.

Izumi asked in a subdued tone.

"Yagami Kazuma - why are you here? "

"Why, you ask. That's - "

With an attitude that was frivolousness itself, the man - Kazuma, laughed carelessly.

His manner was so relaxed he didn't seem to recognize the situation but Izumi understood it was impossible.

"Of course, it's for the sake of catching Utsumi and make him tell where Pandemonium is. Our goal is the same for the time being so I'm lending you a hand. You should be very grateful, no? "

Kazuma spoke with the usual lax expression and turned his back to Izumi. And then he walked to Nanase's house without change.

But, Izumi didn't move. Her sharp gaze pierced Kazuma's back and said:

"You're making fun of me"

".....Aah? "

Kazuma looked over his shoulder puzzled.

"Did you think you alone are enough? It's wonderful that you have pride but you should take the help when it's offered. That way is more comfortable - "

"Do you think you can deal with me the same way like that Isurughi boy? "

Ignoring Kazuma's frivolous talk, Izumi informed him coldly.

A brief period of silence - and then Kazuma turned his body around.

An opaque, unreadable gaze seized Izumi.

"What do you mean? "

"There's something I previously heard about from Chief. When you're manifesting your true power, that pupil is shining blue. "

In a wooden tone Izumi spoke those words that seemed unrelated to the present condition.

"That brilliance can't be compared to that of gems, it's a cool and clear, vibrant, thoroughly blue like the perfectly clear sky or a pure lake. "

"What of it? "

It was a monotonous, quiet question. But without feeling hesitant as Kazuma's facial expression was gradually disappearing, Izumi declared.

"Your eyes right now - are red to the point of being sinister. "

"You may have tricked Isurughi but you won't trick me! Answer! What did you plan to do coming here? "

"......that's, right......"

Showing a faint hesitation at the vehement cross-examination, Kazuma murmured in an inaudible voice.

"At present, you're a nuisance"

" - !!"

Overpowered by that dreadful surge, Izumi leaped as if she was repelled. At the same time she took amulets from her bosom and -

"I won't kill you. Sleep for a while. "

" - !!"

Reaching from an impossible place in the back, a low voice. The moment she tried to turn away in astonishment, a heavy shock shook her entire body.

When she opened her eyes, everything was already over.

=== Part 3 ===

"...........this is really................"

Next morning, receiving the report from Izumi who regained her consciousness by now, Kirika groaned as if she endured a headache.

In reality, she really has a headache. Why are so much troubles coming her way one after another? -

"Well, that's right.............it's improbable she was killed so maybe that's a minimal providence"

"...............ha"

At present, Nanase was unaccounted for. They regarded her as having been abducted by Utsumi by magic.

It didn't seem plausible more outsiders were were involved in this. Actually, a little after Izumi was rendered unconscious, returning from the convenience store Kumagai witnessed Nanase dressed in pajamas walking out like a somnambulist.

But then, as someone immediately made him faint, he couldn't confirm where was Nanase taken to.

".........I'm sorry"

"It can't be helped"

Kirika dared to show a bright smile to Izumi, apologizing for failure during her duty.

"Kazuma got in the way right? There are at most five Jutsushi in Japan who could possibly compete with that man - or maybe less? "

"........ha"

Even so, Izumi's facial expression didn't clear up. She must have been distressed because she made an error but since then her physical condition wasn't good.

"For now, take your time. You took quite a damage, right? "

" - Thank you"

Taking a standing at attention posture by pressing down her pain, saying words of thanks Izumi rested her back against the sofa intended for visitors. From her lips forcefully tightened, a long breath of relief escaped.

"That's pretty painful.......what did he do to you? "

"It appears that I was hit by some sort of vibration wave. The doctor said that all my bones, muscles and internal organs received the same amount of damage. "

"I see"

Since Kazuma is manipulating the air and wind that sort of attack is easy for him. And since he didn't quickly and easily cut her head and she improved enough to get up in just one night it means he went easy on her -

"Does this means a minimal amount of reason still remains? "

" - You think so? "

Although that was formulated like a question, Izumi's reply was loaded with distrust from the bottom of her heart.

"I think we have no choice but to consider that man our enemy. "

"Hmmmmm, but I think our goal is the same......the problem is the means one selects. "

Breathing a sigh at the troublesome issue, Kirika allowed Izumi to leave.

"Sleep for a while in the man room. Because at dusk you'll come with me to explain this to Ayano-chan. "

"........roger that"

With a bitter voice and a nod, Izumi left the office.

The indication of a critical situation was filling the room to the brim.

The silence was painful.

Inside the extremely uncomfortable air, Kirika looked around her surroundings moving only her eyeballs.

Since this time she visited for a personal report so to speak, Juugo wasn't present. Genma was the same and Ren didn't return yet.

Izumi could be called her ally but her pride wasn't low enough to try raise the young girl's spirits.

That is to say, the kind of person to remove the pin from a grenade that explodes twenty eight seconds after or to pull the trigger five times at Russian roulette or try to soothe Ayano giving off that kind of presence doesn't exist here.

While in a formal posture Kirika changed her center of gravity forward.

As if ready to run as fast as possible in case of explosion.

"Say it.....once more"

Ayano squeezed out the words with an expression that seemed to crush something to death.

Kirika repeated the same words as before in the same tone.

"Kudou Nanase-san was abducted. It's likely it happened because of Utsumi - "

''''Dann!''''

The sound of the table pummeled with an open palm cut Kirika's explanation.

"So, what are you doing here? ", Ayano asked quietly in a low voice.

"Rather than coming here for worthless excuses, don't you have something more pressing? "

"At present we have no clue. The investigation is making progress but - "

"Don't use such official media announcement words with me! Where is Nanase!? "

"If we knew that a rescue mission would have been carried out long ago"

That obviously irresponsible reply would have rubbed the irritated Ayano the wrong way even under normal circumstances.

She shouted in fury.

"Is this the place to underestimate me!? Just when the fuck will you be satisfied repeating the same unsightly failure over and over? "

" - tch!"

Unable to bear the outrageous criticism of her mistake from of all things the relative of the man who got in her way, Izumi scowled at Ayano.

"Do you think ''you'' have the right to say such things - "

"Izumi"

"Let her. If you have some lame ass excuse how about spilling it? "

Ayano's provocation full of cynicism stirred Izumi's anger in spite of Kirika's restrain.

Those two's belligerent eyes gave off violent sparks in the space between.

"..........."

Instantly the option of turning her back to these two and running away from here at full speed tempted Kirika pretty seriously.

But of course she actually wouldn't give in to mere temptation and deeply bowed her head to Izumi who took the initiative.

"No, this time it was our fault and we have no way to explain it. I'm sorry. "

"......."

Although Izumi frowned, reluctant from the bottom of her heart, Izumi also imitated her. As expected, she couldn't act cocky by herself when her boss was bowing her head.

".....it's, fine....."

Having no choice but to accept the peace offering, Ayano also bowed. Her fervor was reduced, she accepted the apology in a small voice and as Kirika was raising her head, she recovered her usual tone.

"So, won't you start explain the state of affairs already? "

"Well - just like Ayano-chan says, it seems that lately we do keep losing at best but it's impossible for us to lose to Utsumi. "

"Basically you're saying someone helped him. No way, did Bernhardt came out? "

Kirika shook her head a little.

"No. But according to your way of thinking, perhaps someone much more troublesome. "

"More troublesome than Bernhardt - "

"Your relative"

"Eh? "

Ayano blinked at Izumi's words.

Relative - meaning some member of the Kannagi Clan. If that person was more troublesome than Bernhard, the members of the branch families could be excluded.

But, for someone in the main family to be foolish enough to associate with Utsumi -

" ----------! "

Opening her eyes wide Ayano stared at Kirika.

"Wait, no way......"

Accurately reading the question that couldn't be put into words, Kirika nodded.

"It's Kazuma. "

"....you're lying....", murmured Ayano in a hoarse voice.

"Wha....what does that mean? "

"I don't know", replied Kirika extremely honestly.

"But, it's the truth. He interfered with Izumi's jutsu, and although indirectly he helped Utsumi. "

"Wait, just wait! Why would Kazuma do such a - "

Ayano promptly cut Kirika's reply but remembering Kirika's story from yesterday her complexion changed.

"He - no way, did he joined Bernhardt for the sake of Tsoi Rin - no, Lapis? "

"I don't think so. The opposite, rather. "

"Eeh?"

"Utsumi had his class change at the new Pandemonium, right? "

" - !!"

That's right, Utsumi has an utility value just like Kirika said. He visited the new Pandemonium so he was the only person able to identify it at the moment. Therefore -

"That's why.....if he let Utsumi go free, he can find Pandemonium's new location, maybe"

"Yeah"

"That's why....he ignored Nanase's kidnapping? "

"It seems so. Utsumi is nothing but a high schooler. It would be difficult for him to prepare a place he could confine an abducted girl. The possibility he is relying on Pandemonium is high. Pandemonium too is favouring Utsumi. "

Pandemonium - Bernhardt went as far as opposing the police to secure Utsumi.

Because his behaviour was so pushy, Utsumi's value was recognized. Even the degree of convenience for continuing hiding one person was plotted before.

For Utsumi and, for at least one more person.

"Wait........just wait a second......"

Driven by a sense of urgency she couldn't even explain to herself, Ayano held back Kirika's words.

She understood the reason. She agreed to the effectiveness of the method. But -

"Certainly, Kazuma is a scoundrel, he doesn't choose the methods for his goal and he can declare he doesn't care about other people's problems without bating an eyelid..........."

He's arrogant, he's self-centered, he's violent and lazy - he has so many defects one day is insufficient to count them all but, but even so -

"He, he wouldn't do such a thing......that's, that's unconditionally not the way he does things! "

"Yeah"

Without showing any particular reaction to the passionate defense, Kirika nodded blandly.

"Certainly until now - or rather, the Kazuma after he returned to Japan, I don't thing he's do such a thing. But, right now Kazuma went back to the way he was before he carried out his revenge. Be careful, it's possible he may kill even you if you were to get in his way. Think of him like a fundamentally different person and deal with it without showing weakness. "

".......was he so dangerous in the past? "

Ayano asked timidly and although Kirika was remembering the past, she drew back with a rather cold expression.

"........extremely so"

It was something that happened a little over two years ago.

She had an unofficial offer for becoming the Chief of the Special Information Storage Room, she had already become a police bureaucrat by taking the government official exam so she left for London for training.

That place is the center of modern days occultism. Their countermeasures for Spirit crimes are perfect compared with Japan's.

In one of those days where she continued to learn the practical know-how endorsed by history and actual results, during a certain incident, Kirika met him.

His body clad in frozen wind, the Fujutsushi similar to the god of death.

At first she thought he was the criminal. That's how strong the aura of <<Death>> released from his body was.

Although terrorized by that overwhelming power, Kirika chased after him determined and before she knew they reached to a common front -

"After all, that incident was resolved because of Kazuma but I didn't feel the least bit grateful."

While shaking her head irresponsibly, Kirika spoke.

"Before feeling glad the incident was resolved, I was first and foremost happy I'll never have to see him again. Frankly, I never wanted to see him again. "

But even so, unable to forget about him, she continued collecting information about him by all possible means. And then, approximately one year after, the almost fantastic gossip that <<The Contractor killed Erwin Salazar, the leader of ''Almagest''>> reached her ears but that was a story that didn't matter now.

"Huh, so it was like that........"

Ayano unintentionally agreed with the excessively severe criticism but reminded of the time she met Kirika for the first time, her expression became grim.

"Compared to that, you were on pretty good terms in Japan, huh? "

The appearance of two people coming out of the love hotel district with their arms linked wasn't a supporting attitude for ''"I don't want to be together with him"'' or ''"I don't want to meet him again"''.

Returning a bitter smile to Ayano's glare, Kirika lightly shrugged her shoulders.

"It doesn't mean I'm the one who approached him, you know? Kazuma was the one to call out to me. You also know how he behaves."

As far as Kirika is concerned, that was a meeting that should be called world-shaking.

The man she thought she never wanted to meet again, the man so ominously gloom he seemed the embodiment of death, talked to her with a frivolous smile, saying ''"Yo - it's been a while"''.

"I thought what on earth happened? To make someone change that much. All that day long I couldn't calm down thinking something must have bewitched me. "

" - Well, that may have been true"

Ayano agreed ambiguously.

Kazuma's image described by Kirika is that of a completely different person from the one she knows.

She really has no idea just what must one experience to change that much.

"Did something happen......? "

"I don't know that"

Kirika replied coldly, thinking about Kazuma's past.

"Maybe he felt exhausted after carrying out his revenge or something else happened after that? Rather than wasting time asking the person itself would be better. What's important right now - "

Her facial expression stiffening again, Ayano continued.

" - is that Kazuma returned to how he was before. "

"Yes. Be careful. For the sake of killing Bernhard Kazuma won't care what methods he employs. If for the sake of finding Pandemonium razing Shinjuku to the ground is necessary he'll do it without a second thought. No matter how many thousands or tens of thousands must die for that purpose."

"..............."

"To put it bluntly, right now Kazuma is more dangerous than Bernhardt. If we won't somehow stop him......"

"..............."

" - Ayano-chan? "

Kirika stared puzzled to Ayano's continuous silence. Noticing that gaze, Ayano raised her head and showed a feeble smile.

"Aah, that's right.......If we won't somehow stop him, right.......?"

Unbecoming for her, her voice had no aspiration. But it wasn't just because the unreasonable demand of stopping Kazuma was pushed onto her.

"Is there a problem? "

"Aa, yeah.....not really a problem but.........", murmured Ayano in a frail manner.

"I just thought how much did Kazuma loved that Tsoi Rin girl........"

Enough to throw away everything without regret, for the sake of just one girl. Enough to forsake it all, be it morals or righteousness without looking back -

"That's right. To make matters worse he's glorying her because of her unnatural death. It will be very hard to change his mind, Ayano-chan. "

"N- no, that's wrong, I don't really - "

"Look here, this is an earnest conversation. "

Controlling Ayano who shouted taking the joke seriously, Kirika informed her with a serious face.

"I'll be troubled if Ayano-chan doesn't want to win against Tsoi Rin. "

"Wh- why? "

Overpowered by Kirika pressing closer, Ayano's upper body was bent backwards.

"Right now Kazuma is captured by his past. No, he continued being so until today. He just concealed it inside his heart. "

".......so? "

"Because of the shock of having his emotional scars hidden even from himself exposed, Kazuma lost sight of himself. For the sake of returning his sanity, it's of utmost importance that a more valuable <<Present>> than the <<Past>> Tsoi Rin must be thrust before his eyes. The only one who can do it is you. "

"M- Me!? "

Kirika nodded as if it was was a matter of course at the horrified Ayano.

"Yes, you. Who else is there? "

"W- well......aah, hey, how about Ren of Father - "

"Those two may have some effect but both Ren and the Suzerain were also important to the past Kazuma, right? On that point, Ayano-chan is only important for Kazuma right now"

"Am I......important? "

"Stop sleep-talking already"

Sinking Ayano's question, red in the face, without hesitation, Kirika tried to encourage her in a cheering voice.

"Do your best!"

"........what is going on...", murmured Ayano in a hollow voice.

At the time Tokyo Government Office collapsed, for the sake of protecting Lapis - Tsoi Rin, Kazuma turned his blade to Ayano.

It seems that was an unconscious attack but that's exactly why it was act of his true feelings, without affectation.

For the sake of protecting ''the'' most important person, Kazuma fired that wind blade. In other words, that was the conclusion right there.

''"What are you trying to tell me to do? "''

She returned a gaze seeking for help but -

"I have expectations from you"

- but Kirika irresponsibly cheered on her.

"You're the one qualified to stop that man as you're from the same family, right? "

Izumi pushed the responsibility onto her as if it were natural. There was no escape.

"Aah, well......"

For the time being, Ayano tried to change the subject. It didn't seem likely the feat of regaining her footing with Kazuma was possible but for the sake of attempting to experiment with such grand ideas, she must find first Kazuma's whereabouts.

First of all, she tried asking about that. The answer was quick.

"I don't know where he's located but I pretty much understand what he's doing. First of all, he's been systematically hunting <<Second Class>> <<Seeds>>. "

" - seeds? "

Hearing that word for the first time, Ayano tilted her head to the side.

"Aah, it's the name given to the people with abilities from Pandemonium. That's the latest fashion. Regarding themselves as some sort of seeds, after repeating a <<Second Class>> and a <<Third Class>> class change, they'll sooner or later wake up a great existence, apparently that's the meaning. There's also the next race of people. "

"Is this something they made for themselves? "

"It seems that's what they're thinking."

"Are they wrong? "

As Ayano's questions piled up, Kirika shook her head slightly.

"We have no positive proof. But it seems the name was spread in just one night. "

"Then, did Pandemonium name them? "

"Probably. If that's true, the word seed must have some meaning. But the kids only think of themselves like <<Seed>>. "

"Actually, a seedbed is necessary to grow a seed. "

As Ayano continued, Kirika replied with a nod.

"What they're eagerly waiting for, it the time the seed will hatch out - that it, they'll have had enough nourishment, the time for destroying and loosing everything"

"Waah, that's dark stuff......"

That name full of ill-will made Ayano frown. She continued full of pity.

"On top of that, Kazuma's aiming at them - misfortune never comes singly."

So, Kazuma was excitingly running wild in the midst of it all. While imagining such ill-omened thing, Ayano timidly asked.

"Is he perhaps killing all of them? "

Kirika slowly shook her head. But, it was to early for relief.

"They're alive. Or to be exact, I should say they're not dead. "

"........Is it that bad? "

"They don't have that degree of physical damage. If they could rehabilitate, they should be able to return to their everyday lives. The problem is their mind.

"Have they been broken because of too much fear? "

"yes"

With a serious look Kirika agreed to the question that was supposed to be a joke. For a short while, Ayano petrified with her frozen smile in place.

"What? "

"It seems Kazuma tried to infer Pandemonium's location directly from the memories of those people. And extracted first hand information directly from their brains using a strange esoteric tool. "

"Directly from their brains, you say? "

"Directly in the literal sense. By thrusting his fingers inside the brain and stirring it up, it seems he somehow collects memories this way. "

"Weeh........"

Inadvertently imagining that spectacle, Ayano turned pale. But at the same time, she remembered a small problem hearing those words.

"Don't humans die after someone stuck fingers in their brains? "

"Well, depends on the place. "

In the world there are very strong people who walked into hospitals with steel frames running through their heads. The brain is the most vital organ but it doesn't mean that once it's damaged it results in certain death.

"Besides, in this situation there's no physical damage to the brain. There's no hole in the head. But, it seems the pain is very unusual. Everyone lost their sanity. "

".......will they heal? "

"''Only god knows'', right? "

"..............................Kazuma.........................."

Never before so bitter and so heavy, Ayano naturally called out the name of the man she called her partner.

The more she heard about him, the behavior of that man was totally different from the Kazuma she knew.

Honestly, she doesn't believe it - no, she doesn't want to believe it.

"Is that really Kazuma? "

"There are quite a few eye witnesses. The unidentified <<Wind User>> is quite the talk among the <<Seeds>>"

"I see........hmm? Wait, but..........? "

"What? "

"When you said he's thoroughly hunting them down, does that mean only those who class chaged at the new Pandemonium? "

"No"

Immediately and with clarity, Kirika denied.

"Wouldn't that be pointless? "

For example, even if the <<Seeds>> have some sort of information, if it's about the old Pandemonium, it's worthless. Because that one already became extinct.

"What is he thinking? "

"We won't know exactly unless asking the person itself but will you listen to my reasoning? "

Ayano urged for the continuation with a small nod.

And then, Kirika started talking.

"He's playing with Pandemonium - with Bernhardt. "

"He's playing? "

"Yeah. I cannot imagine the basis for his self-confidence and composure but Bernhardt is playing with the angered Kazuma even now. Right now Pandemonium doesn't make an appearance but it's not hiding itself. It's waiting to be discovered. "

An RPG character collects hints via quests, in order to discover the Devil King's castle -

"Kazuma understands this. That's why he's surely thinking ''Pandemonium can't possibly conceal itself perfectly. If I were to collect information and solve the mystery, I can establish its specific location'' or something. "

At those last words, Ayano's shoulders dropped suddenly.

"''or something'', huh? "

"Isn't it reasonable? I have no proof. ", retorted Kirika calmly.

"But, let's assume this explanation for the time being. At least, if that Kazuma lost himself in anger, I don't think he would notice something like that. "

"..........that may be, huh? "

"So, since it's like that, I'm counting on you♥ "

"........."

Ayano glared Kirika with half opened eyes, pushing an unthinkable burden onto her with a smiling face. Suddenly shifting her gaze Izumi's figure came into focus, similar to the boss next to her.

With all due respect, since she was probably easily manipulated by Kirika and won't find a drop of sympathy in her, deeply, deeply, Ayano breathed a sigh.

"What are you trying to tell me to do? "

Of course, there was no reply.

=== Part 4 ===

In the park a dry wind was blowing through, Kazuma was solitary looking at the sky.

There was no one around.

As the <<Seeds>> given power by Pandemonium were loitering around, it produced a change in Shinjuku.

There were no more homeless people.

To such an extent that the wide park that always had a homeless community, was now completely empty. Of course, it wasn't the result of the metropolitan government.

They had literary been completely ''exterminated'' by the <<Seeds>>.

Right now various parks in Shinjuku were turned to battlefields for <<Seeds>>.

As flying-about fireballs or electric shocks were hurting his eyes he immediately escaped to this place.

The number of people that stayed behind was big but they were dim-witted enough not to have a sense of danger.

Those people that even at the best of times didn't show self-restraint have now obtained a power law cannot judge.

No matter how the situation turns out, pondering about it doesn't amount to anything.

The result was that the homeless around Shinjuku were eradicated. But the parks became less accommodating for normal people that before.

It's only natural. The <<Seeds>> were only fighting at night but there aren't any people who thread on the blood-stained pavement on their own accord.

"Well then........."

Looking up at the sky in the inhabited park Kazuma felt solitary.

Close to his field of vision the cherry trees were in full bloom. Right now they were blossoming in full glory but not one visitor came for cherry blossom viewing.

It was a pretty queer spectacle.

The cherry blossoms dyed light pink because dead bodies were buried at its roots - remembering that famous legend, his lips curved imperceptibly.

''"That means, next year they will bloom beautifully, I have no doubt. It's deplorable it won't be in time for this year"''

Embracing such black thought, Kazuma sharpened his consciousness.

Last night, exactly at this place, Nanase suddenly disappeared.

Space transfer. But, even for the net immediately stretched around ten kilometers in all four directions couldn't find Nanase's presence. If that's the case, it can be assessed she didn't return to the normal space.

It's likely that Pandemonium was here somewhere, at the center of the Shinjuku Public Park.

More accurately, somewhere in the hyperspace overlapping the park, quietly hiding itself.

He can't find the specific location but if he were to randomly cut all the space around here, he could eventually find it.

Of course if he were to disturb the space construction to that extent the backlash would be amazing and so would be the damage to the surroundings but for Kazuma right now that's not something worth taking into account.

But, Kazuma didn't take such drastic measures.

A countermeasure for such a ''foul play'' route had surely been arranged.

Even for Kazuma, releasing such a huge amount of power would be followed by the creation of a gap.

It was a slight gap he didn't have to worry about with mediocre opponents but if he plays against Bernhardt that gap can become lethal.

"Geez, is the game not ending yet? Don't irritate me Bernhardt. If you put on too much airs..........you won't die easily...", he murmured full of hatred.

Forming swirls, the wind was scattering the sakura flowers.

Immediately following -

"Oi, he's here! This way! "

A crude shout violated the silence, followed by a clutter of footsteps.

Five people appeared and encircled Kazuma, who didn't show any worth mentioning reaction. The sound of chewing gum resounded strangely offensive to the ear.

"We searched for you, <<Wind User>>"

One of the men started talking with a vulgar smile. Looking only for a second at the man without any kind of interest, Kazuma immediately returned his gaze to the cherry blossom overhead.

As if he found some sort of entertainment in that reaction, the man laughed even louder.

"Kee, you can't make eye contact because you're too scared, you worthless bastard. It's been said you hunt all <<Seeds>> but you probably use some unfair trick to fuck them, huh? "

As of now, the man who didn't see that five surrounding one was also cowardly made fun of Kazuma. Keeping in tune, the other four also raised loud laughter.

"Do you want something? "

"''Do you want something?''. Yes, we do actually. Very important something. "

Repeating Kazuma's dull and interesting words, the man raised his middle finger. And then informed him.

"Die"

Moreover, he made the sign of slicing his throat with his thumb and sticking that finger out.

"Die. Die and give me all you XP points. You were born only for that. Only to feed me!! "

The resounding scorn of the five part chorus. With woken-up eyes Kazuma turned to those men that didn't doubt their superiority.

"Did you say you searched for me? "

"Yeah. A mail came from Pandemonium yesterday. Saying that anyone who kills you receives a huge amount of XP. Although you don't seem all that much but - well, it seems like a bonus game. "

" - I see, a bonus game, huh? "

Tempted to laugh by the excessive black humor, Kazuma's shoulders shook.

He suddenly seized the truth of this man's words. The only wrong point was ''for whom'' was the bonus game but he will probably notice immediately.

"Whatever, if you say you'll give them to me, I'll take them. "

"Aaah? Are you still talking while half asleep, bastard? "

The man that still didn't notice he was a sacrificial pawn, was enraged by Kazuma's words.

"I'm the one who'll take them! This <<Fang>>-sama will class change with the XP given by your death! Don't misunderstand your place! "

The man - <<Fang>> roared loudly and leaped, aiming at Kazuma. Slightly later, so were his comrades - or maybe his subordinates.

That was exactly the time when the footsteps of a new character resounded.

A while ago - dragged like usual by Kanon and Serisawa, Ren was strolling in the Shinjuku Central Park.

The rumor of <<Seeds>> ferociously exercising their authority in Shinjuku had no meaning for those fearless kids. Rather there was an atmosphere that made one believe they came because they expected something to happen.

"Then what? Does that mean the incident is not yet over? "

"Yeah.......we let the enemy escape and Onii-sama disappeared.........."

"Ren's Aniki, is that - "

"That really cool Onii-san!? "

"Aaah? "

Serisawa looked dubiously at Kanon, thrusting herself in their conversation.

"Was he that cool? "

The point-blank image Serisawa had about Kazuma was ''<<a slacking playboy always laughing frivolously>>''. He heard that as a magic user his ability was high but it can't be helped, his attitude was beyond superficial.

"how to put this, that man seems totally laid back. "

"How stupid, isn't that fine? "

But it seems like Kanon's opinion was different.

"Creasing your brow and always looking like ''I'm mustering all my power!'' is ugly! Not showing mental strain even when risking one's life, that 's what it means being cool and composed in a life and death situation!"

"Is that how it is? "

Seeming reluctant to agree, Serisawa inclined his head to the side baffled.

But, something came to his mind and he snickered while grinning.

"But even so, you, it seems you're surprisingly pleased with Ren's aniki. How about you move on to him? "

"Don't say such stupid things. I'm all for Ren-kun. Besides, since Kazuma-san is his real brother, there's also the possibility Ren-kun will turn like that once he grows, right? "

Re agreed with a smiling face to Kanon's question.

"That's right. Onii-sama is my aspiration, my landmark. I thinking of becoming just like Onii-sama someday. "

"Meaning playing hooky during work and being yelled at by Ayano-san? "

".......No, that bit is a little......."

As expected, he doesn't want to copy that.

The survival capacity of continuing to have Enraiha trusted at him almost everyday but survive without injuries is worthy of praise but - he has the feeling that seems to serve a slightly different purpose.

" - well, leaving behind Onii-sama's temperament"

"Aah, yeah, you said he disappeared. What do you mean? "

In a casual manner - or not, anyway as Ren tried to change the subject, Kanon followed his lead.

"Yeah, I think he's fine but I wonder why is he acting separately? "

''"He doesn't want to be found at the present, right? Or, he doesn't want others to get in the way? "''

Ren strongly negated Kirika's words resurrected in his ears.

''"Isn't that impossible? How can I get in his way? Besides - "

It's impossible for Kazuma to disappear in front of his eyes, without saying anything. Ren strongly believed so.

This Kazuma is different from the one that left the Kannagi residence before.

Kazuma right now is strong, and affectionate. It's impossible for him no to care about the sadness of the person left behind.

''"There's definitely some reason why he didn't get in touch. That's obvious. "''

As if persuading himself, he repeated so in his heart. Many times over, many times over -

"Ren - Hey, Ren! "

Before he knew it, Serisawa was calling his name in a fairly loud voice.

"What happened? You were distracted. "

"Aah, yeah, I'm worried about Nii-sama"

"Worried? "

As if he heard something unexplainable, Serisawa was amazed. Ren nodded with a serious face.

"After all, it's different from just taking action separately, it's definitely strange he didn't even call. What if he can't move about because he's injured? "

With a sidelong glance at Ren, wholeheartedly worrying about his brother, Kanon and Serisawa exchanged glances.

"Am I the only one thinking that Nii-chan would survive the destruction of mankind with calm face? "

"Ï have to agree despite myself. "

Ren glared at the two, reaching the same unfeeling agreement, pouting.

"That's not true. Even Onii-sama is not omnipotent. He's human so he can fail. "

"Well, that may be true. "

"It is", replied Ren in an unusually blunt tone.

And then, pulling himself together he made a small nod and faced the two.

"Sorry. I don't really feel like hanging out today. I'm going home."

"..........yeah"

"I'm sorry. I forced you to come. "

"No, that's fine - "

Trying to apologize once more to the friends pitying him, Ren gulped down his words.

As if covering for it, an angry voice could be heard from the middle of the park.

"Just now - "

Gesturing Serisawa to silence his loud voice, he was all ears. It was certainly audible. Although he couldn't understand the details if the matter, from the strength of the tone it didn't seem like a proper conversation.

The probability of finding ordinary people in Shinjuku at the present time was close to zero. It is possible a tourist may visit without knowing the situation but he would probably be frightened by the smell of blood soaked into the air and the bloodthirsty Kehai and retreat after advancing less that yen steps.

Then, the owner of the voice -

"What to do? "

Seeming to have reached the same conclusion, Serisawa asked in a hard voice.

"Before he finds us - "

After beginning to say they should run, Ren promptly changed his mind. Right now he wanted information by any means.

Those people with abilities making a ruckus inside had made a class change - and in addition to that, if there are people who made a class change at the new Pandemonium, he wanted to capture them by all means.

"I'll look a little. If you want to follow be quiet. "

Without wasting time for persuasion, Ren started walking at a quick pace. Confirming the duo who obviously followed him near his field of vision, he sharpened his sensitivity even more.

He immediately found a mark.

Without caring about public notice, at the center of his path, the presence of an impressive fighting scene was scattering.

Five men were surrounding another. But the moment he saw the face of the surrounded man, Ren's anxiety was turned to compassion for the five men.

Depending on numbers, they showed grins full of composure but -

"Nii-sa......."

The moment Ren began starting so, the fire men moved simultaneously. At the same time the man in the middle released his power.

The whirlwind that seemed to crawl on earth altogether broke the knees on those five men when they threw - no, when they tried to throw themselves upon him.

As if stuck by a car, the bodies of those men danced in midair.

Ren clearly saw their joints of their feet bent the other way.

Five serial falling sounds. Later by one beat, the shrieks of five vocal cords unpleasant to hear resounded far and wide.

The man standing still at the center of it, leisurely turned around.

Those dark pupils seized Ren, standing rock still in blank amazement.

"Ren? "

"...............nii,sama"

Dumbfounded, nothing but dumbfounded, Ren continued to stare at the man - the brother he respected and loved, Kazuma.

''"Who.......is he........"'', he thought so, partly serious.

The man standing in front of his eyes was a completely different person from the Kazuma Ren knew.

That always present cheerful and fearless smile completely vanished without a trace.

That gloomy, bleak Kehai made Ren sharply catch his breath and Serisawa and Kanon hid behind him with stiff faces.

"Why, are you here? "

Without caring about their reaction, Kazuma's words were reprimanding.

"It dangerous around here. It's not a place for kids to loiter around. It will become safe very soon, so wait - "

Interrupting his words, he looked to the right. Ren followed his example.

The silhouette of a man trying to crawl along came into view. The <<Fang>> with smashed knees - Ren didn't know that name, but even so he was frantically crawling on the ground trying to run away from this place.

"Where are you going? "

Kazuma casually released the wind. The air cannonball shot out and hit the ground near the <<Fang>>, his body blown off by impact.

The <<Fang>> crashed into the trees with splendid force and fell to the ground as if gliding on the tree trunks.

Stepping up to the place he fell, Kazuma kicked the <<Fang>> lying upside down and turned him him over.

And then, his feet stepped with all his strength on that stomach.

"Guaaaaah! "

From <<Fang>>'s mouth, a mixture of screams and blood cloths gushed out.

Without caring about that, Kazuma fired another hit.

"Ni - Nii-sama! What are you doing!? "

Kazuma answered that Ren's dry shout, his facial expression changed, as a matter of course.

"I'm trying to pull out information about Pandemonium......? "

"E- even so, using this sort of method.......you don't know whether or not he has that information! "

"He has it"

As if he talked about the obvious reality, Kazuma declared.

"This guys they were sent here for that purpose - for the sake of giving me that information, ''''he'''' prepared this chess pieces. "

"Eeh.......? "

"It's offensive being manipulated but I have no other option right now. I'll step on you for a while - so tell me already! "

A beating without forgiveness. <<Fang>>'s body was frailly convulsing.

That was maybe the same scene as always.

It wasn't unusual for Kazuma to inflict flows without pardon to those who challenged him without knowing their place, to those who stood in his way. ''But -'' thought Ren.

''This is different''

It wasn't about the severeness of the attack or the amount of given damage.

Something more basic and yet more definite, this was a deviation from Kazuma's acting - the Kazuma Ren knew.

"Nii-sama.........."

"Ren"

Kazuma ruthlessly cut down Ren's words trying to stop that atrocious behavior.

An expressionless look seized Ren.

"Don't get in my way"

".........."

Faced with that cold rejection, loosing his words, Ren froze.

Without waiting for a reply, Kazuma restored his gaze to <<Fang>>.

"nii-sa......"

Ren tried to stop him a second time. But, his mouth was blocked from behind by Serisawa's hand.

He lifted him up without change and carried him away like a luggage.

In the space between that sequence of disturbance, Kazuma didn't even lift his eyes to look at them.

"Wh- wait Serisawa-kun! "

After being separated by at least a hundred meters, Ren finally untied Serisawa's hands.

"What are you doing? "

"It's not what! "

Serisawa knocked down Ren's unusually raised voice with several times the volume. He drew his head near as for a head-butt and shouted.

"Do you want to die!? You shouldn't have opened that sort of conversation! "

"What do you mean by that sort? He's my brother! "

"Even so! "

Although facing a Ren whose anger laid bare, Serisawa didn't took a step aside.

The instinct shared by all living things informed him he must unconditionally not return to that place.

His somewhat cold body shaking, the boy murmured.

"What was up with those eyes........just what can happen, to make someone change that much? "

"That's...."

Lacking an answer, Ren cast down his eyes.

The reason for Kazuma's transfiguration, those feelings, Ren understood them at a personal level.

Because, he was just like his brother.

If someone would have resurrected Ayumi and tried to use her in some bad intrigue, even he wouldn't be able to maintain his sanity. He would absolutely, never tolerate it.

He couldn't possibly even think of it.

''"That's right, I'd never forgive it. No matter by what means, I would give retribution without fail. Enough to make him regret he was ever born - "''

Only by imagining his consciousness was burning. Unconsciously clenching his fists, Ren was burning with anger.

" - Hey Ren! What will happen if you snap too? "

A nervous shout calmed him down.

Looking, Serisawa was backing down with a stiff face, Kanon tried to use Serisawa's big built like a shield, hiding behind him.

Exhaling the pointless anger, Ren shook his head a little.

"I understand Onii-sama's feelings. To be honest, enough to want to cooperate with him. But - "

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 05 151.jpg|thumb|]]

If he wound change to a vengeful demon, Ayumi would definitely be sad. That girl called Tsoi Rin would surely be the same.

"What he's doing is wrong. If you grieve over the death of someone, you definitely must become happy enough for both. You cannot be caught up in your past! "

Become happy - Ren believed that to be the greatest memorial service for the dead who loved you.

It does not mean to forget. It means to accept both painful and happy memories, to overcome them and become so happy death itself will go mad. That is the duty of the survivor.

Even if you're in despair, you cannot be forgiven for throwing away your future.

You're burdened with two lives. Why would one be forgiven for throwing away the burden of two?

''"He must be stopped - "''

Turning back, Ren started running towards the place Kazuma was. Voices that tried to stop him resounded from his back but he removed them from his consciousness.

He returned to that place in ten seconds. But Kazuma was already gone and only the five people severely wounded were convulsing in a pool of blood.

"Waah, awful.......", murmured Serisawa, who chasing after him, looking at the terrible spectacle before his eyes.

Certainly, that scene couldn't be expressed any other way. And the one who made it was no one else but his brother.

He couldn't ignore it.

''"He must be stopped - he must absolutely be stopped - "''

With that hard decision in his chest, Ren grasped tightly both his fists.

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| Back to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter 2|Chapter 2]]
| Return to [[Kaze_no_Stigma|Main Page]]
| Forward to [[Kaze_no_Stigma:Volume5_Chapter_4|Chapter 4]]
|-
|}
</noinclude>

Kaze no Stigma:Volume3 Chapter 5

2014-01-25T15:41:42Z

Drejzer: /* Part 2 */

== Chapter 5 - Dreams and reality ==

===Part 1===

After changing the train at Kawaguchiko[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawaguchiko_Station], 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 <<shine in a more humble manner>>."

"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 <<superpower>> was superior to Iwao's <<strongest>>. With the help of that invisible power, Kureha fixated the half-dead Iwao in the air. Even with the near invulnerability and resilience of an Chijutsushi, if he is not touching the ground - when all connection with the ground's <<Ki>> was cut, Iwao was degraded to an average human and had no means of healing his wounds.

"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 <<Ki>> taken from the large rock, lightly, Kureha took a breath of relief. To neutralize the poison, it's entirely insufficient.

"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[http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E4%B8%89%E8%94%B5%E6%B3%95%E5%B8%AB]?"

"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===

"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 <<Don't mind me>>.

"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 <<Ki>>'s explosive rise, Ren immediately melted the ground beneath his feet. But, the offensive came from the front.

"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.
[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 03 225.jpg|thumb]]

"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 <<Let's run away together!>>, by no means would he agree. Because when comparing a child's self-indulgence with the fate of the family, it amounts to nothing.

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 ===

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 <<to protect>> something like that? Is it impossible to protect without sacrificing it all, without throwing everything else away?''

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. <<Something>> that could break this state of affair, already reaching it's limit.

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 ===

"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 king 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.

"<<There is no other method so it can't be helped.>> After all, that's what you are trying to say. Because there's no way out without a sacrifice I'm deceiving myself that not being afraid to become the sacrifice is strength. But - even so, I'm not OK with that!"

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 <<opinion of the young>> on it?"

"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 <<power>> of this world.

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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