Kaze no Stigma:Volume2 Chapter 1

Chapter One - Banquet for Victory -The Chosen Ones-

1

This is common.

You can say it is something that has become a part of their lives.

However, Yukari and Nanase can both sense the tension.

A tension that is hard to ignore.

“Didn’t I say so already? You girls will definitely not be bored. I know a great club! I just need to show my face for us to get in.”

”Come on! Let’s go! What fun is there to be had with only females?”

As the two exchange glances, a group of men with weak appearances make a vulgar speech in a flippant manner. They don’t look too bad, but their idiotic speech and actions show no class at all.

In simpler terms, they are trying to pick the girls up.

This is common.

Even though their appeals may differ, the three are beautiful girls that make one's eyes light up. They know exactly how to deal with such pick-up artists. Or at least they did, until now.

“----------------------------“

Suddenly, the third girl who has not spoken a word until now begins to move. She slowly raises her head, and looks into the eyes of the man in front of her.

“That place is frequently visited by idols, stars and models! We have many such friends, and if you are interested, we can introduce them to you……”

Glared at by cold eyes that chill to the bone, the originally glib man is unable to speak another word.

“Get lost.”

”……Yes.”

The men leave pitifully. Yet the girl does not even look at them, and instead puts on an unchanging, cold expression and leaves as if nothing has happened.

“……Ayano.”

“What’s wrong?”

The girl, Ayano Kannagi, seems rather displeased, and turns her head with those words.

“You seem to be really harsh on the people who've tried to pick us up recently?”

”It is just your imagination.”

Ayano replies, straying from the point.

“But……”

Yukari lifts her head to look at Nanase with pleading eyes.

Nanase nods and says, “Yup, you're really overdoing it recently. Let’s take last time for example - you actually used the corner of your schoolbag to hit the person’s temple.”

“Ah, that one was really scary. The whites of his eyes showed, and blood was flowing from his ears and nose-“

”……Does it matter, anyway? We called an ambulance for him.”

Ayano looks hard at the moody Ayano, and slowly closes in on the main point.

“Ayano, something happened between a guy and you, didn't it?”

”Wh-what…… What are you talking about?!”

The sudden question left Ayano unable to hide the stir in her heart.

“Hehe~”

Nanase gives off a smile deep with meaning.

“You, a father-complex girl, finally seem to be starting to show interest in guys other than your father.”

“I am not a father-lover.”

Ayano swiftly regains her calmness, and says strongly, “I just have never met a guy better than my father that’s all.”

“………………”

Nanase meets Yukari’s eyes, as if to say “what a headache,” and sighs.

“I admit, your father is indeed a mature and relaxed middle-aged man, but you cannot possibly find that kind of feeling in a young guy right?”

“That is not true. Father was young once too, so as long as I find someone similar-“

Half-way through, she shuts her mouth and frowns, as the conversation has somehow reminded her of that detestable man.

Seemingly difficult to approach, yet uncommonly relaxed- a person undoubtedly qualified to be considered alongside her father.

He is not like Jugo at all. Indeed, he is the total opposite.

But... he is very powerful. Not just his strength, but his entire existence. In that sense, he is comparable to the strongest man, Jugo, that she knows-

“Aya---no~“

Hearing the call rife with laughter, Ayano, who has stopped moving, returns to her senses.

“You are thinking of the guy you like right now, aren’t you?”

“Of…… Of course not! That kind of guy!”

“Which kind of guy?”

Being asked such a question, Ayano loses her strength for a moment.

“Nanase…… Even you……”

”Be honest! Such an interesting topic, I bet even Yukari won’t let it go easily either right?”

“That’s right, that’s right.”

Yukari nods happily. Ayano stares at her two friends who intend to extract every single detail with antagonistic scrutiny.

Shinomiya Yukari and Kudo Nanase. They are both students of Seiryo Academy, where Ayano studies, and at the same time her best friends - even though there are times when she wonders about the friendship between them.

Yukari’s shoulder-length, beautiful hair moves up and down like waves, her face always shows a gentle smile and her speech is slightly slow. It is unclear whether she should be considered “mellow” or just “slow.” Regardless, from this description, one can probably imagine that she is a laid-back person.

In contrast, Nanase’s hairstyle is a refreshing blunt bob[actual text: 娃娃頭, so I am using a certain hairstyle for this, if you have a better translation, please change this.], She seems casually calm, and her swift movements and tone show no sign they belong to a girl, giving people an unsettled feeling, making her the type to receive a lot of chocolates on Valentine's Day.

These two girls are opposites no matter how you look at it, but what is truly remarkable is that when they tease Ayano, they exhibit perfect harmony in their cooperation - although to Ayano, this is something unbearable.

“Come on, tell us, what kind of person is it?”

“I already said there is no such person! By the way...”

Ayano stares at Yukari with accusing eyes.

“Aren’t we going to eat cakes now?”

”Yes, that is right.”

”Then why are we on this road!?”

In the direction which Ayano points her finger stands a long row of accommodations designed for a very specific purpose.

Just as with a haunted house in a back-country area, though there is nothing particularly odd about their appearance, they possess an atmosphere unlike that of a normal hotel.

That is right. For, as the three (except for a certain someone) were chatting happily, they had unintentionally come to the entrance for the street of love hotels.

Realizing that they are arguing in a special area, Ayano can’t help but blush. But Yukari’s smile did not change at all.

“This is a short-cut.”

”Even so, this kind of place……”

”Don’t worry. No one would think that we are going to play 3P.”

Ayano's face carries a pained expression, as she looks at this innocently smiling friend who has just said something very shocking.

“You…… Don’t use that cute face to say something so shocking, okay?”

“Kay~ But this kind of thing is nothing compared to Ayano's normal behavior.”

”…… What is the meaning of that?”

Against Ayano’s squinting eyes, Yukari puts on her usual smiling face. Though she may look easy-going, she is definitely not on the losing side.

Ayano, who realizes that she is at a disadvantage, decides to forcefully end the chat.

“Anyway, let’s not walk this way. Let’s go another way!”

”Geez, Ayano is so squeaky clean.”

“Squeaky clean? That doesn't even need to be said! This kind of hotel, whose only use is for people to share a bed - who knows what the people going in are thinking?!”

Ayano sounds violent, and scowls angrily at the love hotels as though they had killed her father, when suddenly, her expression freezes.

Yukari and Nanase follow Ayano’s line of sight. What lies there is...

“As agitated as always.”

A man and a beautiful lady, sticking closely together, walking out from the hotel street.

His age appears to be about twenty-something, with an upright face that could be considered handsome, but his expression seems to be rather sloven. A light smirk appears on his mouth, forcefully pulling the grade of this person down thirty percent.

“You should at least put some thought into your surroundings.”

The man makes fun of the dumbfounded Ayano and continues to speak.

“You are already a high school student. It is about time you know what shame is……”

Her ears hearing the man's incendiary words, Ayano’s frozen brain begins to thaw. Information begins to flow in, and she regains consciousness.

The man before her eyes is Kazuma Yagami. This is the man that Ayano hates most. As for the woman beside him, she has never seen her before. In addition, this is a love hotel street.

Catching up to this point, Ayano’s brain, which had finally returned to a normal temperature, suddenly began to heat up. Gripped with an inexplicable fury, Ayano shouts, “You…… What are you doing in a place like this!?”

“...Ayano?”

Yukari and Nanase share a puzzled look, looking at their friend who has suddenly fallen into a rage. Both pairs of eyes show no indecision, and seem to be simultaneously asking, “What is she talking about?”.

This question is not one that needs to be asked. Just as Ayano has said, there is only one thing to do in a love hotel - even if there are many different ways and methods; there is only one reason to be here, basically.

On the other hand, Kazuma who has drawn Ayano’s rage upon him simply shows a light smile, as usual.

“Asking me what I am doing- Ah, it is so hard to say it out loud~ ♥“

He acts shy, daintily using his hand to cover his mouth as he says that.

At this instant, the dozens of neural synapses of logic in Ayano’s brain snapped all at once.

Feeling the furious spiritual energy arising from Ayano, Yukari and Nanase can’t help but move back. But, even when engulfed in such a strong murderous intent, one that even normal people would notice and fear, Kazuma and the woman beside him do not change the relaxed smiles on their faces.

The woman ignores Ayano’s furious eyes as if they are nothing, her lips go close to Kazuma’s ears and ask, “This girl, is she Kazuma’s girlfriend?”

“Kirika…… That joke is not funny at all!”

After such a semi-derogatory question, Kazuma answers with an irritated look. Listening, Kirika glances at Ayano, and laughs lightly.

(------! This darn woman-!)

Seeing the seemingly taunting attitude of this person, Ayano views Kirika as an “enemy”. As if seeking a weak spot, she sizes Kirika up from head to toe. But...

(Argh……)

Although slim, she has a good figure, filled with femininity.

From the angle of a “woman,” Ayano has no way to compete.

Ayano is also a rare beauty, but her state of maturity is far below Kirika's. Future development or hidden potential have no effect now. Because in a battle in the real world, current capabilities decide everything.

Even so, if the opponent is just someone who devotes all nutrients, even those that should go to the brain, into her breasts and hips, Ayano will not concede defeat.

But, Kirika is different. Those thin, long eyes of hers carry the light of wisdom, clearly indicating that she is not just some vulgar woman who only knows how to fawn on guys.

Slightly older than Kazuma, she looks as if she is around twenty-five. From the way she can casually face up to Ayano’s killing intent as if it were not there, she is clearly not an average businesswoman. Maybe they are in the same trade?

Ayano bears the silent torture of inferiority, and continues to glare at the two with angry eyes.

“Kazuma?”

Kirika accepts Ayano’s eyes generously, and holds her body even more closely against Kazuma’s arm. Rather than a demonstration of love, this action seems more like she's trying to tightly hang on.

“Should I arrest you for lewd acts against an underage female?”

“Don’t be like that.”

Kazuma seems very displeased.

“She is just a distant relative. I've done nothing, nor have any intentions of doing anything.”

”Then, why is she angry?”

”She is always angry. Just ignore her.”

“Oh~”

Kirika looks towards Ayano once more, her face showing a smile with deep meaning. Ayano notices, her mind tangled in an instant.

“I think it would be better to explain.”

”There's no need for that, it's too troublesome. Let’s go!”

Upon saying this, Kazuma pulls Kirika and walks away. As his eyes meet Ayano’s, he puts on a serious expression and warns Ayano, ”Go back quickly! This is no place for children.”

Kazuma walks past Ayano with ease, who is so angry her whole body is trembling. As the two sides pass one another, Kirika looks at Ayano. Those eyes, filled with sympathy, totally enrage Ayano, before departing in an utterly relaxed manner.

Yukari remained where she was, dumbly sending off the close pair with her eyes. She looks to the side, and coincidentally meets Nanase’s eyes.

At this moment, silence is golden. The two exchange bitter smiles, and as if they had discussed it much earlier, look towards Ayano who still has not turned back.

“So that's it.”

Nanase nods heavily.

“No wonder you were so harsh to those people who tried to pick us up.”

“That's right. It is really tough to like someone like that.“

“But what a surprise, I never thought Ayano would like flippant guys like that.”

“...You two……”

Ayano turns slowly.

In a gentle, but equally chilling tone, she answers, “What are you two talking about?”

”What else?“

Yukari answers straightforwardly.

“Ayano, you like that guy right? Although it looks one-sided.”

”You……What makes you two think that way?”

”Just think about your reaction just now. No matter how we look at it, it is of 'a jealous girl seeing the guy she likes getting snatched away,' right?”

“There is no such thing! It is definitely not that way!!”

Ayano shouts out, blushing. Her voice is so loud it almost seems to reach as far as the eye can see.

“Ayano, you were too loud.”

Ignoring Yukari’s warning, Ayano furiously continues to say, “Why would I like that kind of lowlife?! That is the type of person I hate most in this world! If I could have, I would have sliced him into pieces!!”

“Then why are you angry?”

Yukari rebuts with a calm voice.

“If you really didn’t like him, then it doesn't matter who he sleeps with, right? What would there be to be angry about?”

“This……This is because…… That……

……I just cannot bear to see someone like Kazuma sleep with that kind of beauty! They are not at all compatible!”

Ayano grips her fist tightly and tries her best to explain, as the other two look at her with cold eyes.

(What do you think?)

(She doesn’t seem to be lying…… Could it be, she hasn’t even realized it herself?)

(If that's the case, then she is not just slow - there is something completely wrong with her……)

(But... that is just like Ayano.)

(Yeah that’s true.)

“You two! Don’t whisper among yourselves right in front of me!”

Getting shouted at by Ayano, Nanase swiftly straightens her body. Following this, she uses a very serious expression, like someone who is faking marriage just to grab a hold of the password to a credit card, in order to say, “Ah. Okay okay. I get it, you really hate that man.”

”Yup, completely understood.”

Yukari chimes in instantly. They are indeed Ayano’s best friends, their actions matching flawlessly.

Ayano’s expression reveals her continued suspicion.

“...Really?”

“Of course.”

”Fine then.”

Ayano nods, though her expression still shows displeasure. After everything has come to an end, and the two give a sigh of relief-

“Ah, that is the girl. Mister Hanagi.”

Those guys had chosen the worst possible time to appear.

“These are the ones?”

The man they called Hanagi points his finger towards the three and says...

“You guys were scared off by these three girls?”

“Because the girl in the middle has a really scary stare……”

”That girl is really arrogant. Please teach her some manners, Mister Go!”

The men who are saying these things are the punks, numbers one and two (temporarily named), who were driven off by Ayano earlier. It seems that because they were rejected so vehemently by Ayano, resentment arose, and so they found someone to help them take their revenge!

-- They cannot come any lower than that.

“We invited you so nicely to have some fun, and yet you told us to 'get lost'. That was really rude. Now apologize.”

“----------------------“

Ayano stares at the group of men, her eyes indicating that they are unworthy even of notice. Seeing those ice cold eyes, punks numbers one and two cannot help but retreat several steps, though Hanagi shows no sign of fear.

“That trick of yours won’t work! Mister Hanagi knows Shaolin fist techniques!”

“Please do it! Go Mister Hanagi!”

Numbers one and two cower behind Hanagi and continue to shout. Ignoring the two who are merely relying on Hanagi’s strength, Ayano stares at Hanagi alone.

As they have mentioned, the man before her eyes seems to have undergone a certain level of training. As he wears only a thin, sleeveless sweater under his leather coat, his protruding muscles can be clearly seen. It is a body specially made for combat.

“For a woman to be so arrogant, that is why you are having such an unlucky encounter. Don’t try to go against men from now on.”

Hanagi reaches his hand out in a rough manner, intending to grab Ayano’s chin to lift her face.

At the instant his fingertips touch her chin, Ayano moves swiftly.

She angles her body and moves forward, while at the same time dodging Hanagi’s hand. Into Hanagi’s defenseless chest, Ayano cleanly swings her bent left arm.

Ayano’s elbow strikes the lower region of Hanagi’s earlobe, where the jaw is. This is a sudden full-force attack, and a powerful strike that even contains “ki”. It would not be surprising even if his jaw fell off from his face.

Hanagi’s body flies into the air in a spiral. His legs, which have left the ground, tangle together like twisted bread, and subsequently spray outwards with reactive force.

Hanagi’s body keeps on spinning, and after a sickening three and a half round rotation, he naturally has a failed landing; his whole body flattened against the outer wall of a hotel.

Splat.

A wet sound propagated along the entire street. This was definitely not a sound made by a human body. If a freshly slaughtered piece of flesh, with blood still dripping, was smashed into a wall, it would probably make this kind of sound.

Several seconds after Hanagi has been hammered into the wall, he falls to the floor like a flattened cockroach.

On the red bricks of the hotel wall, a fluid even more red than the bricks forms an eerie human figure.

“Uh... uh~”

Seeing Hanagi, blood pouring out of seven holes and his body twitching, Nanase draws a cross towards the sky. Beside her, Yukari places her hands together and closes her eyes to pray.

“Huh…… Huh huh……”

”Mister Hanagi……”

The remaining two guys give voice to pitiful cries in tones that have reached the utmost limit of fear.

Ayano silently walks past the two men, who are unable to move their feet, and can only stand there like idiots.

She fires off two kicks at lightning speed. The tip of her foot hits right at the center between the legs of the two men.

“Argh!”

”Wah!”

The tip of her pointed shoe hits the pelvis, while the most important part is struck heavily. Ayano contemplates the two, now rolling on the floor in pain, with a pink foam of blood and spittle coming from their mouths, with disgust.

“How dirty!”

“Ah- Please send an ambulance over. There are three heavily wounded people.”

A cold voice comes from behind. Behind her, Nanase is using a public phone to contact 911. She reads out the number of the phone booth to inform the other party of the location.

“Please be quick, one of them doesn’t seem likely to make it.”

After that, she hangs up, ignoring their inquiries for her name. This action can be said to be very well-trained, for the reason she doesn’t use her own cellphone is to avoid leaving any trace.

“So, have you vented your anger?” Nanase asks Ayano calmly.

“……I did not do it purposely.”

Ayano pouts and replies unhappily, but the two do not believe her words.

They've known very well since the beginning that she has just been redirecting her anger at Kazuma. If she had not met Kazuma earlier, Ayano would not have been so cruel!

But, there is one thing they do not understand. Nanase leans in close to Yukari’s ear and quietly asks...

(By the way, is that guy really that good?)

(Hmm... I feel that he is above average, but……)

He does not seem like a man that would make Ayano feel jealous. That is the opinion of these two.

For though they have known her for a long time, they still do not know what the Kannagi do for a living, nor of the power that is within the bloodline.

These two will still have a few days to wait before witnessing for themselves the true power of Kazuma.

2

“Has Kazuma still not arrived?”

“Why are you asking me?”

Ayano replies the chief of the Kannagi's, Juugo's, question in a sour tone of voice. She appears to have drunk some alcohol, her eyes seem misty. [kokolores: trans said blank, but I've never heard of alcohol doing that. Misty or unfocused seem better to me]

Being stared at by his daughter radiating malcontent Jugo blinks.

“What is it between you and Kazuma again?”

”Nothing.”

Ayano puts the wine cup on the table with a bang.

“I hate that guy! I neither want to see his face nor hear his name ever again! That kind of guy can just go have a good time with some old woman!”

“...So that is it.”

Jugo can roughly guess what happened and decides not to probe any further.

“In celebration of the annihilation of the Fuga clan!”

“Cheers to Hyoue who is now roasting in hell suffering for all eternally!”

“Cheers!!”

Vulgar toasts like this one abound. Everyone seems quite exuberant and is continuously chinking their cups with their neighbours.

The cause is something which happened about a week ago. The subordinates of the Kannagi, the Fuga clan had suddenly revolted.

The leader of the Fuga clan, Hyoue Kazamaki, had allowed his son Ryuya to be possessed by a powerful youma and many of the Kannagi had been killed.

The ones who had fought them, were the practioners of the Kannagi main family, Ayano and Ren. And Ren’s brother, who had been exiled due to his lack of flame abilities and had eventually become a wind practioner, Kazuma Yagami.

After a fierce battle, the three finally had defeated Hyoue and Ryuya. On the fourth day after that, tonight, a banquet for their victory is held.

The banquet is unlike any before. Almost everyone in the Kannagi clan who is able to is currently gathered in the main residence. Everyone has joined the banquet joyfully, and is raising their cups in celebration of the annihilation of their hateful enemy..

This type of reaction comes as no surprise. [kokolores: using exaggerated might make sense but I think this fits better]For these people, who claim to be the strongest, Hyoue and Ryuya are entities that couldn't be allowed to exist.

The fact that they had been able to possess youma beyond their powers alone is unforgivable. Furthermore, they had been of the Fuga clan. A group of low level practioners they had stepped on for a long period of time.

To fear weaklings like the Fuga clan to such an extend they had had to go into hiding. To them, that is a humiliation that can never be cleansed.

However, since the Fuga clan is now completely destroyed, that shame if not erased is now forgotten. In their joy, it isn't so weird at all for them to go slightly overboard in their celebration.

“Hmph! For the dog to forget who had raised and fed them and to go even so far as to bite his master's hand! Those ungrateful bastards!” {[actual text says to feed and raise them to their size(like a dog/animal) and to even bite us back] kokolores: then why not use it?}

“How dare they resist us? We, who are blessed by the Spirit Lord! What an outrage!”

“Cheers to the Fuga clan’s demise!”

“Cheers!”

The cups meet all around the tables, and everyone downs their cups in one go. Just as the banquet approaches its climax, Kazuma appears.

“Mister Kazuma has arrived.”

As the servant announces it, all the noise in the hall quiets down instantly.

Amidst the silence, a youth walks past the paper door the servant has opened, and steps into the hall with a confident swagger.

Unfriendly eyes gather upon this youth who walks in without a word. Just for the record, among the glares the ones who bear the greatest hatred are Ayano’s eyes, but let’s leave this matter aside for now.

Actually, it is not without reason that this man is so despised by them. The Kannagi had over fifty practioners before the battle with the Fuga clan, yet there are only little more than thirty at the banquet. The total number of deaths and injured personals amounts to more than twenty.

Seven dead and the rest are all injured in various severity. Those seven were the ones Ryuya attacked. The only ones.

In other words the other casualties are the work of Kazuma. Everyone who is gathered here has family members who have been sent to the hospital all because of Kazuma. Under such circumstances it is only natural that they do not put up smiling faces to welcome him.

Their hateful looks glance off Kazuma who acts as if they weren't even there. That kind of attitude only increases their hatred for him.

This is the kind of feeling one gets from in turn being belittled by someone whom one had looked down upon in the past. Needless to say that Kazuma completely ignores their presence. He obviously seems to regard them as not even worthy enough to be belittled. No matter how much Jugo tries to fend for him, the negative feelings towards Kazuma only strengthen further.

Kazuma nods towards the only one who smiles at him, Ren, and then bows before Jugo

“Sorry, I am late.”

“Don’t mind at all, I am the one who forced you to join us.”

Jugo smiles forgiving Kazuma’s tardiness and tells Kazuma to sit beside him. In short order wine and dainties are placed before his eyes.

“Welcome back, brother!”

Ren runs over, and hugs his brother’s arm tightly like a spoiled little puppy. Kazuma does not reject him, on the contrary he reaches his hand out to caress his brother’s head. However he does not reply 'I am back'.

Because this place, has for a long time not been Kazuma's, Kazuma Yagami’s, home.

Ren does not seem to notice Kazuma’s thoughts at all, and serves him diligently.

“Ah, let me pour the wine for you.”

“...Okay.”

Kazuma takes the cup up with his hands, but puts it back on the table without drinking a single drop.

Ren questions hesitantly

“Brother, do you not drink?”

“I am not thirsty.”

Ren looks at the untouched food.

"...won't you eat something?”

“I am not hungry.”

”...”

Ren feels puzzled, and lifts his eyes to look at his brother.

Kazuma looks straight ahead ignoring Ren.

“Erm…… Err……”

Just as Ren panics, thinking he has done something to enrage his brother, a big hand is placed on Ren’s head lightly.

“……Brother?”

Kazuma is still staring forward like before, and does not talk to Ren. Despite that, just the feeling from that warm hand is enough to satisfy Ren. Leaning against his brother’s body, Ren closes his eyes and shows a peaceful smile.

To Kazuma, the Kannagi residence is still enemy territory. Not only can he not eat any food placed before him, no matter how relaxed the others look, he must not let his guard down even for an instant

That is why Kazuma notices immediately when a young woman approaches him.

He deliberately doesn't move, observing her as if nothing undue is happening, waiting for her to take action.

The young woman is around twenty years old and wears a kimono. She seems to be used to wearing one, her actions do not look awkward in any way.

Her hairstyle, rather than saying it is a blunt blob, it is more like a round and simple hairstyle [actual text:西瓜皮頭, direct translation a head that is like watermelon skin? ^^”] with its sides cut evenly. [kokolores: isn't that what is usually called a bob? a simple haircut with the sides cut evenly?]Together with small cute cheeks, she is a beautiful typical Japanese style woman that would make one think of the outdated appellation “Yamato Nadeshiko”. {[term used for beautiful woman? Perfect woman? Not too sure…] kokolores: yep that's right. You've got to watch more anime XD}

Seeing the girl kneeling before him bow deeply, Kazuma uses a hazy expression to say.

“If I recall…… You are Ogami……”

“My name is Misao Ogami. I've been ordered to take care of Mister Kazuma. If you have any needs, please just inform me.”[she addresses herself in a very lowly manner]

“...Oh?”

Kazuma uses his fingertips to hold Miaso’s chin and lifts her face up. Looking at the nervous expression on her Kazuma smiles and asks teasingly..

“Even in the night?”

Faced with such a direct allusion, Miaso blushes and her eyes shift downwards. [kokolores: seduction doesn't really fit, but allusion is also less than perfect in my opinion] Even though she's embarassed, she does not try to escape from Kazuma’s hand. She murmurs in hardly a whisper

“If...that is your wish."

Seeing that Misao is not resisting, Kazuma’s face closes in even more. At this moment, Kazuma as if repelled leans back suddenly.

A ray of red lightning pierces through where Kazuma’s head had been. With a loud thunk, something is embedded into the pillar diagonally behind Kazuma

You despicable piece of shit! Move your dirty hands away!”

Needless to say the furious girl with that incomparable rage is Ayano. Kazuma does not even bother to look at her, but instead turns his head back.

A long thin red stick is stabbed on the pillar. Ayano’s chopstick.

The chopstick that does not possess a sharp end and yet half of it sank into the pillar. Estimating the strength when she threw it with Kazuma laughs.

Ayano stalks towards Kazuma and raises her hand for a karate chop aiming at Kazuma’s hand, which has been placed on Misao’s face all the while. Seeing a chop that has the strength to even break thirty tiles[瓦片], he quickly retracts his hand.

Ayano stares with murder in her eyes at Kazuma who has a smile on his face and then slowly walks next to Misao.

“Misao, what are you thinking! Why ruin your life for scum like that!?”

“Huh…… Ermm…… Sorry.”

under such an aggressive aura, Misao can’t help but apologize. Seeing such a happy scene, Kazuma puts on a hurt expression on purpose. [kokolores: what's happy about that scene?]

“Why are you making me sound so bad.”

“I was just telling the truth, wasn’t I? You already have a girlfriend. How dare you still lay your hands on other girls? you jerk!”

“Girlfriend? I don’t have any.”

“Liar! That one earlier...“

“If you mean Kirika, we are not of that kind of relationship. She is just-“

“Just your sexfriend, right?”

Ayano finishes Kazuma's sentence in an unnaturally gentle tone. Even though her face shows a smile, if one looks more closely, one realizes that her temples are pulsing with anger.

Observing her expression, Kazuma smiles at her understanding and says..

“Yup, you can put it that way too.”

An enraged spiritual energy bursts out from Ayano’s whole body, her body subconsciously enters battle mode.

“Miss Ayano.”

However, she is stopped just before she can explode. Confronted with Misao’s appeal, Ayano unwillingly is forced to hold back her murderous intent.

“Please, don’t be angry. It was Mister Kazuma who avenged my brothers. To repay this debt, this kind of thing is nothing..."

“You should be grateful to me instead!”

Ayano proudly says..

“This guy fought because it is his job! We have already paid him enough to reward him! There is no need to thank him. You have a problem with that?”

That last line is of course, directed at Kazuma.

“Nope, that is largely true.”

Kazuma admits frankly.

“I do not know what this fiery lass did that you should be grateful for, but at the very least there is no need to thank me. Leaving Masato and Takeshi aside, you can consider half of the blame to be mine that Takeya died.”

Hearing such a shocking statement, a commotion erupts around them.

With a group of people making so much noise it is only natural that they attract notice. Their bickering had become the main focus of attention and to hear such an alarming statement makes everyone prick their ears and listen quietly.

“What do you mean?”

Ayano asks in a sharp tone. Kazuma brushes off her intensity like a thick-skinned willow tree does the wind and smiles.[kokolores: changed that sentence quite a bit, better check if the meaning is still the same]

“Even though the one to kill him was Ryuya, he had already been defeated before by me. Ryuya only split the unconscious Takeya apart. Well, I guess even if he had still been conscious then, the result should not have been any different.”

Kazuma says in a nonchalant manner, and then shifts his eyes back to Misao. He faces the bowed down Misao, whose expression cannot be seen and reassures her gently..

“So, you see? You don’t have to be so courteous, how about taking that out from your sleeve?”

At the instant Kazuma finishes his sentence, Misao moves suddenly. Her foot forcefully stomping on the tatami, she pulls out the dagger which had been hidden in her sleeve all along.

“Ah……Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

Screaming wildly, the dagger gripped tightly in her fists Misao jumps into Kazuma’s chest.

For a moment everyone remains completely motionless. Even though everyone in the hall has witnessed the scene, it appears they are unable to understand its meaning in time and are at a loss at what to do.

Misao and Kazuma sit there, without flinching. Looking like a pair of intimate lovers, the both of them in a silent embrace.

“Ka……Kazuma?”

Ayano’s shivering voice calls out the name of the man she hates the most.

He does not reply.

“Kazuma!? Ans…… Answer me quickly! Kazuma. Kazuma!!”

“What?”

Kazuma suddenly raises his head and answers as if nothing happened. He uses his fingertips to pincer the dagger that should have been in Misao’s hands, and raises it before his eyes wavering it.

“…………!”

Maybe because she relaxed, Ayano falls down on the floor, still in shock and shouts loudly..

“If…… If you heard me at least make a sound! I thought you died!”

“Is there anything troubling to you about my death?”

“That…… That……”

Ayano is unable to speak momentarily. She tries her best to stop all the blood in her body from gathering at her face and at the same time works hard to come up with a rebuttal.

“I…… I don’t want Misao to become a murderer.”

“That makes sense.”

“That is right!”

(---------?)

Ayano nods to agree, but feels that Kazuma’s reaction doesn’t seem right somehow. But at the same time she cannot say for sure what is it that is wrong.

Ignoring Ayano who is troubled over this, Kazuma places his eyes upon Misao who has fallen on him.

“So are you still angry?”

”--------------!”

Misao forcefully pushes herself off Kazuma and uses the momentum to jump backwards. She puts a little distance between them and stares with eyes full of hate at Kazuma.

But, Kazuma does not seem to mind those eyes at all, he calmly breaks the eyecontact with Misao and passes the dagger in his hand to Ayano.

“Take it.”

“Ah, okay.”

She takes it reflexively, and then looks closely at the dagger.

The blade of the dagger is about ten centimeters long, it would be just nice to peel an apple with it. There seems to be no poison on it either.

(…… Did she think that such a fruit knife could kill Kazuma?)

What a foolish action. Ayano bitterly regrets her show of anxiousness earlier.

At this point of time, the other people are finally beginning to make noise again. But none of them steps out to arrest Misao, because all of the people in the branch family feel the same way Misao does.

(------What about father?)

Ayano looks towards Jugo.

“What is the matter?”

“What do you mean by “what is the matter”? Don’t just look, think of something.”

“------Hmm……”

Jugo looks around at the accident area with cold eyes.

“Kazuma.”

“Ah ah?”

“If you do not wish to deal with her, shall I punish Misao for you?”

Even though his tone seems calm the content is equivalent to “if you want to kill her, just do it”. Jugo is usually kind and well-tempered, but he is not so kind to forgive someone who tried to commit murder.

Yet, Kazuma’s reply is totally unexpected.

“I think that this goes not so far as to require punishment. Nothing happened, let’s just let her go!”

Hearing this reply, Jugo shows a somewhat surprised expression, and Ayano’s puzzled look can be seen easily by anyone.

Ayano finally realizes why she feels something has been off. Misao is still alive, that by itself is something that doesn’t make sense.

On the battlefield, Kazuma would not care about anything else. Even if it is just a little girl, even if she is not moving by her own free will, being threatened or manipulated to do it, Kazuma would not go easy on her.

According to Kazuma’s habits, after he dodges the attack- no, the instant the dagger is drawn Misao’s head should have landed on the ground.

(But this…… What is going on?)

Filled with questions, Ayano begins to look at the two.

Misao looks pale and weak. Though her eyes still bear hatred, it seems she does not have the strength to act again.

Her original field of expertise is to defend a seal or to act as support at the back and she is not a practitioner that fights at the frontline. Even though her abilities are not that weak, her personality simply is not suitable for battle.

Not to mention killing. This may even be the first time she is holding a knife and pointing it at someone. Her mentality to resist hurting someone is actually no different from a normal person's. Just now she had acted out impulse, but after her failure she does not have the guts to do it again.

Kazuma lowers his head and looks at Misao silently. Those eyes do not carry warmth, but they show no unpleasant feelings either.

This is too abnormal, too weird! And.. this makes me feel very unhappy!

“What is the meaning of this------“

“So be it, since you said so, I have no reason to punish her either.”

Jugo stops Ayano who has lost her composure and makes a simple conclusion.

“But we cannot allow you to stay here either, go back and reflect upon yourself for a while!”

With that, he orders someone by his side to take Misao away. But Misao struggles to get rid of those hands that are about to catch her.

“Why!?”

Ignoring the man who looks troubled by her struggling, Misao stares at Kazuma and shouts..

“Why did brother die!?”

“Because he was too weak.”

Kazuma says so very bluntly.

“-------------!!”

The hall is filled with rage in an instant. Misao is not the only one who feels that Kazuma caused the death of their family. To these people, Kazuma’s words has gone way beyond their level of tolerance.

“You asshole------!!”

Ayano stands up her face flushing red with anger. She places her hands at her hips stares at Kazuma.

“What the hell is wrong with you! Can’t you differentiate between what can be said, and what cannot be said!? What do you mean by “because he is too weak”? Don’t joke around! Is it because you have become strong now, that you forgot how you felt when you were weak!?”

Kazuma shows Ayano, who keeps on admonishing him, no sign of remorse at all, instead he looks coldly at her.

“Looks like you still don’t understand.”

He then looks around at the people who are staring at him angrily.

“Why are you all putting on the looks of a victim?”

“What…… What do you mean by that?”

Kazuma’s eyes sweep across the room once more, all he see is puzzled yet still angry expressions. Once again confirming that no one has understood what he meant, he sighs.

“I don’t think you guys have ever wondered, why did the Fuga clan have to revolt?”

”What do you mean by why…… Of course it is to awake their God?”

“No.”

Kazuma denies flat-out.

“That is just a method. Just one of the powers needed to go against the Kannagi.”

“Then why don’t you tell us the reason then?”

Ayano asks without even thinking, Kazuma gives Ayano a supercilious look.

“……These people of the Fuga clan, they are definitely not a group of useless waste. Instead, you can even call them skilled wind practitioners. Their combat abilities may have been very weak, but the natural characteristics of wind is not suited to battle in the first place.”

In terms of attack power, among the four main powers of earth, water, fire and wind, the weakest is wind.

This is because it is the lightest.

No matter how fast it is, light attacks do not possess the strength to kill at one go.

I believe everyone has had the experience of being cut by a piece of paper before. With enough speed and if coordinated well with time, even a flimsy piece of paper can become a blade.

Yet, it can only cut until the surface of skin and flesh. A slash without weight, is unable to cut off flesh and bones all at one go.

The weight of water and earth is way beyond wind and fire possesses a large amount of energy. If they are to fight against these powers, a wind techician must summon and control spirits several times more than them.

Precisely because of that, the role wind technics is to use its mobility to undergo searching, tracking, and controlling surrounding air to give battle support. The Fuga clan can actually be said to have been a typical example of wind practitioners.

“The Kannagi that is born with combating capabilities, and the Fuga clan that excels at information collecting and battle support. To make up for each other’s inability, to coexist peacefully and equally, this should have been the ideal way of interaction.”

Kazuma uses the side of his eye to observe Jugo, he is showing a bitter expression. He is the only one at there who understands how true Kazuma’s words are.

“But, you only know how to use combat capabilities as the standard and looked down on the Fuga clan which has no combat abilities. Without the Fuga clan, you would not even know where the enemy is.”

“What you are trying to say is------ Because we have always looked down on the Fuga clan, that is why we deserve to be killed by them?”

Ayano pouts unhappily. But Kazuma shakes his head to deny that.

“I never said that what you did is wrong. The strong is always right, that is the unwavering truth.”

”Then……”

“But, at the same time as you execute the right to crush the weak, you must also bear to be crushed by people who are even stronger. Even if you are killed you should have no complaints, as that is what you have been doing in the past.”

“…………!”

Ayano’s expression changes drastically. She seems to realize what Kazuma is trying to say.

“Just because the Fuga clan is 'too weak,' that is why you all look down on them. Just because you are 'too weak' that is why you were crushed by Ryuya. This is a very simple logic.”

This is not a question of who is right and who is wrong. Since both sides believes in the “law of power”, in the end only the strong survive. That is all that is.

“If you people have acknowledged everything that you have done towards the Fuga clan, then the Fuga clan can also only acknowledge what they did to you. To crush the weak, does it not allow you to be crushed by people even stronger than you? Who do you think you are?”

This merciless accusation, reaches the ears of everyone present like the roar of thunder. But it fails to touch their arrogant hearts.

“This, I am unable to accept.”

A voice of disagreement emerges. It is from a place very close to Jugo’s seat of honor [上座].

“Mister Kazuma, your opinion seems to have neglected one very important thing.”

The man uses a dogmatic[桀骛不逊] attitude and tone to say. He is Ogami Masayuki. The chief of the Ogami family and Misao’s father. But he does not seem to care about his daughter who has her head lowered, and is keeping quiet.

“The price of life is definitely not equal. We are blessed by the spirits, we are a clan that was chosen. You put us and the Fuga clan, that kind of lowlifes, on the same level. That is very surprising, not to mention it is------“

He stares furiously at Kazuma, as if Kazuma is the killer of his son.

“Not to mention to give those rubbish the right to kill us!”

Hearing Masayuki’s words, Kazuma gives a cold smile and answers.

“Who is it that was chosen?”

“...What?”

“These words, why don’t you wait till you have power similar to Ayano before saying them! To hear a weakling boast about his bloodline. How pathetic! It is as if you have nothing else except for your bloodline.”

“You…… You asshole……!”

Masayuki became agitated instantly. In comparison, Kazuma’ mocking attitude still has not changed.

“By the way, you should be thanking Hyoue instead!”

“?”

“He helped to get rid of Masato, who was a nuisance in your eyes. At least go pay respect and light an incense for him!”

“……!You…… What did you just say……!”

Ogami Masayuki’s younger brother Ogami Masato. When he had been alive, he had been known as the strongest practitioner in the branch family. Everyone knows that had he not left his home to train, because he had hated to fight with his brother over the place of chief, back then he would have been the one to be chief.

Seeing the shaken Masayuki, Kazuma says as if taunting him.

“------ It is a nuisance to have a younger brother that is more elite than yourself isn’t it?”

“Damn…… Damn you asshole!!”

Masayuki’s face changes colour suddenly as he shouts. He stands up from the tatami, and with blood red eyes stares at Kazuma.

This time, there is an almost unavoidable tension between the two. The killing intents form a whirlpool, and gather towards Kazuma who is still sitting at his original location.

At this moment------ Ren who has been leaning against Kazuma’s shoulder moves. He wriggles his upper body, his whole body stuck on Kazuma in a tight embrace. He looks as if he is trying to stop Kazuma and it lacks the strength to do it.

Seeing this, a question goes through Ayano's mind.

(This kid…… Since when has he become so quiet?)

Even when Misao had used the knife to stab Kazuma, she had not heard Ren’s voice. No matter how much faith he has in his brother’s strength, it is unnatural that he has not cried out in shock at all.

Under everyone’s stare, Ren’s upper body slowly slides down along Kazuma’s body. He places his face on Kazuma’s leg, and after a few seconds like this------

“Hmm…… Brother……”

“So he is asleep!”

Ayano can’t help but speak.

Before the blissful sleeptalking, the originally tense atmosphere disperses in an instant.

“……………………”

His bloodlust gone, Masayuki sits down once again. His expression is solemn, but he no longer has the mood to maintain his anger.

Masayuki’s reaction does not matter to Kazuma, as he had never placed him in his eye since the beginning.

“Chief.”

”……Yes.”

Jugo understands everything very well, and because of that, his voice sounds abnormally bitter.

“It is impossible to dream of these guys reflecting upon themselves. But please do not forget, it is the Kannagi’s arrogance that sparked this fight. If there are no changes, the same thing will just keep repeating itself.

“…… I understand.”

“Good.”

Kazuma lifts Ren’s head, and places him on Ayano’s leg.

“------Kazuma?”

“There is nothing left for me here, I am going back.”

With this sentence, Kazuma leaves the residence without even looking back.

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