Editing Kaze no Stigma:Volume3 Chapter 5 (section)

=== 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 kind of human being fine with being the only one to survive? If that's not true, if your existence has even a bit of value to her, than you can't die! You can't let her be burdened with your life!"

"Th- that's only whitewashing prattle!", Yuuji shouted entrusting it to anger but - 

"A man who lost his sense of reality has no right to get in my way!", Ren retorted on the spot.


"<<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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