Editing Kaze no Stigma:Volume6 Chapter 4 (section)

=== Part 3 === 


"---So, why do I have to accompany the two of you shopping? "

The summoned Kazuma was pouting as expected. He was called out for a diversion that could lure out the enemy so it was only natural. 

"But, we can't help it. Because this child came to Japan with only what she's wearing. "

"Then lend her some of yours", replied Kazuma without but after suddenly looking at Xiaolei's body, especially her chest, he shook his head. 

"Impossible, huh? "

"........Are you guys picking a fight? "

Xiaolei glared with angered eyes at the two. 

It must be their imagination but her glint in the eye thick with thirst for blood was more intense than their first meeting. 

"Why is she so angry? "

"Because I already made that joke"

"Hmm, I see. It's no good telling a joke twice, yeah "

Kazuma nodded solemnly. But, of course, that kind of attitude could only rub Xiaolei the wrong way even more. 

"you.....guys.....!"

"But well --- there's that, right? "

Plainly disregarding the reaction of the angered girl, Kazuma continued. 

"You shouldn't be that pessimistic, no? In this world there are guys who worship smaller than small, AA"

"What do you mean? "

"What, you ask? Boobs"

"I'll kill you! "

While blushing at the too straightforward answer, Xiaolei fired Kokusen while it was still covered. 

Extremely easy, Kazuma avoided that. Even more than that, he even stopped the wind blade that was about to be released impulsively from the sacred treasure before it happened.

It seems that he got the hang of it from yesterday's fight. 

The exasperated Xiaolei didn't even notice the significance of it. 

"Uuuu........I'm....I'm going back! ", she screamed halfway crying as the attack she fired in a frenzy was completely avoided. 

Even when taking a rougher attitude, after all she had the upbringing of an Ojou-sama and wasn't used being ridiculed this way. 

But, Ayano quickly grabbed the girl's hand about to run. 

"Wait please. What about the clothes I should buy if you're not there? "

"Buy some suitable ones! "

"No. Leaving clothes aside, I can't conjecture the size of your underwear. If you wear a bra that's not fit for you, even if they are small, your breasts will get smaller "

"Don't say small! "

"That's right. Besides the shape will be ruined. Breast that are shaped poorly beside being small won't even be noticed by perverts who like small breasts. "

"Who is a fetish for perverts!? "

In a tone as if she was biting, Xiaolei turned over almost twisting her neck. 

This time she drew closer to Ayano. 

"You, aren't you too good a match for this guy!? "

"No, this is all thanks to you"

"---------ha? "

At the uncertain response, Xiaolei stared in wonder. 

Thereupon, Ayano send a gaze full of gratitude towards the girl --

"It's because I'm always in the situation of him messing around with me. This is the first time I experience such calmness when being together with Kazuma. Thank you, everyone!  "

That was said in a tone loaded with a flow of emotions. 

The girl that was used in a totally different manner from the way a decoy should, warped her lips, pained from the bottom of her heart, and spat out.

"........you're the worst, both of you......."






--- And then, approximately three hours after.

Changed in the clothes she just bought -- obstinately men's wear --- appearing to have exhausted all her energy, Xiaolei sat down dead tired on one of the benches in the rest area. 

"......this is only shopping but.......but why is it so....."

"A woman's shopping is lengthy, isn't that general knowledge? ", said Kazuma not seeming to be worn-out.

Incidentally, Ayano, still full of vitality, after finishing buying clothes for Xiaolei, was bustling about here and there searching clothes for her. 

".......I, I never felt so tired before when shopping. "

"That's---- since you're the Fuan family's Ojou-sama I imagine that conversely, the stores employers would ask how to be of use. How could that be tiring? "

"......is that wrong? "

"No? Think about it like the inferiority complex of a poor person and don't mind it. "

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

Xiaolei glared at Kazuma in silence. It's inevitable that all of this man's speech and conduct hit a nerve every time. 

"Besides, why aren't you tired? "

"Because if you don't have to put someone in a good humor it's the same like taking a stroll. When the shopping companion gets tires it's almost invariably mental fatigue."

If one were to simply speak during the exercise the degree of weariness due to shopping can be disregarded. 

In spite of this, if even adult males give up on this it means the emotional fatigue is very great. 

For example, if one were made to accompany someone to an unfamiliar place which was very uncomfortable and made to endlessly compare clothes with a <<which one suits me most～>>, a trivial word can become fatal, that sort of thing. 

But, Kazuma naturally doesn't humor Ayano and for example if he were to accompany her to a lingerie shop, instead of being calm he would be very shameless so he wouldn't get tired. 

"........how long will this continue? "

"Until Ayano is satisfied, of course. Ask the person itself for a specific time. "

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

At that careless answer, Xiaolei let out a small sigh. And then, she suddenly looked at her feet. 

There were two paper bags full of clothes there. 

What she bought --- rather, what she was made to buy was three times the amount but everything that wasn't necessary for the time being was ordered to be delivered home. 

Beyond the fact that the danger of an attack wasn't low, she couldn't move under all those baggage. 

By the way, Kazuma was empty handed. 

Not even Ayano would dream this man could accept to carry luggage so she didn't ask him from the beginning. 

As a matter of fact Xiaolei was grateful for the shopping. 

For her who escaped with nothing else in her hands but Kokusen, of course she didn't had clothes to change in but nothing remained after her traveling expenses. 

--- But, even so.

"Geez, does she really understand the situation, that woman? "

"Hmm, I wonder", replied Kazuma in a vapid tone. 

That attitude seemed to have even less tension than Ayano's and Xiaolei reflexively grimaced. 

In spite of possessing so much power, he wasn't self-conscious of the duty that accompanied that power. 

He was frivolous and lacked sincerity --- she was also jealous of him maybe but Xiaolei didn't think this man was suitable to have power. 

But, even if that was true, she could not ignore him. 

She has something she must ask him no matter what. Because that was the reason she went along with this shopping. 

Without looking at Xiaolei, she said while looking at the floor. 

"........Yagami"

"Hmm? "

"It seems that once, you lived for the sake of revenge, right? "

".........Aah"

Kazuma instantly shifted his attention to where Ayano was, but answered shortly as if he didn't heard something unnecessary. 

Once again, Xiaolei asked directly. 

"Do you regret it? "

"No"

"-----Are you satisfied? "

"No"

At the second question, Kazuma replied in exactly the same manner. 

At that reply you could read nothing into, Xiaolei probed his facial expression with a side glance and asked again.

"Then, why? "

"Because there was nothing else to do. "

"Wha--- did you kill him for that half-baker reason, that Erwin Leszar? "

"Aah--- I killed him, I killed him. "

Warding off Xiaolei's criticism with a nonchalant air, Kazuma declared thoroughly frivolous. 

"I chopped him until his body turned to lumps of nothing more that a hundred grams, his soul was taken by the devil he had contracted with and dragged to the bottom of hell. Right now he's being used like a slave or his power returned to its origins and he was terminated, one of these two"

Remembering the spectacle that time, Kazuma laughed with a simmering happiness and took the opportunity to ask. 

"So, what of it? "

".....Previously, I heard about that man from father. He greatly admired him. He said it wasn't an exaggeration to call him the all-time high genius of magic. "

Kazuma was silent. but, without minding it, Xiaolei continued. 

"He's the man who lay the foundation of present day magic. He was born anew these last three hundred years, and possibly all resurrection Jutsu and most theories, they all originate from him. 

Did you have the right to kill that kind of genius?  "

"If I think about what you're trying to say----"

Letting out a small laughter, Kazuma shrugged his shoulders. 

"Then, what about you? "

"What? "

"For example, if that odd couple killed your entire family for the sake of the greater good, would you forgive them? "

"That's......."

For an instant Xiaolei faltered. But that was definitely not because she was hesitating. 

That's right, hesitating it's unthinkable. 

It's impossible to hesitate. 

No matter the reason, even if the entire world would recognize their actions as justified ----

"That's how it is. Whether it's righteousness or reason, those have no connection to revenge. 

[[Image:Kaze no Stigma vol 06 177.jpg|thumb|]]

For example, even if what he did would bring permanent peace to this world, at that time, if Tsoi Rin had to be sacrificed no matter what to save the world from destruction, who cares about that? "

Kazuma spun his words in that voice so flat it made one shiver. 

"No matter what, I cannot forgive him. I cannot allow a world where Tsoi Rin dies but he gets to live carefree. No matter how many chances I will be given, I would only choose one way. No matter by what means, I will invariably kill him. "

"You........."

Faced with that expressionless mask <<being>> in front of her, Xiaolei muscles along the spine shivered. 

Already saturated by hatred and resentment, because those became its normal state, it became expressionless without the possibility of change. 

Together with a shudder, Xiaolei perceived that by instinct. 

That was the result she would arrive at. 

''"What's with that 「Because there was nothing else to do」 crap? "''

She understood that frivolous reason for revenge was a lie. Because, although she didn't arrived at the end of it, Xiaolei was following the same road. 

''"That was like--- 「I could think of nothing else but revenge」! "''

"What's the matter? "

"Whaaa!? "

At that sudden, easy-going tone of voice, Xiaolei jumped up from the bench, her fright laid bare. 

Turning around, that frozen expressionless that was there was already gone and the same aimless, cynical smile was looking here. 

"Wha--- what so suddenly? "

"It's not ''what'' right? You were to one to open the discussion so don't get lost in your own world in the middle of it? "

"Uu......"

It was a very plausible identification so Xiaolei mumbled, having no way to object. 

But, she didn't feel like continuing. If she were to continue she would come to realize without wanting to. 

That for the sake of carrying out her revenge she must also become so. 

She understood only one fragment of it, but her heart was swaying this much. 

If she were to know even more, she will maybe become incapable of carrying out her revenge. 

"No, I---"

Adverting her eyes as if trying to escape, Xiaolei searched for an excuse to interrupt the conversation. 

But Kazuma, looking like he didn't understood that, asked cheerfully like it was an ordinary conversation. 

"What did Ayano say to you? "

"Eeh? "

"Hmm? You heard it from her, no ～ about me"

"Eeh, ah, aah --- that's---- yeah"

"So, by making me the example, what did she say to you? That revenge is meaningless, that your deceased family doesn't wish for something like that, did she say that kind of whitewashing? "

"Ah, no, it wasn't like that-----"

While clumsily narrating it, Xiaolei felt something close to relief. 

The contents of this conversation are not easy but compared with the continuation of the one before, it was by far preferable.  

Leaving her vigor take its natural course, before she realized it, she even talked about the details of the fight where she lost to Ayano, which was supposed to be unrelated. 

And Kazuma was not the kind of person to overlook such a thing. 

"I see, you lost even to Ayano. You seem to only be losing. If you use a false name, you should call yourself <<loser dog>> from now on! "

"Don't give me names! Rather, more that that, what was that about? Do you understand what she tried to say? "

As expected, she was bothered about it a little so she pressed the question, pretending like she thought about it, but Kazuma faintly smiled bitterly. 

"Frankly, that was surprising. The fact that she pondered about something to that extent, no, she didn't think about it saying ''I cannot explain this''. 

She just somehow noticed it with her wild sixth sense. "

If so it's very typical of her -- Xiaolei obstinately asked Kazuma agreeing by himself. 

"What does it mean? "

"Don't mind it."

"I do mind it! "

Pulled in so much, that reaction was natural. 

But, Kazuma eluded the girl's investigation thoroughly. 

"Even if I were to tell you right now, it would be meaningless. Because you will really only hear an <<inconsequential thing>>. 

You can forget about it now. If you think about something you don't need, the blade will grow dull"

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

She made a face like she didn't agree in the least but at the same time she understood Kazuma had no intention of confessing. 

Although reluctantly, Xiaolei gave up on the investigation. 

But even Kazuma, it's not like he didn't teach because he was malicious or rather didn't teach her just because he was malicious. 

What Ayano was trying to say regarding her <<what lies beyond revenge>> --- if she were to present it in a more embarrassing but easy to understand manner, one would be reminded of words like <<tomorrow>> and <<hope>>, the illustration of a facing forward anticipated future. 

In a word, ''the action that is not connected to the future is barren''. 

Taking your revenge is splendid but after you finish it you must earnestly become happy no matter what.  

She feared for Xiaolei not because of the act of revenge itself but for Xiaolei's attitude of throwing everything away for the sake of revenge and not looking back. 

Compared with the ''revenge is useless'' bullshit, it was something much more thoughtful but, after all, was nothing but lip service from someone whose body wasn't scorched in hatred. 

Besides, if the person was able to focus on the future he wouldn't plan such a back facing deed from the beginning. 

Therefore, right now he couldn't talk with Xiaolei about such things. 

Rather than rejecting it because she thought it trivial, it would be worse to think of her own self-protection because of an untactful influence.

Even at the best of times, her ability was inferior. If she were to loose her resolution to risk her life above that, the probability of killing that would-be avenger would only be higher. 

That was, at the very least, one part of the reason she didn't tell her. 

"----But well, if you want to die, just die. It won't bother me. "

Kazuma was this kind of man. 

And then, when the conversation was about to close and concluded, at that time---

"-------Hmm? "

He suddenly raised his head, quizzically squinting his eyes. 

One beat later, Xiaolei noticed too. That face that was swaying with confusion --- was coated in the color of hatred, and she decisively stood up. 

"Where......? This way! "

Knowing the specifics of the location, she took Kokusen and started running without looking left or right. 

"He--y, wait a minute"

Kazuma called her to a halt, but since he didn't even stood up from the bench that apathetic restrain could have no effect. 

Xiaolei didn't turn around but darted off speedily. 








Luckily, it should be called, Ayano came back before three minutes passed. 

"Huh? "

Ayano looked at Kazuma, sitting alone on the bench with a doubtful gaze. 

"Xiaolei? "

"She's gone"

"Where? "

"Hmm----"

At the again reasonable question, Kazuma inclined his head as if contemplating, 

"Up or down, which way do you think she went? "

"What's up with that, didn't you ask her were she went? Did she went to buy something, that child? "

"Rather that buying, it's more like she went to throw away something. "

"------What? "

"Her life"

At the seriousness of the words declared so smoothly, Ayano became speechless. But, she immediately understood the meaning of those cryptic words. 

"Wait a second, up and down are heaven and hell!? She <<went>> to one of those? "

"Humph, something like that"

"Did they appeared? "

"No, somewhere for from here water and earth spirits are unnaturally noisy. The moment she sensed that, she rushed in. 

Although I don't understand what she tries to do by herself"

"You should have stopped her!"

"I did stop her"

"Not by saying <<stop>> when you knew from the beginning she would ignore you! ", declared Ayano in one breath as if she saw everything. 

But of course, as one would expect, she knew Kazuma. She was flawlessly correct. 

"I couldn't be help, right? I am your guard. I can't go chasing after something else. "

"Geez, let's follow her! Which way she went? "

"This way"

Right after pointing in a rough direction, Ayano dashed to the entrance of the department store. 

And then, when she was about to continue after that ---- suddenly, she turned around. What was there was large number of paper bags full of new clothes scattered on the ground, 

"It's not my fault, huh? ", murmuring irresponsibility, this time Ayano started running.