Kaze no Stigma:Volume6 Chapter 4

Part 1

In one of the private rooms of a Chinese restaurant located close to the Metropolitan Police Department, Kazuma was explaining the details of the story to Tachibana Kirika.

".........what did you say? ", asked Kirika dumbfounded, staring at him in wonder, but without replying Kazuma gulped down his mapo doufu.

He eliminated the pointless time of surprised cross-examinations, understanding she actually heard what he said but couldn't comprehend it.

Besides when Chinese food becomes cool it becomes unappetizing.

"----Kazuma, wait"

Quickly regaining her serenity, Kirika glared at Kazuma with a blank stare.

"Right now, we're talking about something unthinkably important. Can't you be a little more honest? "

"Not really, no matter what attitude I take the situation won't change. "

But even so, Kazuma didn't rest his chopsticks. On the contrary, he asked Kirika.

"You're not eating? "

".......I lost my appetite", groaned Kirika in a dejected tone.

But, she couldn't do that.

If Kazuma's words were true --- and she absolutely couldn't believe this man would lie at such a time --- the battle that will start before long might bring damage at a disaster scale to Tokyo.

"But even so, I've never even heard rumors regarding the existence of sacred treasures from Water and earth."

"Right. Even I didn't know. The Suzerain didn't either. "

"Isn't that weird? "

Kirika knitted her eyebrows in doubt.

"I don't know when and how this world came to be but if something like that were to exist in reality, do you think it's likely not even a bit on information would leak out? "

"Who knows"

That was a justified question but Kazuma's response had no enthusiasm.

"It doesn't really matter. I have no interest in stories of the past. "

"Not like that ---"

With an earnest facial expression that doesn't allow a negligent attitude, Kirika pressed for a answer.

"What I'm trying to say is, weren't the sacred treasures of Water and Earth just bestowed by the Spirit Lord? "

In other words, that Chris and Gaia were the same with the Founder of Kannagi and the same with Kazuma.

"I wonder..."

Remembering those two's ability, Kazuma murmured in a contradictory voice.

They were certainly first-class Jutsushi.

Chris was an excellent Suijutsushi, even Gaia, if Kazuma wouldn't have used Kokusen, he wouldn't have been able to repel him so simply.

But.

That was true and yet ---

"I don't think they were such significant masters. "

Even if Kazuma were empty-handed, he did not think he'd loose to Gaia.

It would be a close fight. He would maybe even suffer wounds.

But even so, the empty-handed himself will without fail win in the end against Gaia owning a sacred treasure. He could assert that.

"Huh, if you say it by your standard......"

Retorting with a stunned expression to Kazuma who declared so without hesitation, Kirika noticed her own misunderstanding.

"I see.......that's right. It must be by your standard"

If the sacred weapons were newly acquired, it meant signing a contract with the Spirit Lord.

Then, if the person cannot stand in the same arena with Kazuma, who is a <<Contractor>>, it means it doesn't have that qualification.

But, if so, they were an even more suspicious lot.

"As for Suijutsushi families, I never heard of a Roengram. And then Gaia --- the Earth? the Chijutsushi who doesn't give his surname, even more, the fact that he's using an flagrant alias, that seems very questionable. "

The Spirit Jutsushi, almost without exception stressed their family name.

Because they are a class where inborn ability is more important than anything else, that could be called the natural current.

Even for the <<first generation>> that acquired power unrelated to lineage, the trend is constant.

Rather, for the sake of making a reputation, there are many who emphasize the surname even more.

To sum it up, a Spirit Jutsushi who doesn't name himself is someone who was either banished from the family or someone who has done a serious crime, anyway, someone for whom giving his name would produce inconvenience, nothing but a dishonest Jutsushi.

For those kind of people, it's impossible that they are the due successors of secret treasures.

"It's not only that"

To perform a magic ceremony by gathering the sacred treasure of the four elements, that's fine so far. But ---

"At the time of the Fuan Family they used force because the negotiations failed and yet when it comes to Ayano-chan they attacked suddenly, right? Just what were they thinking? "

"At first, they began in a negotiation-like fashion, though "

"Don't make fun of this. You understand, right? "

Kirika didn't respond to Kazuma's joke but coldly replied.

What Kazuma meant by negotiations was what Chris said: "If you obediently hand over Enraiha I won't hurt you".

Even if they tried negotiating with the Fuan family one way or another, the change in attitude was too big.

Or perhaps, because there was no way to consider those negotiations it looked like some kind of proclamation of war.

"They wanted to turn the Fuan into their allies but when it comes to Kannagi they planned to be hostile since the beginning? If it were me I would try my best not to make enemies of the Kannagi only --- do you think they have some kind of grudge? "

"Who knows? While you're searching for them, if you feel so inclined, investigate it. "

At Kazuma trying to push something even more troublesome on her, Kirika turned to him a glare full of blame.

"Hey, it's not like I have that much spare time. Even if you request an investigation from me, we still don't have a prospect"

"This and that are different. This is for the Special Information Storage Room and it's an issue of maximum priority. "

It was a fair argument. This man, when it's advantageous for him, won't hesitate to do some whitewashing.

"Besides, it's not like there isn't any compensation. If you find their whereabouts before they start to move, the Kannagi will owe you big time. That's sweet. "

"-----That's if we can find them. "

"Well, anyhow, do your best"

"You too. "

At that reply, Kazuma, who said so over his shoulder like it was someone else's problem, frowned involuntarily.

"Why do I have to be involved in such a troublesome thing no matter what? I was supposed to have a little income by exorcising ghosts with one hand and spend my life in tranquility and peace "

"You're such a.....", sighed Kirika astonished at Kazuma's lower middle class-like ambition, excessively unconscious of his own position.

"You can state that as much as you want but it's impossible. No matter how you think about it, you were born under the star of upheaval. "

"What a thing to say. How rude. "

Asking so with a tone of forced resentment, Kazuma left his seat.

"In any case, I count on you. More that the fact that the Suzerain requested it, you don't have the choice to stay out of it. "

While concealing his the feelings on facial expression by casting his eyes down, his lips raised as if smiling.

From those lips, a voice so flat it could give one shudders came out.

"Because right now it's not the time to do that. "

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

While Kirika didn't say anything, Kazuma left the room.

Left alone, she continued to stare at the door Kazuma left through for a very long time with a pained gaze.

Suddenly her eyes dropped on the table.

With more than half left, vapor frequently rose from the cooking.

But, no matter how vibrant the colors looked, how delicious the smell was, the appetite that was totally eradicated could not be revived.

"Speaking like you're not caught up in this is forced, you know...."

She remembered. That one moment his mask failed and his honest face peaking from underneath.

So empty it made her shudder, so ghastly and sorrowful beyond comparison ---- that kind of face.

"I really.......entrust this to you, Ayano-chan"

Part 2

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