Kaze no Stigma:Volume1 Chapter6

Chapter Six- Decisive Battle

1

Shaaaaaaaaaaaa…….. (sound of rustling leaves, need help with that once more…)

The forest rustled with unease. Those were the sounds made by the animals which ran away with all their might when they felt the immense youki. The bugs that had no way of sensing the danger were unable to withstand the abnormal pressure and disappeared without a trace. Even those animals that came in contact with the youki and were unable to escape in time died instantly. The sound of their corpses raining out of the trees and littering the forest floor could be heard. Though there were no external wounds, they all had died instantly.

Then, all sounds ceased. All the youki within Ryuya was released, just its mere existence had spread death around the world.

Facing Ryuya who stood there silently, Ayano took up Enraiha. But lifting it was all she could do. She was unable to make even a single step towards him. The youki which felt as if it could almost freeze her blood, made her unable to move. And no matter what she did, she couldn't stop her knees from trembling.

An immense fear had gripped Ayano’s soul. It was difficult enough to just force herself to stand there without running away, to advance would have been impossible.

Inheriting Enraiha at the age of twelve, when she was still so young might have been a mistake, because of it Ayano has never fought an enemy more powerful than herself. For someone who always defeated her enemies with brute strength, there was no way to control herself when the situation was reversed. [to learn to control her actions in battle, but actual text has more of a unable to learn how to move in or out in times of combat?: 將不可能學會戰鬥時的應對進退 Not sure how to translate it properly]

To put it simply after she suffered her first defeat, Ayano has not been able to find the guts to go up against Ryuya.

“What are you doing? Go on!”

Kazuma said to the trembling Ayano.

“Don’t worry! I am with you.”

”How can I not worry!”

Ayano rebutted angrily. "How dare this man say “Don’t worry” so simply?"

“There is no reason to run now, is there? So I won't run away this time. Trust me.”

Who can trust someone who said “he would run if there was a reason”? Ayano stared back to see Kazuma smile deviously like a trickster.

“This…… This is the last time. If you dare to betray me again, I will kill you, before I die!”

“No problem, I swear to God.”

“……God? Which one?”

Ayano looked at him suspiciously look without concealing it, but Kazuma continued to show that smile that couldn't be trusted and replied.

”Who knows? Whichever God doesn’t matter! I am a non-believer after all.”

Ayano no longer had the strength to remain angry at this and murmered, her voice heavy with resignation

”……Enough. I'll leave the support to you.”

”Leave it to me.”

Ignoring Kazuma’s mocking salute, Ayano dashed forward. Though she didn't - and probably won't ever - realize it, the fear which had controlled her had been greatly reduced by this meaningless chat.

Ayano ran towards Ryuuya, but as her target is just a few steps away Ryuya suddenly takes off into the air.

“……Huh?”

Looking at Ryuya who flew past above her, Ayano gave a sound of shock.

“Idiot! Don’t get avoided so easily!”

”You…… Even if you say this……”

Completely ignoring Ayano, Ryuya aimed straight for Kazuma and as he descended he releases wind blades at a rapid speed. Kazuma created a strong up flow of air to cancel the black winds.

But this is but just a feint, the true attack uses a strength beyond human limits. A slice executed by claws. Raised high above his head, the originally hidden right claw suddenly lashed out.

That attack could easily rip through a human body as though it was cutting a piece of tofu (bean curd). Kazuma moved forward at an angle and dodged it barely. At the same time he placed his hand lightly on the back of the enemy’s right arm, and slightly changed its path.

His attack striking only at empty air, caused Ryuya to lose his balance and Kazuma immediately took the opportunity to use his knee to strike at the side of the enemy’s abdomen aiming for his liver. The power of Ryuya's own momentum, together with a strong explosion of Kazuma's “ki” focussed at a single point point made Ryuya’s body arc like a bow and threw him back into the air. Following the flying body closely, just before it touched the ground, Kazuma used his elbow to strike the enemy’s chin. Ryuya’s head was thrown so far backwards, that he can almost see his own back.

If had been a normal human, no, even if it had been someone as powerful as a wrestler, he would have died instantly from such a violent attack. However to the demonized Ryuya, it barely did any damage. In midflight Ryuya used his momentum and raised his right knee, aiming straight for Kazuma’s jaws.

Even though the attack came out of a blind spot, for Kazuma who was synchronized with the wind spirits, there was no such thing. He stepped forward leaned to the left to avoid the knee grabbed the front of Ryuya’s shirt and at the same time swept his left leg horizontally.

In a masterful example of judo, [actual text: 柔道的大內割動作完美地呈現, not sure how to translate大內割] Ryuya’s body was flipped over. With Ryuya's head about to fall flat on the ground, Kazuma struck with his palm. Not to punch, but to press downwards. He consistently bent down to press the enemy’s head straight into the ground, a comfortable reaction went through his shoulder.

However, Kazuma did not feel Ryuya’s skull cracking. Realizing instantly that he has not given his enemy a fatal blow Kazuma used his foot to crush Ryuya’s head, who lay on the ground facing the sky. The kick landed on Ryuya's crossed arms as he blocked Kazuma's attack.

”Chut!” [actual text 嘖.]

Kazuma quickly kicked away the arm that is about to grab his other leg, and jumped backwards to put distance between them.

(To not even faint after such a fierce attack, does attacking the brain have no effect on him? To just what extent is he demonized?……)

Kazuma grumbled unhappily. As if he was beating up a steel statue, he felt as though he had accomplished nothing. Ryuya quickly jumped up directly from his lying down position. This action was way beyond what a human could do, just like a zombie in the movies.

Ryuya released countless wind blades as he got up, and then at a speed even faster than the wind blades, struck at Kazuma. The wind blades and his claws reached Kazuma at the same time.

“Guahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

At the same time as the shout, Kazuma forcefully stretched out towards the right arm that was swing at him. The wind formed a whirlpool spinning rapidly, as if that hand squeezed them out. The rapid flow of air became a shockwave, destroying the wind blades, and Ryuya was blown back into the airlike a puppet.

It seemed for a moment as if he was unable to take this blow, but then Ryuya adjusted his posture in the air and hovering at a fixed altitude began to retreat slowly.

“Don’t even think about escaping!”

Kazuma knocked the air above Ryuya downwards. The figure that was originally gliding away slowly, suddenly dived at a sharp angle, as if swatted down by something. And with a speed way beyond a free falling object hit the ground. Ryuya was barely able to land on his two feet, but his whole body was unable to move, stuck to the ground due to the great air pressure.

As Ryuya stood there paralyzed, Kazuma quickly closed the distance.

The wind that was blowing downwards forcefully didn't not seem to lay a finger upon Kazuma. Kazuma instead seemed as though he was drawn into it, and ran quickly inside the raging winds without hindrance.

“How…… powerful, that guy is actually so powerful……”

Ayano was totally taken in by the scene in front of her eyes, completely mesmerized by the sight of Kazuma fighting. She had been unable to even land a hit upon Ryuya and yet Kazuma can fight on an even level with or even a higher one than Ryuya. Skillfully avoiding the attacks of the opponent, retaliating with perfectly timed counters, and accumulating the damage done slowly. This is, she realized what it means to be called “an experienced fighter”.

Forgetting that she was in the fight as well, Ayano stood there enraptured, her eyes solely focussed on Kazuma.

“------------------------------!”

As Kazuma was just a few steps away, Ryuya who was still trapped in the ground gave a silent roar. Black wind started to rampage and broke the bonds that had restrained him just before.

In the same movement as he straightened his knees, he stretched his claws out towards the incoming Kazuma, aiming straight for Kazuma’s throat, who was running directly at him, executing an insane counterattack.

Kazuma, however, did not stop, but instead as he made his last step, he bent down as much as possible. Using the far ends of his conscious to that the pitch black claws have passed before him, he placed his palm against Ryuya’s abdomen----his diaphragm. [Don't know what the far ends of conscious thing is supposed to mean]

Kazuma’s stepped onto the ground with firmly, from there gathering the power which went past his knees straight to his waist, and from the waist to his shoulders, like a spiral and continued to become stronger as it continued to be transmitted. From his shoulder to the front portion of his arm, after all the energy in his body has gathered, it was released through his palm to the front. At the same time, an immense “ki” was released from his body throughout his palm, dense enough that it felt as if it could just pierce through the enemy.

“Hah!”

Accompanying the shout, a force so great it could blow even an African elephant to pieces, exploded right at Ryuya’s diaphragm, the core of a human’s central nerve system. Ryuya’s body was blasted away with so much power that he ended up imbedded into a stone wall.

The “ki” of a person revolved around the whole body beginning from the diaphragm. Therefore, this place was the most fatal of all fatal areas for a Jutsushi. Once the flow of “ki” was disrupted, no matter how powerful the Jutsushi might be, he would be unable to cast any Jutsu for some time. That should have been the case, had it been a human being.

Huuuuu!! [actual text 咻咻!! Sound of wind?]

“Muah!”

Ryuya didn't look injured at all as he released those fast wind blades again. Kazuma barely dodged in the nick of time, and hurriedly put some distance between the two.

“Damn! Bastard! That didn’t work! That guy really whole-heartedly doesn’t want to be human anymore!”

“…… whole-heartedly…… What kind of description is that……”

Hearing Ayano’s sub-conscious rebut, Kazuma shouted out loud..

“Don’t just stand there and watch the show! You are the striker, aren't you? So why don’t you grab your big torch and go beat him upfront!”

“Big……”

(Big torch------?)

To use such a rude way to describe the treasure of the Kannagi clan------

“You, I'll have a talk with you about this once this is over!”

Ignoring Ayano’s furious look, Kazuma waved his hand to hush her..

“Don’t talk so much, attack “Little kitten”. “

Even though her eyes burned with a strong killing intent, Ayano stepped forward in response. Perhaps reflecting upon her anger, Enraiha shone with a glaring glow unlike any before.

(Sister, you can do it……) [Actual text is more of gambate]

Ren prayed devoutely for the victory of the two.

He could only pray now, since he didn't possess enough “power” to participate in this battle.

His inability to help deeply hurting his heart, Ren murmured..

”If only I had more power……”

”No no, your bit of power is just right.”

”!?”

Ren looked back in shock, and stared towards where there shouldn't have been anyone.

“To break the seal placed upon our “God”, that bit of power is enough.”

The voice sounded like it came from the opposite direction as just before. Ren turned his head once more, and called out in a rising tone..

“It…… it is you, Hyoue! Come out now!”

Shaaaaa, the sound of bushes ruslting in the wind, this time from the left. Out of Ren's raised palm fire began to erupt in a rapid flow.

In a short moment, the withered plants caught fire and burned furiously, but there was no sign of Hyoue there. Ren looked around frantically and Hyoue coarse voice again sounded in Ren’s ears..

“Your strength isn't bad, at all. It's just that you are still a kid. Your technique is too poor!”

”Shut……Shut up------------!”

Flames emerged from Ren’s body. In order to not allow the enemy to move to his back, he began to search for Hyoue as his body was surrounded by flames, but------

(I can’t find his presence!)

He had completely no idea where Hyoue was. Originally, En-Jutsushis were a bit overpowered in their combat abilities. Even though their attacking strength was the best, their sensing abilities were among the weakest, much worse than Fu-Jutsushis.

As an En-Jutsushi, Ren was not mature enough, and was unable to see through the Jutsu that the experienced Fu-Jutsushi Hyoue used to conceal himself.

“Still too immature. A flame of that level is unable to extinguish the hatred within me.”

Hyoue once again whispered by his ear. Though the direction from which he heard was just behind him, but he could not sense his presence at all.

“Behind? Whe……Where!”

He turned back several times, but he always failed to see Hyoue. No matter how swift he may be, the voice from his back never stopped.

“Over here!”

”Over here!”

”Over here!”

.------Over here------Over here------Over here------Over here------

This line continues to repeat itself like an echo. The uneasiness from being unable to see his enemy and the uprising fear and nervousness upon him fighting in an actual battle, stretched Ren’s mind to the limit.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

Driven by fear, he desired power. The power to eliminate the enemy. The power that can destroy “Everything”, that can make him feel afraid------

In response to Ren’s scream, fire's erupted everywhere. The flame spirits that were being released indefinitely obeying only their own purpose of survival and rampage, burned everything to ashes.

Everything the flames touched was burnt, the forest became a sea of flames, with mighty pillars of fire that went all the way into the sky, shaking the grounds.

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

Ren who had panicked after losing control, just like his name, attempted to create a Hell on Earth. [Ren attempts to create a 煉獄 on Earth, and Ren’s name is 煉] He went beyond the limits of his power, and continued to summon a massive amount of spirits. The trees became ashes under the extreme heat, and the already scorched land began to melt.

“Ahhhhhh……ah?”

But just at this moment, a cold gush of wind blew past Ren’s body.

The gush of wind cooled his head and Ren’s madness calmed down in an instant. The youth looked dumbfoundedly at the direction the wind came from.

Kazuma was looking attentively at Ren. Basked in those clear eyes, Ren returned to normal completely this time.

(He is looking at me------!)

Kazuma looked at him with infinite trust.

“Brot------“

(Brother!)

But, right after the short instant that Kazuma’s eyes met with Ren’s, Kazuma shifted his eyes away and focused on the battle with Ryuya without looking back again.

Ren felt very disappointed for a moment, but finally remembered what he should do. He calmed his breathing, and prepared to take on the enemy’s assault.

“You seem to have been abandoned by your brother.”

Hyoue’s voice rings mockingly from behind his ear. But Ren, his head clear once again, knew that the enemy wasn't at his back, it was just a distraction with his Jutsu to use the wind to bring his voice to Ren’s ears. This was a very basic technique everyone in the Fuga clan knew, such a simple fact, and yet he hadn't noticed. Ren was ashamed at how immature he was.

“But he can't be blamed for that. Those two can't win against Ryuya even if they work together. There is no way he can take the time to protect someone as useless as you.”

Ho! Ho! Ho!

Hearing the eerie laughter by his ear, didn't affected Ren this time. He calmly detected the presence, and at the same time denied the nonsense that Hyoue was babbling.

“You are wrong.”

”What is wrong?”

He replied calmly. Hyoue had no doubt that he was in control of the situation. He might even be thinking that he is not fighting, but hunting! Just playing around with his prey before making the kill. This was the weak spot Ren grasped at.

“My Brother, he did not abandon me. It is because he believes in me, believes that I am more than enough to deal with scum like you.”

“What daring words. For a little punk like you who cannot even find out where I am, how are you going to defeat me?”

Indeed, in terms of detecting capabilities, fire users were far weaker than wind users. Unlike flames, air was everywhere. One of the conditions for a human to survive, the one that occupies the most space is air. The difference in the space occupied, directly affects the amount of information obtained.

(But, if it is now------)

The flames that Ren had released when he had gone berserk, had burnt the trees in the area, and continued to burn fiercely. The density of fire spirits had increased to a state that goes beyond logical reasoning. If it was in a situation like this, he was not any worse than a Fu-Jutsushi. Ren closed his eyes, and opened his ears to listen to the spirits’ voice.

“What’s wrong? You want to beat someone like me and yet you seem to be taking quite a bit of time?”

Sounds of mockery came from everywhere. A wind blade passed by his cheek, and flew straight ahead. Ren let go of everything completely, and synchronizes himself with the spirits.

His five senses disappeared, and slowly switched to the senses of the spirits. Not relying on light, not relying on sound, but instead relying on the “theurgy” that a human couldn't sense to see the world. Facing an abnormality which would drive a regular human insane, Ren adapted to it very easily.

(------Gotcha!)

It should be said as he didn't actually detect him. Rather in the area which he tried to search, only one spot refused the fire spirits and couldn't be searched. Hyoue had to be at this spot. Ren felt confident in his guess.

“Over there!”

Ren raised his palm, and released a fireball. The divine power to purify sliced through the empty space.

.------ Just the empty space.

“You fool, what are you aiming at?……”

Seeing the flame that went in the wrong direction, Hyoue who was concealed in a barrier of wind showed a mocking expression.

But that expression vanished immediately. He saw the flames around him branch out, and rain down as a curtain of fire, aimed at him------

“Wha……What------------!?”

Hyoue was so shocked his eyes almost popped out, the rain of fire came from all directions all at the same moment.

With every direction cut off this was not a situation that could be solved with a trickery. To defend himself, he had to use power to wipe the flames aside. But, Hyoue did not possess such power, looking at sheer strength alone, Ren was sure to win.

“Wahhhhhhhhhhhhh!?”

As the barrier was pierced by the rain of fire like a piece of paper, Hyoue gave off a pitiful scream.

“It...it worked……?”

Sensing the barrier's disappearance, Ren says quietly, staring into space.

The trick he used was really simple. There was no need for him initiate the fire himself, as the flames were there burning all along.

Ren had purposely released a flame at an empty area to make Hyoue let his guard down, and then he had used the flames that were burning around Hyoue to attack.

If Hyoue had been fighting seriously, he might have been able to see through the trick! It was his overconfident attitude to see Ren as prey and not as an enemy, that caused him to suffer such a dreadful blow.

“You……you are really something……Kid……”

”------!?”

A black shape rolled out just in front of Ren, which one could still roughly discern as human. No matter how you looked at it, it was a completely burnt corpse and yet the corpse was still moving somehow. Every time it moved, pieces of meat that had already been turned into ashes fell away, leaving a pitch black skin below that did not seem human.

“Hoho…… Watch closely…… This is also the power I obtained after signing a contract with the youma, a power beyond human capabilities. Now you get it, kid? Your flames don’t work against me. Hohoho…… Hahahahaha!!”

“You foolish thing.”

Ren suddenly speaking so coldly as if he was a completely different person caused Hyoue’s laughter to halt.

“My flames useless? How dare a piece of charcoal speak like a human being? Since you yourself gave up on being human, then there is nothing to be said. Because the Kannagi flames are purifying flames. A power bestowed to destroy non-human monsters like you!!”

A golden light, cleaned away the dense youki. The rampaging flames appeared to be taken in by the purifying light as the fire weakened, and slowly disappeared. The out of control fire spirits, upon being taken under control once more, made the golden light shine even more brightly.

The flames that before expanded explosively began to shrink, yet the temperature rose. Condensed into a high density semi-materialized flame, giving off a sticky glow, it revolved around Ren.

“I as a member of the main family of the Kannagi declare! Hyoue Kazamaki, the many lives that you took away, shall now be repaid by your own!!”

Surrounded by that blurry shine, Ren spoke loudly. Faced with a tiny body that unleashes such an immense pressure, Hyoue curled up in fear.

This is the descendant of a respected and powerful bloodline. At the top of En-Jutsushis, the rightful son of the Kannagi clan.

A great power that was formed though a thousand years of training, was about to awaken------

2

“Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

A strike with all her might, Ayano swings the Enraiha downwards.

Dang![sound of metal colliding]

Ryuya’s claws make a clear sound as they reflect the blade.

(Even Enraiha cannot cut through this, what are these claws made of?)

Ayano wipes the question that popped out in her mind away. Now, there is no time to think about this question, I must find some way to get past the claws------

Ayano increases the rate of her strikes, she includes a massive amount of fake shots in her attacks to try to find a loophole in Ryuya’s defense, however, his defense was impenetrable.

“What is that idiot doing……”

Kazuma spits out that sentence in anxiousness.

The fear of loss, still lingers in Ayano’s heart, she forgot her own fighting method, adding those tricks to her attack is meaningless, she must focus on a lethal strike instead------

Just at this moment, Enraiha found its way into Ryuya’s shoulder, and the entire right arm that was cut off was blown away.

(Great opportunity!)

Ayano strikes at the empty right area, she puts all her strength into this strike, and because of that, she failed to notice, like a creature moving in the air, the right arm that has lurked behind her back.

“Behind you!”

Kazuma’s voice and the strike from the right arm came at almost the same time. Like a lance, the right arm graced by Ayano, who jumped up quickly.

“That was close……”

It is still too early to relax now, Ryuya suddenly appear before Ayano who is still in mid-air, the claws on his remaining right arm are giving off a deadly light.

Dang!

Even though Ayano managed to block that attack somehow, her legs are not on the ground, so she was unable to hold her position. She was knocked away like a cannonball, and without any way to defend herself, she violently hit a big tree nearby.

“Argh…… Ah……”

Perhaps feeling that it was too easy for him, Ryuya did not pursue his prey, but instead reattaches his right arm. The wriggling muscle tissues and nerves extended from the horizontal cross section, and the same things that stretched out from the other end entangled together. After several seconds, even the wound disappears, his right arm is completely fused back.

But Ryuya still shows no sign of attacking, he lifts his head up to stare at the sky, and raises both his arms, as if he wants to hold the whole sky with his hands.

“------------!“

The instant he realizes the reason he made such a movement, Kazuma sprints out as fast as he can. Grabbing the head of Ayano, who was just about to get up, and violently smashes it onto the floor.

“Wah!”

Even though Ayano made a strange cry,there was no time to pay attention to it. He lays as low as he can, and at the area where he reduced the surface area, he set up a kekkai of even greater density.

“That was so sudden, what are you doing!”

Ayano presses on her glowing red nose as she shouts. Kazuma just shouts back at a volume twice of hers..

“You idiot! For what reason did you think that you had to engage in melee combat! If the enemy has the time to unleash his powerful attacks, then all the efforts before that would be meaningless!!”

Under the resolution that leaves no room for questioning, Ayano is at a loss for words.

“……Huh……? Powerful attack……”

Turning her head like Kazuma instructed, seeing that scene, Ayano is totally stunned this time. A spectacular pillar of wind that connects heaven and earth, a great sound tumbles as it spins, that is------ that is------

“……That is…… what……?”

“That is not what, as you can see------ It is a tornado! Four------ No, five…… by the way, what is the unit for tornadoes?”

The question that Kazuma asks randomly did not go into Ayano’s ears.

She looks at the tornado as if mesmerized. That is the roar of nature that hurls giant boulders and uproots giant trees------ that is all she can think about it.

“……Im……possible……”

”Ahhh? What did you say?”

”------ It is impossible to win!”

Ayano turns her head to shout. The competitive eyes carries tears, as if prostrated, she tumbles to her feet beside Kazuma.

“It is impossible to win! Our enemy is that kind of monster, what do you expect me to do! There is no way to win!!”

Ayano’s eyes shows despair beyond fear, those eyes were just like the eyes of that person in the past, Kazuma thought to himself.

.------ Did I not sought for power because I hate seeing those eyes?

(Tsui-Ling------)

The weak girl that I was unable to protect in the past. No matter how tough it was, no matter how painful it was, the girl who still wanted to live on no matter what.

“I was not born into the world to be devoured by a devil.”

Those eyes shone with the light of hope, and the one to erase that light was me.

Because he was weak, because he had no power.

But, it is different now. He was defeated back then, and had to watch as the girl whom he sworn to protect had her soul devoured, but it is different now compared to then.

Be it for self-fulfillment, or to atone for the past. Now, he just wants to help this girl who is trembling before him.

The girl’s eyes are filled with tears. At the moment before the tears drop, Kazuma pokes at Ayano’s forehead with his finger.

Ayano leans back slightly, and looks at him with wet eyes, yet Kazuma shows a smile..

“Our jobs were made clear since the start right? All you need to do is take that blade and slash Ryuya, I shall take care of his wind.”

“Take care…… Take care of tornadoes!?”

Ayano’s finger points at the tornado as she shrieks, Kazuma just shrugs his shoulder.

“About that…… There has got to be some way. So, you just take care of him, can you do that?”

After hesitating for a moment, Ayano nods her head hard.

“Very good, let the match continue then!”

Kazuma carries Ayano who sat on him, and stands up just like that. Seeing such unbelievable strength from his waist and legs, Ayano opens her eyes wide. But, what is even more shocking is what happens later.

“……Wa……Ah……”

A path was opened before Ayano. A path, surrounded by kekkai that suppresses the tornado, was created, straight to where Ryuya is.

“------Go!”

After receiving a push from that voice, Ayano instinctively dashes out.

“Okay, even though I said that just now…… But how should I go about doing it?”

After forcefully holding the tornado back, Kazuma grumbles to himself. Since he has boasted about it in front of someone else, he must think of a way to take care of these five tornadoes……

“If only Ayano is of some use, then the enemy may not have any effort to spare while fighting her to maintain the tornadoes…… But an originally weak fellow, now so scared she can hardly walk, cannot be of any use……”

The simplest method is to create the same tornadoes to cancel them out------

(……Spare me!)

Just thinking about this, a tired smile surfaced. Is there an easier way------

“Wait a minute, a tornado is actually the upward flow of air right…… in that case…… Good, let’s do this.” Kazuma lets the air that is going upwards go even higher up, and brings the air at lower positions into the stratosphere.

The air brought up by the upflow is cooled, and forms water particles, and becomes tiny ice drops that combine to become hailstones. The hailstones cool the surrounding air, and make the air heavy, and drop down at a high speed. The great downward airflow is what we call a “downburst”.

Its temporary top speed is comparable to a tornado, and Kazuma speeds it up further, a piece of air pulled down from an extremely high altitude easily goes beyond the speed of sound.

The hypersonic speed wind blades slice the tornado open, and the shockwaves that comes with it completely destroys what is left of the tornadoes. Without any resistance, the raging winds erased the tornadoes easily, and release all the extra energy in it towards where Ryuya is.

“Gwahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!”

Amidst the sound of destruction, comes a sharp scream that has no femininity at all.

(Gwah? Ohhh……)

Kazuma claps his hands once he realized what happened.

“Sorry, I forgot to avoid you.”

”You idiot------!! Go to hell------!!”

Ayano livelily shouts about, for some reason she was not hurt. Maybe the wind spirits avoided her automatically?

Even though Ayano is still making a fuss, but seeing the scene that appears slowly as the dust disperses, she quiets down.

The view of the mountain changed. In the originally green forest, the trees are blown down, the surface is dug up forming a piece of empty land. This is all due to Ryuya’s tornado, and Kazuma’s downburst.

(These guys are real monster……)

Ayano looks at Kazuma with respect. But from that flippant look, she can see no sign of his magnificent power.

“Hey, this is a good opportunity! Ayano.”

Kazuma hushes, no, tells her.

Even for Ryuya, he suffers a lot of damage from this hit. Even though his limbs are still connected to his body, but everywhere on him, deep cuts can be seen, and black mist excretes out of him in replacement of blood.

(When I cut him earlier, there was no such thing coming out……)

The difference in power between Kazuma and her is clear, Ayano feels very unhappy about it. But now is not the time to be bothered by such a thing, she takes up Enraiha once more, and stands before Ryuya.

(Still alive------ What a monster.)

Just as Ayano face off with Ryuya, Kazuma’s expression becomes more serious.

Kazuma can feel that they are being forced to a dead end.

Even by combining their powers, they were unable to deliver a fatal strike to Ryuya. Even though they seem to have the advantage now, there is no way they can win in the long run.

There has never been a human that can beat youma with their physical energy. This is because youma possesses a mind far greater than its body, and can overcome the limitations of the body through sheer will.

(There is no choice, should I use my ultimate skill? Even though I really do not want the Kannagi to know of it……)

They will hear about it from Ren sooner or later anyway! No matter what, life is irreplaceable.

But there is a problem, leaving the breaking of the seal aside, to gather enough power to truly destroy Ryuya requires a lot of time to prepare. During this period of time, Ayano is completely defenseless, and what would happen under such circumstances is already seen.

(So, what to do then------)

He thinks deeply for a moment------

(So be it, this is a test too.)

Kazuma pushes Ayano down to the bottom of a cliff without hesitation.

“Ayano! I am going to unleash my ultimate skill! Buy me some time!!”

“Don’t shout it out! Idiot------!!”

Ayano shouts in a painful voice. She was seriously crying out to Kazuma.

As Kazuma expected, Ryuya(Devil) retaliates instantly. In the blink of an eye, the defending and offensive party changes, wind blades strike towards Ayano.

“Kazuma you big idiot------! After I die, I will definitely come back to find you as a vengeful spirit! No matter how many times you change your home, I will burn it down, and make sure the estate agencies avoid doing business with you!”

Trying her best to dodging the claws, Ayano says in a tone that seems like she is about to cry.

But very sadly, Kazuma is in a state of high level concentration now, and cannot hear Ayano’s emotional complaints at all.

He keeps his conscious slowly, and opens the “door” within his body. Inside the “door” is an azure sky as far as the eye can see.

This place is a space that exists within “that person”------ No, every corner of this space is filled with “that person”. This space is the person himself.

By opening the “door”, Kazuma and “that person” combine, forming a single entity. Kazuma is restructured, becoming a human, and the ruler of spirits at the same time, commanding all wind as a high level Jutsushi.

His consciousness expands without limit. As far as his mind can go------ About a hundred kilometers in radius------all existing wind spirits became Kazuma’s receptors, continuously transmitting information out endlessly.

These data that a human’s weak and fragile mind is unable to handle completely, Kazuma controls them with his will, he picks out the necessary data, while at the same time sensing the whole situation in a radius of a hundred kilometers, this is the point of view of God, a power beyond human knowledge.

(Ren…… Very good, still alive.)

The power of sensing after expansion can clearly see the battle between Ren and Hyoue more than a kilometer away. Of course, this includes Ayano’s battle status------

Without Kazuma to cover for her, Ayano is forced to a one-sided defense. She does not even think about retaliating, just paying attention to her surroundings to dodge the incoming claws and wind blades.

(……Still not ready yet, Kazuma?)

She looks at Kazuma from time to time, but Kazuma who is concentrating does not notice this at all------ or that is how it looks like. Despite how unwilling she is to admit it, but this is making her feel very uneasy.

She is so scared, but Kazuma does not say some nonsense to loosen her up, he does not poke her forehead and smile at her. For the first time, Ayano realizes how many times she has been saved by that flippant smile of his.

“Ahhh!”

A pitch black wind, forms a metal hammer and smashes towards Ayano. The small body is violently hit and flies out, landing on her back, and following that she even rolled three rounds on the floor, coming to a stop only after hitting a stone wall that jerks up from the ground with a great impact.

(Oh no! I can’t hold on……!)

Ayano looks at Kazuma with the thought of seeking help in mind. At this moment she is sure that she saw------ Kazuma has a smirk on his face, showing an expression with a cold smile.

Ryuya aims at Ayano who is not moving, and releases more wind blades. But even so, Ayano still stares at Kazuma.

Ever since that moment I saw him again yesterday, I really hate that guy.

He is even more unforgivable than Hyoue or Ryuya, I do not even want to admit his existence.

Just because he is stronger than me------ Not only that.

Because of his arrogant attitude------ No, that is just the surface, a fake external side of him.

The real him, completely ignores my presence, does not care about me, and that is more unforgivable than anything else.

So I begin to resist, I keep quarreling with him, so that he would acknowledge my presence.

But------ He gave up on me.

“You will finish him off” becomes “Buy me some time”, “I will do everything, I no long have any expectations for you.”------ That is what he said.

He is watching everything even now, mocking at how pathetic I look.

“A kitten is just a kitten” ------ It seems as though she can hear this belittling speech.

“------ Don’t look down on me!!”

An angry roar shakes the air around, a furious flame consumes the wind blades.

Ayano uses her swaying body to stand up, her eyes look at Ryuya, but her mind continues to think of Kazuma.

She cannot acknowledge, nor accept, that as the Enraiha wielder, she is so useless.

She knows very clearly how to topple this fact completely, for a man like Kazuma, there is no point in saying anything more to him.

.------ Only by proving herself with might.

“ “Buy me some time”? Don’t joke around. I will finish him off myself, you can just stand there until you die standing!”

Ayano takes up her Enraiha, and begins to gather “ki”. The golden flame that bursts out, begin to carry a red glow------ the crimson flame, continues to gather upon Enraiha.

With the agitated scream, Ayano sprints out, moving at an exceptional speed that does not even leave an image behind. She appears before Ryuya abruptly, as if she teleported, and swings down with all her might.

There were no faking tricks, just a simple straightforward slice. So it was extremely difficult to dodge it. Ryuya crosses his arms above his head to block the slice. No, wanted to block it.

Releasing crimson flames------ Enraiha carrying the divine flame does not allow any resistance, and cuts ten claws at one go, following which cutting off Ryuya’s left arm exposed due to its high speed turning.

She slices towards the defenseless left side------ but at this moment, the sliced off left arm floats in mid-air, and strikes towards Ayano from the rear.

Ayano, without turning her head, holds the Enraiha in a backhand position and stabs to her rear. The Enraiha mercilessly pierce through the arm that is flying in the air.

“Begone!!”

Burning from the interior, the left arm is burnt in an instant. Ayano did not stop, and continues to chase after Ryuya, who moves backwards slowly, she uses an extremely fast speed to close in onto Ryuya.

The crimson blade shone with brilliance, and the blade that sliced in from the right shoulder came out from between the legs, and the blade flips and continues to slice into the body.

But, even though his whole body is chopped into four pieces, Ryuya is still not destroyed yet. He uses listless eyes to look at Ayano.

Ayano jumps backwards, but not to run.

.------ Everything shall end in a moment!

“Namo, Sanmanduo, Warila Lan, Han” [Ayano’s chant? Not exactly sure.]

She chants the Acalanatha sutra in the air. The chant itself possesses no power or meaning, it is just some keywords to remind oneself[remind her of a state of mind? Not sure]. This allows complicated Jutsu activation sequences, to be remembered together with mantras, becoming a reflex action, because she lets her body remember it, and by chanting the mantra is equivalent to activating the procedures for the Jutsu.

At the same time she lands, Ayano stabs Enraiha into the ground, and begins to activate the Jutsu.

“Ultimate exorcism flare wave!!” [unsure how to translate this properly]

The floor sketches out a circular light with Ryuya at the centre, forming a hemispherical kekkai. Following which the fire spirits that was emitted from Enraiha darts through beneath the ground, and releases all their heat from the inside of the kekkai!

The soil under Ryuya’s feet vaporizes in an instant, the spherical kekkai’s full view is seen, the kekkai efficiently reflects the heat energy, and gathers the energy at the centre.

This is Ayano’s strongest exorcising spell, locking the youma in a kekkai and not allowing them to leave until they are burnt to ashes.

“Hmm hmm! How is that!”

Ayano shows a prideful smile, and turns her head in Kazuma’s direction------ just before that, she stops and stares at Ryuya who is trapped within the kekkai.

In the scorching plasma, Ryuya became a piece of meat that shows no sign of his previous appearance, he should have no power to resist anymore------ but what is this youki?

Gurgle……Gurgle……Gurgle……[sound of something boiling? Not sure]

Right before Ayano, who is standing there watching, the surface of the meat seems to be boiling and bubbles begin to appear, on top of the bubbles another bubble appears, the eerie meat piece does not care about the several tens of thousands of degrees of high heat, and is multiplying at a rapid rate.

When the piece of meat multiplied to the required number, the shape changes slowly, and meat sticks stretches out from four areas, and a small sphere is placed at the top, the monster is complete.

The monster perhaps intends to imitate a human form like before! With hands and legs, and the head and body parts can be recognized.

But, that is all. Like an ugly design a small child used to make with meat color clay, it is a duplicate of a human’s evil, it is a humiliation that is unforgivable to all mankind.

That monster uses an action that is like opening a door, and places its hands on the kekkai. That monster has no hands, only a stick, and from the action, it does not have any joints either, if a human arm is changed to a snake, that is probably how it would look like!

“……This is not…… possible……?”

That monster dispels the kekkai easily, and steps out. An ugly feeling that cannot be looked at directly makes Ayano move back in reflex, and upon being tripped by a protruding part at her feet, she loses her balance.

“Wah!”

To fall down here means certain death------ The premonition of death approaching, made Goosebumps appear on Ayano’s skin.

But------ the texture sticking on her back is not the cold hard floor. Something warm grabs hold of the tense body due to nervousness.

A broad hand caresses Ayano’s head, as if whispering by her ear, a low and calm voice makes her ear feel itchy.

“That is enough, you did very well.”

From the gentle yet firm grip that is hugging her arm, Ayano feels an indescribable relaxation, her tense body relaxes bit by bit, leaving everything to that wide chest behind her.

“You did very well.”

The sentence repeats itself over and over again in her mind, such a boring speech, made her happier than anything else in the world.

To be recognized by him, made her feel proud.

The man behind her uses such a comfortable voice that makes one shiver in his back continues to say..

“Very well done, for a kitten.”

Pak!

Ayano uses all her strength to wipe Kazuma’s hand off. How is it possible that just an instant ago she actually thought that this kind of guy’s chest can be comforting, Ayano feels ashamed at herself from the bottom of her heart.

“You…… Huh……?”

Ayano feels a slight disturbance in the surrounding view, she looks around for a bit and understood instantly.

.------ The air is shining with a light blue glow.

The blue airflow, though its flow is slow, but within it lies a massive amount of energy. The black winds commanded by Ryuya repels against the azure glow, and shrinks around its master.

“This…… Could it be…… “Purification”!?”

The secret power to destroy evil that is only bestowed on the Kannagi family, and, this magnitude------

“To use purifying winds to surround the whole mountain? Such a massive amount of spirits, how did……”

Ayano turns her head to ask, and becomes dumbfounded once more. Maybe he knows very well why she seems shocked, Kazuma shows a playful smile and enjoys Ayano’s stunned expression.

“That…… What is that…… Your eyes?”

“These? They were imprinted on by the lord of wind spirits.”

Kazuma flashes with blue eyes, and says a shocking fact out easily.

“Spi……rit……Lord……?”

A fact that is beyond imagination made her mind stop, Ayano dumbly repeats it.

“………… No way--------------------!?”

Bright like the azure sky, eyes that cannot be clearer, that is the proof of the contract with the lord of wind spirits. To rule all the air on this planet, only a man that is bestowed everything, can be imprinted with this stigma.

In the legends, there has only been a few people with such a stigma, the Solomon king that governs the seventy two demon lords, Moses who led the Hebrew and made a contract with Jehovah.

After that would be the first chief of the Kannagi, who was bestowed the Enraiha.

“Contractor”------ Someone who made a contract with a supernatural existence------ They call them “Contractors”.

But, to be confirmed in history, there is only one man who has been proven to exist. “The first” contractor------ he is how the people praise him to be in modern legends.

“Come one! It is about time to go to sleep, Ryuya!!”

The azure wind begin to twirl like a whirlpool with Ryuya at the centre. The whirlpool or air is created by Kazuma mobilizing all the wind spirits in the area that he control, and the huge area covered by it can be seen even from a satellite.

3

Pussh! [sound of wind cutting, not sure the exact sound]

The wind blades made by the demonized Hyoue cuts into Ren’s two arms deeply.

“Wahhhhhh------!”

Up against the wind blades that strikes continuously, Ren can only roll his body to dodge, with not even the slightest chance to get up.

Hyoue is laughing as he looks at this action. The scene of a Jutsushi of the main family having to dodge everywhere from him cannot get any weirder.

(Just watch, Genma! Jugo! The next ones will be you two! The humiliations that we suffered, you shall pay back ten thousand times more!)

An uncontrollable laughter can be heard. Hyoue looks at Ren who finally managed to get up with a look of superiority and shouts out comfortably..

“Now you know the difference between our powers? You can just surrender quietly, if you are too heavily wounded, it might hinder the dispelling of the seal.”

Hohoho……

Ren throws a golden flame in the direction of the laughter, within which hides a strike with the power to make Hyoue perish, but if it doesn’t hit, it is pointless.

“Wah!”

During the period of the attack, a shockwave hit directly at Ren’s head, he suffers from head concussion, and for a few seconds his conscious is blurred.

Ren is completely defenseless in this period of time, it must be very easy to kill him now! But even though there have been several chances like this, but Hyoue never killed him, as Hyoue does not want Ren’s corpse, and he is leisure enough to enjoy this time.

Hyoue who gave up the body of a human, now possesses great power, incomparable to the past.

Of course, Ren still possesses more power than him, but the difference in skill and experience is too great, Ren is being toyed with, and is unable to even use half of his power.

“It is about time you give up? Knowing that you cannot win?”

Hyoue as if torturing him, avoids all the fatal spots, and is undergoing persuasion, losing count of the number of times he tried to persuade Ren, but Ren does not feel afraid.

“I refuse! I promised my brother, I will never give up, I will live on no matter what! I will never obey you, never be used by you, or let you kill anyone else!”

Despite having his whole body cut by wind blades, and with blood all over his body, Ren’s eyes did not lose its shine. That prideful, and majestic look, even Hyoue who has an absolute advantage can’t help but feel wary of it.

“Hmph…… In that case, let me see how stubborn you can be!”

As he threw down this sentence, and is about to unleash more wind blades------

“Woah!?”

Hyoue gives off a weird cry, he stretches out both his arms to hug his body. Below his arms there seems to be something wriggling, Hyoue places more force in his arms, intending to suppress that thing, but the eerie wriggling instead spreads onto his arms.

Hyoue’s body begin to rampage beyond his own will, his muscles contract vigorously, rise up and down, and eventually burst.

This is what happened the instant Hyoue is surrounded by the purifying winds. A great power cuts off all the powers that Hyoue unleashes outside.

Losing the protection of Ryuya, the demonic powers in Hyoue begin to get out of control, Ren did not give up on this opportunity and runs towards him.

“Ki……Kid…… Wahhhhh!”

As Hyoue tries to release more wind, the berserk condition of his body gets worse. In order to suppress his uncontrollable body, he must use all his powers.

Ren did not slow down, but instead moves at full speed to knock into Hyoue, he uses his arms to go behind Hyoue’s knee and forcefully pull it towards himself.

A fantastic tackle is completed, the two of them becomes entangled and falls down onto the floor. Ren hugs Hyoue tightly, and then tells him softly..

“I won’t miss at this distance.”

“You……You fool! Let me go------“

Forgetting the danger of losing control, Hyoue releases wind blades.

But Ren’s actions were even quicker, he continues to hug the weird jumping body, and shouts as if he wants to lose his voice..

”Burn------!!”

A bright golden pillar of fire rises all the way to the sky, the old man who fell within the darkness, before this purifying flame, his body and tainted soul are completely destroyed.

“----------------------------------------------!!”

Even his dying scream is swallowed by the flame.

The black wind goes beyond Ryuya’s control, because of the blue rapid flow, the berserk spirits get separated from their master’s side, and is absorbed within.

“……Even Ryuya’s wind…… is eaten away……?”

Ayano whispers in shock. To use the term “terrifying power”, is not enough to describe the impact, even though there has been a lot of things beyond logic today, this is the most ridiculous of all.

The winds that return the berserk spirits back to normal, and absorb them to increase its power surrounds Ryuya.

Even so, Ryuya is still not eliminated, he squirts out dark and polluted youki to defend against the purifying winds. Even so he cannot completely negate the force, the surface of his body begins to boil and bubble, his body being shredded, though the rate of the shredding is extremely slow.

(This is almost like the final battle of monsters.)

Having this offending thought in mind, Ayano runs out. She is resisting against these two parties despite her being way below their standards, but she is not helpless, she has the power to disrupt the balance between the two parties, and she knows very well her duty.

.------You will finish him off, can you do it------

“I shall show you------!”

Ryuya jumps backwards with a big motion, intending to escape the fast pace------ not to dodge, his movements is obviously much slower.

Ayano chases after him to strike, Ryuya changes the tip of his arms to become blades in response, the solid blades give off a pale glow. [meat color glow is the actual text… meat color?]

“This kind of thing!”

Ayano swings Enraiha down without a care, she knows that this is clearly the last chance, Kazuma has no spare effort, and if it is blocked again------ they are sure to lose.

A crimson glow draws an arc, it is not stopped for even an instant.

The sliced meat blade melts into the azure air, the Enraiha cuts in from the top of the head, and stops at the chest area. She takes a gamble and does not cut Ryuya into two, but instead injects fire spirits from the cut------and ignites.

Ryuya’s body bounced off, the pieces of meat blown off by the flames gets carried away by the wind, and gets swallowed by the azure light in the end, even traces of its existence gets wiped off.

That is Ryuya------ No, the end of the youma whose name is not even known, that startled the Kannagi clan.

The azure winds spread out slowly, the power of purifying weakens as it spreads in all directions, maybe to continue restoring this youki polluted world!

Watching the wind spirits leave, Ayano gets indulged into the scene.

“Darn, just a few pennies for such hard work, I shall never take on any jobs from the Kannagi again.”

But, a line that doesn’t seem to see the mood spoils everything, she turns back angrily, just to see Kazuma lying on the floor with his limbs all spread out.

Ayano walks next to him, but he did not move at all, it appears he is really drained.

(No matter how strong he is, he is only human.)

After all, he almost single-handedly defeated Ryuya, just one or two rude lines, let’s just forgive him! Ayano generously thinks, and thanks him..

“Great work.”

Kazuma does not reply, but just use his nose to make a “hmph”.

Ayano sits down beside Kazuma.

“Hey, Kazuma?”

She does not expect him to reply, Kazuma shows no response, but Ayano still continues to say..

“If it is you, you can win alone, can’t you?”

“I believe it would be difficult to!”

This time, Kazuma finally gives a response, he uses the eyes that regained its black luster to look at Ayano.

“To make a contract with a spirit lord does not mean that I am capable of everything, even if I have unlimited power, there is only a limit to the amount I can control, and that can never exceed the amount a human can handle.”

”Is that so------? Maybe that is the case! Besides, like the amount of time you need to get ready just now, you would have been attacked within that period?”

“------ Yup, that is right.”

Despite him sounding calm, that instant that he shifted his eyes cannot escape Ayano’s notice.

“Kazuma?”

”What?”

This reply is flawless. But------ It is too late.

Ayano sits right onto Kazuma, and reaches her hands to gain a grip on his neck, as if she is about to strangle him anytime.

Kazuma seems to show no resistance, his hand and legs still spread wide, lying on the floor.

“To push a man down, what a flirt you are. The clan chief is going to cry if he sees this?”

.------ Even though that mouth of his is still the same as always.

“Don’t joke around, now answer me. When were you ready?”

With Ayano’s hands gaining strength by the minute, Kazuma replies without a care..

“About the time when you were hit and flew off?”

“Then why didn’t you use your tricks immediately!?”

Ayano’s hands reactively uses all the strength in her body. Even so, Kazuma still talks like nothing is happening..

“You are wrong to blame me, I was doing it for your own good.”

”Which part of it was good!?”

She is on the brink of explosion, if he does not have a logical explanation, she intends to stab him with Enraiha.

“From the looks of it, if it ends with you not being able to even land a hit, you will be a loser for the rest of your life.”

“Argh……”

This line hit right on, Ayano is unable to say a word at that instant. Indeed------ if she only keeps dodging at that period of time, and leave everything to Kazuma, she may never have the courage to fight ever again. For someone who is unable to overcome her fears, for a Jutsushi who can only fight enemies weaker than her, no matter how strong she is, she cannot be trusted.

“I saw that you seem to finally manage to gather up your courage, so I decided to watch from the side for a bit. Your performance was not bad until half way, if he did not escape at the end, you would most probably have won!”

“Huh? That is to say, that skill worked?”

”Nope------ That was completely useless.”

Kazuma says in a very straightforward manner..

“Because you have Enraiha in your hand, so there is completely no need to do such tricks, or use some lousy techniques. If cutting to four pieces doesn’t kill him, then just cut him until he is annihilated.”

“…… Sorry for being that lousy.”

”That is not what you should be sorry for.”

Kazuma ruthlessly continues to mock her..

“You need to practice more on your swordsmanship, currently there is no point in you having the Enraiha.”

”I know……”

”But, that last strike was brilliant. It skillfully uses the characteristic of Enraiha which is both a sword and a spiritual artifact.”

Hearing the sudden praise, Ayano blushes. She is very happy, she knows clearly the flaws in the personality of this man, realizing that she is being played in his hand makes her feel averse, but the throbbing in her chest cannot be stopped.

“You…… You talk like you are so great. Just what do you know about Enraiha?”

She tries to speak some harsh words to cover her shyness, but it obviously has no effect. Kazuma shows a smile that seems to see through it all, and looks at Ayano.

“Ah ah, and one more thing, it is best not to sit on a man dressed like that.”

“……Huh?”

“Even if you are a little girl that has no chest or femininity, other people may misunderstand!”

After Ayano subconsciously lowers her head to see the way she is now------ She is stunned instantly. Unable to withstand the vigorous battle, her uniform has nowhere that is still intact, all turned to shreds. Even her underwear is torn, almost losing its ability to hide her body.

Seeing Kazuma’s eyes that “seems to see through it all”, Ayano’s face is so red that even her ears are bright red.

“Id……Idiot------------!!”

A scream echoes in the inhabited wilderness.

“------Brother!”

Recognizing that the ones approaching him are Kazuma and Ayano, Ren gives a cry of joy and runs off. But his injured and weak body does not allow him to do so.

“Wah……”

A gust of wind gently lifts Ren whose legs crossed each other and is about to fall. The floating body is then transported into Kazuma’s chest.

Kazuma hugs Ren lightly, and caresses his head. Ren hugs his brother tightly without the intention of letting go.

“You did very well, Ren, you have done a great job.”

”Thank you, brother……?”

Their talk stops suddenly, Ren stretches his hand out to Kazuma’s cheek, there is a very clear red handprint on it.

Faced with a silent question, Kazuma smiles and replies..

“Ah ah, just now, after defeating Ryuya, I met an even more vicious enemy. I almost died there.”

After saying that, he looks in the direction of Ayano for a second. Ayano who is covered by Kazuma’s jacket turns around in anger, ignoring him.

“Huh…… This……”

Ren understands some things, but he has the feeling that if he says it out, his life might be in danger. He desperately searches for another topic.

“Ryu……Ryuya has also been defeated? So then everything is finally over!”

He tries his best to show an innocent smile, Ren feels sad at the way he is.

“Yup------ Let us head back! Ayano, is our vehicle still okay?”

“It is burnt.”

Against Ayano who gave an instant reply, Kazuma looks at her “very coldly”.

“It……It wasn’t me! It was blown away by Ryuya’s wind, and when it smashes into the ground it caught on fire.”

Ayano tries to explain, but even so, Kazuma’s eyes are as cold as ever.

Lifting his head to look into the clear moon, Kazuma say only to Ren..

“------Nevermind, taking a stroll in the mountains while looking at the moon is not bad once in a while.”

”If we are not stranded.”

Hearing Kazuma’s words that seem to be avoiding reality, Ayano calmly rebuts.

“Ah ah? Did you say something just now? The root of all evils.”

“What! You were the one who left me, causing all these to happen!”

“…… Both of you, stop arguing.”

Ren uses a tired voice to try to pacify them, but the two of them seems like they did not hear him, and continues to scold each other very energetically.

Looking up at the moon that is like a silver basin, Ren begins to think about the cruelty of life.

Ryuya and Hyoue are both eliminated, the Fuga clan’s ambitions smashed into pieces. Everything was perfectly settled, why must a happy ending still be so far away?

The tongue fight is still continuing, he no longer has any strength to go between them, Ren lies in his brother’s chest, and accepts the intrusion of the sleep demon.

He takes the funny speech between his beloved brother and sister as a lullaby and enjoys it.

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