Vol 11 Chapter 2 (1/2)

Chapter 2 - Blood of Kusanagi

The story of Takeru's father visiting Orochi was froo

They weren't acquainted Moving away from the Valhalla after war, Orochi who settled himself for life of retirement in the mountains of old japan, didn't expect that he, as excoht style, would be visited by one of the Kusanagi

Orochi knew that after the war, his younger brother had becoi and left very few descendants, but from the conversation he had with Takeru's father, he learned that they were destitute

Except for his son, there was no one with blood of Kusanagi in them Takeru's father sat in seiza in front of Orochi as cutting firewood and spoke of the Kusanagi recent status

I don't care, that was Orochi's conclusion

Even if the dei's bloodline lost, even if the world overfloith the de to do with him If it was about the curse, then Takeru's father should blame their ancestors and onmyouji who tried to seal the demons in humans, Orochi snorted

『”Did ya coot any Or maybe in order not to have the deet a woman and make kids? You must be jokin'”』

Appalled, Orochi cut the fireith abandon using an axe

『”I ain't have any intention of co back now, I couldn't care less about what happens to Kusanagi or the world”』

Orochi passed on being bound by Kusanagi house's traditions, getting involved in the war, or being used by soain

He couldn't forget what he felt when over a hundred years ago he killed Mikoto, nor the peaceful expression she had

Mikoto was sh her soul was already devoured by the effect of the God Hunter forer and yet that

Orochi promised Mikoto

If you can no longer suppress yourself, at that time I'll kill you

When still-young Orochi said so, Mikoto as still a young child laughed happily

——Thank you for fulfilling the promise

On the verge of death, her lips certainly whispered so Making the same smile as when they have promised each other

Orochi saw Mikoto's s at his pal, and sorrow have re rather than a dream

Even though he wasn't interested in any hus other than himself and didn't even re he wants to remember was her smile

That s Orochi The smile he loved so much, precisely because he loved it, had tormented him

Orochi had no choice but to kill Mikoto

But that was the correct choice Even now he didn't regret it As a result, he lost everything and received wounds that wouldn't ever heal

Back then, certainly, Orochi died together with Mikoto

『”Go back I have nothing to do with Kusanagis”』

When Orochi said that Takeru's father prostrated, pressing his head against the ground

Don't be ridiculous When Orochi was about to say that, Takeru's father had said the real reason for his co to meet him

——When I can no longer suppress hter, I want you to kill her

——And please, after that I want to entrust my son to you

Orochi stood up as he heaved a sigh and turned his cloudy pupils towards Takeru's father

『”go back If you don't disappear froht now, I'll cut you down”』

And said so, warning him quietly

He knew the reason as Takeru's father tre violently Not only were he and Orochi on completely different levels when it cas Having va an instructor of Double-Edged style Orochi was already beyond any human

A norer would be petrified and lost their mind with fear

However, Takeru's father still didn't raise his head

He didn't return despite that

——I beg of you it'syou!

Orochi could hear the tears dripping down

If he was a huirls that were born Although it see killed at birth was better The girl would continue to live suffering because of the mismatch between her soul and body, the uncontrollable body of a deirl's spirit would be exhausted, her ego lost, the de living hell and being driven to destroy the world, having the girl's life taken by the father's hands was salvation

Takeru's fatherable to kill his beloved daughter Heable to even shoulder the responsibility

His tears said the entirety of the story

what you should lai

Orochi was sick of it He couldn't sympathize nor mock him Takeru's father was born into family cursed to be burdened with such fate

As a i, what he should do should have ended when he killed Mikoto

He had no intention of shouldering anything else

In the end, Orochi refused the request

Takeru's father continued to prostrate in front of the gate, but a week later in the , he had returned back home dejected

——It was a few years later that Hyakki Yakou went out of control

Orochi went down the mountain and entered a human habitat for the first time in fifty years

So or uneasiness had , but Mikoto appearing in his drea with blood and pointed in a certain direction

That direction was undeniably where the Kusanagi house was

Although he continued to repeat hi to do with hii house

By the tie were enveloped by flames

『””』

Orochi went past the burning house and headed towards the cliff directly behind it Every tirass ith dew in this thicket, Mikoto's tragedy had passed through his head

The bushes opened up, the cliff appeared

And there, a boy on his knees atching over the burning village

This kid i Takeru Since the Inquisition's helicopter was leaving, without a doubt he must have seen the capture of his little sister

Orochi walked up near the boy

And, standing next to hie

The village was in terrible state The Inquisition had suffered a lot of sacrifices in order to exhaust Hyakki Yakou by killing it, and these fla various methods to do so

『”You're Takeru, right?”』

Even as Orochi called out to him, Takeru faced doards and didn't reply

Seeing him face down and tremble, Orochi furrowed his eyebrows

It was obvious what happened

This boy didn't choose anything

No, he couldn't choose

He was unable to kill his little sister, unable to to try killing her and unable to protect her

Orochi could tell at a glance That's what the boy's back said

Therefore, pity nor sympathy wouldn't help this boy in any way

He grasped Takeru's hair and raised hi him to burn the hell in front of them into his eyes

『”——Remember this, Takeru Burn the result of your decision not to choose anything Don't you run away”』

Even though he was unable to see anything, the boy's figure was clear to hih the reverberation of the sound

His tears dried out, his eyes lost their light Not even the flaht

Orochi let go of the boy and pulled out the sword fro it down in front of Takeru

A bundle of the boy's bangs had fallen to the ground

『”There's no way to get rid of Hyakki Yakou curse If Kusanagi bloodline dies out here, the worst disaster's gonna befall the world But, I couldn't care less about it That's why I'll give ya the right to choose”』

『””』

『”Whether it ends here, or continues Don't run and make yer choice, brat”』

The blade turned around in front of the boy

The red flames were reflected by the blade and have shone on the boy who continued to look doards

While still being an erasped the blade with both hands

Blood trickled down the blade, then stained the ground

『”I want to live”』

That ansas contrary to Orochi's expectations

Orochi didn't think the boy would choose to live Just whatwas there to live in despair?

He got a little curious

With his eyes still closed, Orochi crouched on the ground in front of the boy

『”Then I'll let you live But, I'et that”』

Orochi grasped the boy's collar with one hand and just like that, put him on his shoulder to carry

『”——Why do ya want to learn Double-Edged style?”』

Takeru had requested Orochi to teach him swordsmanshi+p a month after Orochi started to take care of him

While gulping down sake froh Takeru had continued to prostrate for seven days for naught, once Orochi was slightly intoxicated he asked out of curiosity

Takeru who continued to bow, raised his head

『”Because I want to beco”』

『”Why do you want to be strong? Do ya knohat kind of swordsed style?”』

『”It's swords down monsters”』

”Wrong It's a sword for killing deis”

As Orochi poured liquor from a bottle, he looked at Takeru

Staring straight at Orochi, Takeru clenched his lips

Theof Orochi's words was probably relayed to hied style is swords your little sister”

Are you going to learn Double-Edged style to kill your little sister? Is what he was asking

『”I”』

Takeru clenched his fists on top of his knees and squinted

『”I I want to learn Double-Edged style in order to protect Kiseki!”』

Orochi hing loudly

『”WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Protect?! Double-Edged style protecting so?! Don't be stupid, Takeru”』

『”Why?! Kusanagi Double-Edged style used to be the strongest swords my little sister isn't!”』

『”The strongest swords hued style was never used in public”』

『”But you're strong, right?! Double-Edged style is strong, right?!”』

Seeing Takeru beg desperately, Orochi smiled bitterly

『”You said you're going to protect your little sister, just ill you protect her from?”』

『”that's”』

『”What's hurtin' your little sister is her body itself Using Double-Edged style to protect your little sister, wouldyour blade towards her It's a contradiction”』

It's adown alcohol

Double-Edged style wasn't sword for protecting nor for killing It was inhu down the inhu that can protect humans

『”Or maybe you'll try to protect your little sister from Inquisition? I'll tell you this, there's no way you can coed style It's true that swords as awith lives on the line”』

『””』

『”To Inquisition who are aruns, sword is no better than scrapher is but a pipe dream Give up”』

When Orochi snorted with his jaw on the ared

As Takeru oozed with anger, wrinkled appeared all over his face

Orochi continued to ridicule him

『”You angry? Don't get angry over anything but sword, don't show your emotions just like family rules say You tryin' to be an adult and shoulderin' Kusanagi's name?”』

『””』

『”If ya consider Kusanagis temperament, from the world's point of view they'd all have bankrupt personality or were psychopathic criminals from the moment of birth da swordsmanshi+p, just live secretly and die secretly somewhere in the damn mountains That'd be best for the world and for you”』

Fueling the fire, Orochi yawned

『”What's with you?! Scrap metal you said?!”』

Takeru clenched his fist strongly enough toon the floor and stood up

『”Don't look down on swordsmanshi+p!!”』

He pulled the sword from its sheath and pointed it at Orochi

Corinned

『”That's more like it Fine, if ye'll ed style”』

『”Bring it on damn old man”』

『”But if ya don't come at me with intent to kill, you'll die Prepare yourself There's no ed style”』

Seeing Takeru intend to do so even without being told that, Orochi laughed merrily

Ten minutes later

Takeru lied down on the ground barely able to breathe

With his body lying in the moist plants, he looked up at the starry sky

As he chased the fireflies with his gaze, Orochi's figure appeared, looking down on him

『”You're so weak, Takeru”』

He couldn't say anything back Taught True-Light style fro He wouldn't lose to any other swordsainst adults As the eldest son of the fah effort to puke blood

Takeru didn't think he could win Just by looking, he knew Orochi was powerful Were Takeru an ant, Orochi would be a dragon That's how much their abilities differed

But he thought he would be able to fight back, just a little

The truth was that he couldn't even see his opponent's blade

『”Both ars broken Ribs almost pulverized Your spine's hurt Left alone, you'll die That's how serious your injuries are”』

『””』

『”This is Double-Edged style Those nued style There's a high probability you'll die before you e is not worth it”』

『””』

『”This is for your own good If you want to live, give it up”』

Orochi sheathed his sword and tried to take care of Takeru's wounds

But seeing Takeru's hand try to hold the broken sword, Orochi stopped his stretched-out hand

Takeru shouldn't have been able to s were broken, his hands lost their strength, he shouldn't have been able to stand up

But see he's unable to hold the sword any ripped the broken sith his teeth

Crawling like a caterpillar he arrived at Orochi's feet and tried to swing the sword byhis neck

Orochi no longer smiled

『”Uuuuuuuuuhnhh”』

He could see tears well up in Takeru's eyes

Still biting on the sword, Takeru spat out words with difficulty

『”Icanonlydothis”』

『””』

『”I broke, my proh”』

『””』

『”I'm herOnii-chan soI promisedI'll definitelysave her”』

『””』

Letting out the sword froround and shed tears

『”I I can't bear bear living like this, doing nothing nhh, if I can't do anything for her there's no reason for me to live!!”』

『””』

『”Beco I can do!!”』

While looking down at Takeru who clung to him, Orochi quietly closed his eyes

Beco I can do

Orochi was the sath alone he left Mikoto and rushed out to the war, seeking strength he even embedded vampire cells in his body

It wasn't for a clear goal He just convinced hiht that any reason other than pure desire to beco is unnecessary, a reason wouldn't er

But now he knew Back then the underlying reason in the back of his head which th,

——Was always Mikoto's smile

Orochi had first noticed that he was trying to becoer in order to protect that smile when he lost it

Looking down on Takeru with his cloudy white eyes, Orochi resolved himself

This kid will beco body and abnormal tenacity were all satisfactory

As well as the endless desire to beco

『”I'm not the type to take disciples, but”』

Orochi scratched his head and heaved a sigh

He took the sword off fro with the sheath, held it out

Then glared at Takeru

『”Very well If yer' going that far——I'll have ya stop bein' human, brat!”』

That's what led to Kusanagi Takeru being taught Double-Edged style by Orochi

There's no need to even speak of how aberrant the hell was that training

Takeru had left Orochi shortly after he learned Soued style

Once he had ed style's initiate, and with that as the starting point he brought up so with Orochi

『”I' to become an Inquisitor”』

Orochi as taking a nap on a haet solared at Takeru

Takeru loudly sed saliva When Orochi opened his eyes, he was usually boiling with anger

『”And what's yer motive for that?”』

『”I've been thinking About what should I do to save my little sister”』

『”If you're going to try to slip into ene her back, you'll just die”』

Facing down, Takeru clenched his fist

『”I'm not that stupid At the very least, I know that's impossible”』

『”Then why on earth yer wantin' to become a damn Inquisitor?”』

To Orochi, Inquisition was enemy They tortured Mikoto endlessly and used her as a tool for war, finally driving her to death

He didn't really resent Inquisition, but as Takeru's o with just ”oh is that so”

Takeru raised his head and stared straight at Orochi

『”I'e the world in order to let my little sister live normally”』

After a strange silence, Orochi's expression broke as if to say ”haa?”

『”all you can do is swordsht?”』

『”Yeah”』

『”You have no other talent, or rather, you're not just incoht?”』

『”Yeah”』

『”And yet you'll change the world with swordsmanshi+p?”』

『”Aren't you an idiot?”』

Orochi seriously made a fool out of him

『”Why?!”』

『”You ain't gonna change the world with a mere sword”』

『”Don't say 'mere sword' I'll use this power to become the Inquisition's top Then I'll make it so my little sister can live a normal life”』

『”Aren't you an idiot?”』

『”Why?!”』

The conversation was going in circles As expected, Orochi was shocked, but Takeru didn't pull out

『”Even if I'm an idiot if I become an Inquisitor I can be beside Kiseki”』

His helpless feelings bled out, he rined expression

For hi he could think of Since Kiseki was captured by Inquisition, he could only involve hi to Kiseki, but as a civilian he won't be allowed to visit her

It was no lie to say right from the start that it was a mere pipe drea an Inquisitor to be together with Kiseki wasn't co

『””』

This kid will struggle as much as he can Did Orochi, who had abandoned front-line when his role had ended and continued to waste tiht to stop him?

Despite the hopeless circumstances, wasn't this kid's actions much better as he tried to move on even if just a little, as compared to Orochi who continued to hide in the mountains in despair?

While soaking in the sunshi+ne filtered through the tree leaves, Orochi heaved a sigh

『”I get where yer' co left for me to teach ya”』

『”Th-then!”』

『”Go wherever you like In exchange, don't coain”』

shoo shoo, Orochi waved his hand, then covering his head with the book he started snoring again

Takeru stood in place for a ht and bowed

『”thank you for taking care of me until now, Master”』

I told you I'ht

As he listened to the footsteps of Takeru as he left, strangely it's not a bad feeling, Orochi thought

Heout from between the leaves

As Takeru's oes to AntiMagic Acadeetsu's attention With a girl of Kusanagi who has the body of Hyakki Yakou and with a boy of Kusanagi who has the soul of a demon there's no way that man won't make his move

Orochi was easily able to iine what kind of fate awaited Takeru

However, i family wouldn't back down no matter what Takeru was no exception, Orochi understood well over the last two years of training just how stubborn he was

He would dash forward no matter as said to him

『””』

Reminded of his old self, Orochi raised his hand towards the sun

Even though he lost his sight, the intensity of the sunlight was relayed to hi sun, in the past he also continued rush while scorching everything around him

But now he only continued to waste time

——Isn't it about time?

As if to grasp the sun, Orochi clenched his fist

『”it begins once again”』

He could feel so frozen-up in the back of his chest start burn up once again

It wasn't too bad to run once again, just like his past self

Orochi thought so while distorting his lips joyfully

He thought of what to do in order to dispel the chagrin

Revenge, retribution, they weren't bad Making the Inquisition his eneetsu wasn't a bad idea either Whether he succeeds or dies, he'll definitely feel refreshed For o eat shi+t

If he's to continue living in vain, he

Orochi irin

However——Orochi knew an even

『”it has been a while, Kusanagi Orochi-san”』

When he raised his head, he felt a nostalgic scent

It was a scent reminiscent of white flowers like jasmine

Even after a hundred and fifty years, there was no way he could forget this scent that was ether with the smell of blood

He got down from the hammock and faced her

Confronting Mother Goose

『”As usual, you sure appear with a”』

『”Yes, I felt I was called by you”』

Told so with the usual lack of expressions, Orochi sht after the war she consulted with him on the topic of contract, but back then he refused

But, if it was now

『”150 years ago we spoke about contractin' with me Is that still valid?”』

With a wicked sained their sparkle towards Mother

””

Takeru woke up along with a headache

The memories about Orochi had appeared in his drea dreas have slowed down

Using an i a lid, he somehow suppressed his brain

Even though he was sleeping, he didn't seem to have rest at all as his brain screamed even louder than before

When he looked at the clock, he saw than an hour has elapsed

”so you woke up We're in htmare”

Next to the bed, Sage leaned with his back against the wall and a familiar woman from the Gods' Embers had bowed and moved away from Takeru

This was a room in the Border's Grey Hotel

After escaping froe and hisCurrently their battered-up bodies were being treated by the members of Gods' Embers

”And the others?”

”Everyone's taking a break in a different room They all had minor injuries”

”I see that's great”

Although he smiled with relief, the tiredness remained on his face

Sage looked towards Takeru as if investigating him

”It's not Your injuries are not just serious If not for the Magical Heritage's support you would definitely be dead It's strange that you're still alive”

”sturdiness is my only merit”

”What I'e to your body, but the dae to your brain”

Then Sage squinted sharply

”your brain is in abnormal state Nor ic it's impossible to raise your brain operation rate so ?”

”Swords huh Well, it's fine as long as I don't use it continuously Right now I've abused it a little”

”At this rate you're going to die You can't fool my eyes”