114 White Mask (1/2)

Abnormality…

‘This seems like a scene out of Fate/Grand Order...’ Seiji coughed dryly.‘I should stop getting sidetracked!’

There was another moment of silence in the student council room.

Seiji finally spoke up again after digesting the information Natsuya had just told him.

”So, there’s no way to solve this?”

Natsuya shook her head.

”Nobody know why these abnormalities... how these unique existences came to be. Everything I just said about the ‘Sea of Karma’ and the ‘Reaper’s Curse’ are actually mere legends, although everybody believes in them.

”Yin Yang Masters can only comprehend their existence and what they can cause. We don’t know where these things originate from, or how to deal with them. Perhaps if it was some type of curse— demons or spirits—then that would be within our realm, but this... has far surpassed that. This is more like... a type of natural phenomenon.”

A natural phenomenon.

It was like the passing of the seasons, or the changing of the weather?

That girl was carrying such a heavy burden!?

Seiji furrowed his brows.

”In the past... something like the ‘Reaper’s Curse’ must have appeared before, right? Then… what happened in the end?”

Natsuya sighed.

”This type of existence is incredibly rare; there are few records about it, so I’m not sure myself...”

Her expression changed as she came to a sudden realization.

”But there is... one legend.”

”What is it?”

”It’s a legend about your ancestor, Seimei Kamijou.” Natsuya looked directly into Seiji’s eyes.

”This Spirit-branded Retainer was later known as Guren. It was one of your ancestor’s 12 highest-ranked Spirit-branded Retainers.”

Seiji was unable to formulate a response to all this.

”According to the legend’s description of that demon, it possessed something similar or equal to the ‘Reaper’s Curse.’ But at the time, people didn’t have a proper understanding of it, and everyone believed it to be a type of curse rather than a natural phenomenon, so its uncertain whether or not it really was the ‘Reaper’s Curse.’” Natsuya blinked.”But even if it was, the only person powerful enough to subdue and coerce it to sign a contract was your ancestor. Nobody else could accomplish such a feat.”

”There has never been anyone else like Seimei Kamijou. Nobody in existence before or after him has ever reached the same height as a Yin Yang Master.”

Seiji sighed.

”So, you’re telling me that the problem cannot be resolved, aren’t you?”

”That’s right. Even though it’s regrettable, nobody will be able to help Shika Kagura...” Natsuya sighed.”Including you, Seiji Haruta.”

Natsuya’s eyes seemed to be trying to tell Seiji something as she said this.

Seiji understood what she meant.

”I got it,” he said in a calm tone of voice.

Just as he told Hoshi earlier, there would always be times when he wasn’t strong enough.

He wasn’t arrogant to the point where he thought he could save everyone.

A while later, Seiji left the student council office.

Natsuya sighed again after she watched him leave.

She could tell Seiji still hadn’t quite given up just yet. However, some things were truly impossible to change, and if you forcefully went against the flow, you would only be...

She shook her head.

She already told him everything she should have. She could only hope that he wouldn’t do anything foolish now.

Besides, it wasn’t a suitable time to be worrying about others.

Natsuya furrowed her brows.

Her own matters... were quite troublesome as well.

Outside the school.

A red-haired girl was standing on the edge of a certain tall building’s roof. Her arms were folded as she surveyed the surroundings.

This person was Hitaka Shuho.

Her pupils were colored gold, and wispy waves of red light floated up into the sky from her body. It seemed as if a long red cloak were trailing behind her, adding to her mysterious and beautiful appearance.

”Hurry up and come out, Snow Girl...” She focused intensely on the area below her as she continuously swept her surroundings with her enhanced vision.

”This time... I’ll definitely capture you!”

...

Seiji found it difficult to concentrate in his remaining afternoon classes.

Should he go back to the park again tonight?

He already learned that he wouldn’t be able to help her. It seemed meaningless to go.

He suddenly noticed that it had started raining outside. He could hear the pitter-patter of raindrops against the window.

‘It’s already started raining now?’

Seiji idly wondered if the rain would continue into the night. That’d make it even more inconvenient to go.

‘It isn’t convenient, and it’s meaningless as well. There’s no point in going... No! There’s meaning to it!’