407 Barriers (1/2)

The faction named Soul World caused Seiji to recall the antagonist faction in the Thunderbolt puppet show from his previous world.

The Thunderbolt puppet show was a series of puppet shows that all had the word ”Thunderbolt” in its name. Puppet shows, as per the name, were performances held by manipulating puppet marionettes.

The Thunderbolt puppet show series was a miracle amongst all puppet shows back in his previous world! Not only did it successfully have a television drama made about it that spanned over two thousand episodes, there was even a movie.

The puppet show made use of modern technology and computer CGI to improve itself, which helped improve its effects much better than what could be done with only traditional methods. However, what people paid attention to the most was still its outstanding plot.

Apart from traditional wuxia, the series also had mystical and science fiction elements, with demons, monsters, vampires from western culture, robots, biologically engineered humans, and other such characters. There were space and time dimensional battles that took place in the past as well as dimensional traveling to other worlds for battles in different dimensions… it was a series that kept up with the times, just like an anime or a manga would!

Seiji understood all this because a famous scriptwriter for depressing stories who was also known as a ”Warrior of Love” had written the script for one of this puppet show's scripts. And, this puppet show had a movie produced and directed by the same Thunderbolt puppet show company.

At the time that he learned all this, he felt that it was truly eye-opening. If it wasn't for the fact that he found it difficult to accept the drawing style for the puppet show's media, he might even have become a fan.

Cough, he had gotten sidetracked.

At any rate, there was a gigantic antagonist faction in the Thunderbolt puppet show series named Soul World as well, which was why he'd thought about it. As for this world, did the name ”Soul World” have some particular meaning for the mystical society?

”It does,” Natsuya told him. ”The legends about a 'Soul World' refer to a special dimension that exists in the nether world, where countless ghosts and demon spirits that want to return to life in our world will gather along other demons and spirits that want to come to come to our world to spread harm and chaos. They'll constantly crash against the barriers between the nether world and our world. However, the barrier will absorb their power and automatically repair itself, so their actions only harm themselves, and are considered meaningless.”

Seiji rubbed his chin in contemplation.

”If they're naming themselves after such a location, does that hint at their goal being to have demons and spirits fill our world?”

As for what the organization's name really meant, only the organization's members would know. There was no point in being too concerned about it for now. Seiji understood.

But, the night of one hundred demons was already going on, and on top of that, having learned the meaning behind this faction's name… Seiji was feeling a faintly ominous premonition.

”I'd like to be able to protect my friends that are just ordinary people. Is there some good method to do this?”

”How many do you want to protect?” Natsuya looked towards him.

”About ten or so.”

”They wouldn't happen to all be girls, would they?”

”No… there are boys as well.”

”How many are boys?”

”…Two.”

Natsuya didn't respond for a long while to this.

Seiji felt like it was rather painful being stared at by her.

”If you want to protect ordinary people, you can set up magic barriers around them,” Natsuya told him after staring at him for several seconds. ”You can have barrier spells cast around their persons or place barriers where they live.”

”Barriers… the ones I know now are only capable of protecting myself.” Seiji sighed. ”I wonder if Shika-chan is able to cast barrier spells…”

Shika knew how to use basic barrier spells, but he was unsure whether she was capable of casting long-lasting maintainable barrier spells that were strong enough to defend against demons and spirits. He would have to ask her later.

”You can also hire a Spiritual Ability user to cast barrier spells on the people important to you.”

”How much would the price be for that?”

”I'm not sure myself… It's probably influenced by several factors such as whether the barrier spell is for a person or a location, as well as the strength of the barrier and size of the barrier, so the price will likely fluctuate greatly.”

”Please introduce someone who can cast such barrier spells to me.”

”I think that it's better if you ask Houjou-san rather than me. She's more knowledgeable than I am in this area.”

Seiji nodded.

”I have to leave now as I still have other things I must do,” Natsuya told him. ”If anything else happens, contact me.”

”Yeah… I'm grateful to you, Natsuya.”

The two of them left the study.

Something flashed in Kaede's eyes as she stood up when she saw that Natsuya Yoruhana was preparing to leave.

”President Yoruhana, may I discuss something with you?”

”Hmm?” Natsuya looked towards the blonde teacher. ”Is there something the matter? Juumonji-sensei.”

”Yes, it's about the Juumonji Group…” Kaede walked closer to her and began whispering. ”Last night, someone in our group was attacked by a demon, and was seriously injured… We're all quite worried because we don't know if something similar will happen again tonight…”

”You should discuss this problem of yours with Seiji as he'll know how to deal with it,” Natsuya told her. ”I have something urgent to take care of, so I don't have the time right now. Please forgive me.”

”Ah… I'm sorry for bothering you.”

”Please don't say that, I should be the one apologizing for being unable to help out… Goodbye.”

The student council president left.