426 I can accept bleeding a little every day (1/2)
Well, a large-scale battle wasn't likely to erupt immediately, but it would be highly likely as things went on.
”Currently speaking, due to the night of one hundred demons and the appearance of the Awakened, Spiritual Ability users from other places are gathering, and now that Spirit Worlds have appeared, even more Spiritual Ability users will be attracted here…”
”With more Spiritual Ability users gathering here, would things become more chaotic with an increased possibility of violent incidents?”
”That's right.”
Seiji fell silent for a moment.
”But if we try thinking positively, if there's more Spiritual Ability users, doesn't that also mean that there's more people to fight against the demons?” he tried asking.
”…Yes, that's true.”
”By the way, have you all learned anything about the night of one hundred demons or the Awakening phenomena?”
”We still don't know how they originated,” Natsuya replied. ”The demons seem to be appearing out of thin air, the same goes for the Awakened… the only thing I know is that apparently the Awakened all go through an experience similar to entering their own soul realms.”
”Similar to entering their own soul realms?”
”Yes, but it's not one hundred percent confirmed yet. It's not completely impossible for people to enter their own soul realms while asleep, but the chances are incredibly low… at least they were in the past.”
Things might be different now. Those words were left unsaid.
Something flashed in Seiji's eyes.
He wanted to say something else to Natsuya, but decided against it in the end.
After Hoshi finished resting and called him, Seiji headed over to Shouzou Amami's residence, where he met with Hoshi.
Seiji went directly for the main topic at hand after greeting Hoshi.
Hoshi brought out a bright-red leaf and placed it on his left hand's palm.
Seiji cast [Astral Vision] on himself as he watched the leaf giving off a red glow. The leaf suddenly became a red bird that resembled a pigeon who was glowing with a faint red mist.
Hoshi waved his hand, causing the red bird to fly around in a few circles under the ceiling. Then, the bird started landing while heading for Seiji.
Seiji reflexively reached out to catch the bird. However, he didn't feel the sensation of any touch or weight.
”This… is it under your control?” He observed the bird.
”Yes. It feels similar to controlling a video game character, but I can do it with my mind, not a game controller,” Hoshi explained.
”Oh…” Seiji tried petting the bird, but was unable to touch anything. ”Is it only an illusion?”
”No.”
The red bird lowered its head and rubbed against Seiji's arm, giving him a cool, icy sensation.
”Only when I want it to be capable of touching others will it have physical form.”
”I see. How wondrous.”
”It can even change back to its original form… what type of leaf is that?”
”An ordinary leaf from a flower here. It's just stained with my blood.” Hoshi lifted his palm to show Seiji.
Seiji noticed that there was a band-aid on Hoshi's left hand's index finger.
”You have to use your own blood in order to use your Spiritual Ability!?”
”Yes, I have to color a leaf red with my own blood first before being able to use the leaf to activate my ability.” Hoshi smiled. ”This power seems slightly evil, doesn't it?”
Seiji was rendered speechless. ”Although this type of ability using one's own blood is relatively common in anime and manga, it still doesn't exactly seem like a good ability.” Seiji rubbed his chin in contemplation.
”Senpai, do you hate this type of ability?”
”I don't hate it, I just don't think it's a good one, because you have to harm yourself in order to use it.”
”I can accept bleeding a little every day.”
”You intend to use your ability every day!?”
”I intend to create a stock of red leaves so that I can use them whenever I need to.”
”Oh, so you can stock up… By the way, is there an expiration date for the red leaves you create?”
”No. That's what my senses tell me.”
”Then that sounds fine… but is it really alright to make yourself bleed like this every single day?”