456 Allow me to become Brother’s Spirit-branded Retainer (1/2)
Seiji adjusted his posture in midair and landed on the ground. He used his momentum to back off as much as he could and maintain some distance between him and his opponent.
He was injured… he had protected his body with his arms, and as a result his arm was injured.
His sleeve was gone, and both his hands were bloody. Luckily, they were only shallow injuries, and his bones and muscles weren't hurt.
'This level of injury can easily be cured with my [Beginning-level Healing] magic.' Seiji speedily diagnosed himself.
Meanwhile, Shinobu didn't continue attacking him.
She stood still while the mist around her body gradually dissipated.
She didn't take this opportunity to attack him… did that mean that Akatsuki had given a command to only attack him to a certain extent before no longer battling?
”You've met something quite interesting.”
Just as Seiji was still highly on guard and observing the situation, a lazy sounding female voice spoke up in his mind.
”Yomi?”
The typically ”sleeping” female bonded spirit within him suddenly made her presence known.
”A human puppet… how interesting that it's been created in such a fashion.”
”What does that mean? What do you know this time?”
”This puppet will probably transform into a fearsome demon after some time passes.”
”Eh?”
”Although it seems like this puppet has only been recently born, there's an incredibly bad aura around her. If this was intentional by the person who created her, then I feel that her creator must truly be someone quite daring.”
”Please explain yourself more clearly.”
”What I mean is that this child will soon become a dangerous existence. Her first victim will almost certainly be her creator. And, if she devours her creator, that's likely to instantly help her become a terrifyingly powerful demon.”
”What…?” Seiji furrowed his eyebrows. ”Why would that happen?”
”It's difficult for me to explain. At any rate, if you don't wish for her to harm humans, you'll have to either destroy her or seal her as early as possible, or give her a proper education.”
”Education?”
”I believe that you're quite suitable to do such a thing. If you wish to do so, I can assist you.”
Seiji fell silent for a moment.
He decided to ask, ”…What should I do?”
”First, leave a mystical mark on her body.”
Seiji then received information directly in his mind from Yomi. He made a hand seal and uttered an incantation, casting a spell upon Shinobu.
A golden-red spell formation flashed in front of the puppet girl's chest, before instantly disappearing.
Shinobu didn't react at all to this and merely stood still quietly.
”And then?”
”The next part can only be continued when you are asleep.”
”When I'm asleep… just like last time?”
”…Yomi, I'd really like to ask…”
”I said before that I don't like men who ask too many questions, heehee~ Let's chat again when you're asleep.”
And so, the female spirit disappeared on him again.
'She's such a casual and carefree spirit.' Seiji could only inwardly sigh.
Something flashed in his eyes as he observed the puppet girl who stood still, unmoving.
”Our two dear guests, would you like to continue the duel?” the judge spoke up through the speakerphones.
”No… we can end it here,” Seiji answered.
”How are you?”
Natsuya returned to her car after finishing her discussion with Akatsuki, and was concerned to see Seiji's state.
”I'm fine. As you can see, it's just that my sleeve has been destroyed.” Seiji chuckled and indicated as his now bare arms.
After finishing the duel with Shinobu, he went back outside to wait for the end of the negotiations rather than going back inside and seeing Akatsuki's face again.
”Was that guy rather proud of himself?”
”Yes, quite so… your fake act was incredibly successful.” Natsuya smiled.
”Actually, I wasn't faking entirely. That puppet was indeed powerful and I was injured due to my overconfidence, although it was only a light injury.” Seiji paused for a moment. ”How did the negotiations go? Judging by your expression, things went well?”
Natsuya nodded.
”The duel will take place at Genhana High School, our main territory…”
She gave a brief explanation of the advantages she was able to obtain in the negotiation.
”The time of the duel has been set for next Saturday night. I shall prepare as much as I can before then.”
”What do you need me to do?”