668 Kanzaki (2/2)

As long as he could achieve this goal, what did it matter if he worked together with the demon king? As for the other tournament participants… even if all of them died, it wouldn't directly be because of him.

Was this cold-blooded? Indeed.

But, that was something he could do as the weak.

Seiji was no hero. Although he had some powers, he was still only a weakling compared to a powerful Spiritual Ability user like Kanzaki. Seiji could only protect himself and the people around him. He didn't have the powers to protect people he didn't even know.

There was a saying in his previous world called ”Heaven destroys those who do not look out for themselves.” Simplified, it was ”Every man for himself.”

This was actually a deeply meaningful phrase which wasn't as easily understood as telling people to be selfish. Careful consideration was required to understand the deep meanings contained within. However, the surface meaning of this phrase was too easily apparent and misunderstood, which was why this phrase became a classical negative phrase.

Seiji had his own personal understanding of this phrase which was quite difficult to explain. But at any rate, he believed that this was one of the maxims of the world, in both a positive and negative way.

That was why he wouldn't save everyone that he possibly could.

However, this didn't mean that he felt good about it.

”Brother?” Shika noticed that something was off with Seiji. She couldn't help but worry.

Seiji looked towards her.

”I'm sorry, Shika-chan…”

”Eh?”

”Even though I clearly know that continuing here will be incredibly dangerous, I still want to take this risk… I've brought you into danger all so that I can be together with Natsuya. I apologize,” Seiji apologized sincerely.

”Brother Seiji…” Something flashed in Shika's eyes. ”Don't say that…”

”No, I have to apologize. Although you've resolved yourself for battle, I know that things are going to become worse, terribly worse up ahead. Yet, I'm still choosing to remain in the tournament and brave danger. This is unfair to you,” Seiji spoke seriously.

If he was fighting by himself, then it wouldn't matter no matter how recklessly he behaved, as he had save and load. However, he had a partner with him. He absolutely couldn't allow himself to ignore her.

”It doesn't matter, because I'm Brother's Spirit-branded Retainer,” Shika spoke in a gentle voice.

”Thank you.” Seiji was truly grateful.

*Ding-dong~*

At this moment, a sonorous sound of a bell rang out.

Seiji was astonished to suddenly hear this!

This was the sound that he heard in the previous timeline right when his soul was attacked!

However, in this timeline, he already made preliminary negotiations with Kanzaki, the hidden boss, so why…?

*Ding-dong~* The second sound was even clearer.

But instead of his body stiffening and black mist appearing together with undead specters from his past, only a large amount of cluster amaryllis flowers appeared and bloomed.

A hazy gray-white figure appeared, floating on top of the bright flowers. She appeared to be a woman wearing a one-piece dress.

”Please… stop that person… otherwise… everyone will die…” She spoke the same words in broken succession that he heard in the previous timeline.

”Who are you? I already said that I'm incapable of doing it…”

”Yuuzou… Yoshihara…”

Yoshihara… the assassin known as ”Judge”!? Seiji was astonished to hear this.

”Stop Yoshihara from doing what? It's not Kanzaki who will cause the terrible tragedy!? Could it be that Kanzaki is actually Yuuzou Yoshihara!?”

”Please…” The gray-white figure floated over to him and reached out her hands.

Seiji reflexively lifted his hands and held her hands in his own. At this moment, he suddenly felt a fire in his palm as some type of energy was injected into him!

Before he could ask what this was, the gray-white ghost disappeared.

*Ding-dong~* The sound faded into the distance.

The cluster amaryllis flowers disappeared and Seiji heard the sound of the sea wind once again.