Vol 3 Chapter 5 (2/2)
That's what he decided On that day, five years before -
Ojou-samaif it's youcertainly
The last ht back that moment
Gachin!
That kiss tasted like blood
The grand vigor made their teeth clash and the lips in-between cut The crash and pain made them see sparks
”Hyaaa”
He was trying to complain but the stiff lips couldn't successfully pronounce it When holding his hand to his lips, his palm became ith a lukewarm liquid
While quipping the blood from his soiled clothes with a handkerchief he overlooked the small attacker
That side dee down and
Trying to get rid of his clumsy voice, Yuuji talked with caution
”What are you trying to do so suddenly, Ojou-sama?”
Thereupon, Mayumi boldly stood up and stared at Yuuji with eyes wet from tears
”That was my first kiss Take responsibility”
”Wha”
That was absurd That was excessively pushy But the bewildered Yuuji was relentlessly driven into a corner by Mayumi
”What's this, this is not manly at all If you say such mushy words I'll tell Father Yuuji forcibly kissed me”
”Ha - have mercy!”
Rehter, the muscles on Yuuji's back tre, there is no doubt about it, he would get the capital punishment
”It's not likeme to do?”
”Stay close to me”
At Yuuji's distracted shout, Mayuly quiet voice
”eh?”
”Always stay close toelse and look only at me”
That was a strange way of talking Considering only her words, they see but her tone had no particle of sweetness
They were like the urgent words of a seriously ill person that held its last wish on death's door
Yuuji turned a pained expression upon Mayumi
”Did you find out?”
”That this year thirty years will have past?”
Mayumi answered the question with another question But the question itself became a clear response to Yuuji's
From the last cereh calmed down at the moment could activate at any moment In a not too far future, the ceremony will invariably take place And just like before the Chijutsushi+'s life will be sacrificed
”Do you knohat the Head is trying to do?”
”It's impossible”, Mayumi answered bluntly
I would rather not harbor such half hearted hopes - from her tone the murmur of her true heart could be heard
”It's so that was never possible before It's almost certainly impossible now Someday I will loose ht?”
”Ojou-sama”
”It doesn't mean I don't want to After all, that is our mission This is e exist for However”
Co fro out
”But it's still frightening! It's not like I' away Why does it have to be me? Why do I have to die no matter what? WHY?”
”O- Ojou-sama”
Taking a sidelong glance at the nervous Yuuji, troubled because of it, Mayu off her tears she said in a broken tone
”I feel so refreshed after letting it out”
”eh?”
”After all, I wished for someone I can be with this way I cannot entrust it to a loose-tongued servant, nor can I worry my father even more”
”because of that, it was me?”
Mayumi nodded at Yuuji's disappointed tone
”That's right I picked you For the years until I die, I will be given your life Look only at ave your remuneration, so you don't have a say in this”
”is the remuneration the earlier head butt?”
”A kiss, it's a kiss!”
Mayumi answered back very seriously
”The sacrifice of ain That wasextrerateful!”
””
Yuuji didn't answer
From his standpoint he couldn't refuse but an alirl kissed him would be problematic from another point of view
Mayuradually beca hard at him with upturned eyes, she said in a sulky tone
”It's not that long a period No matter how much Father will delay it, it's at the most five or six years If it's only that much selfishness, can't you put up with it?”
””
With a sigh, Yuuji accepted the girl's persuasion
It can't be helped It's also the responsibility of adults to listen to children's whim In the near future, Mayumi will become the sacrifice and she is certainly a pitiful child
”I understand It's fine if I becoht?”
That was a very irresponsible response but even so Mayu
”Yes, that's right! You will listen to everything I say! And, if I ever try to run away - ”
Hearing that unpardonable speech, Yuuji's alertness strengthened If she were to say <let's run=”” away=”” together!=””>>, by noa child's self-indulgence with the fate of the fa
But Mayumi said so:
”If it comes to that, you have to catch me no matter what Don't you ever let me escape”
”!!”
Yuuji stared hard at Mayu his breath He backed off, pressed down in front of those direct eyes that didn't have a particle of a child's dependance
Arriving at this
Mayuer Accepting the family's real responsibility, she searched for someone who could support her weak self that could be crushed at any moment
Feeling ashanorance, Yuuji knelt in a formal posture
”Mayumi-sama, from this day on I offer you all of my loyalty”
”Thank you It will be relied on”
Mayumi too, accepted it in a cereed
”Hey, Yuuji”
”what?”
With a smile meant to tease Yuuji's upturned face, Mayumi whispered
”If it turns out I don't have to become a sacrifice - at that time let's continue that kiss, shall we?”
At Mayue, Yuuji replied s
”Yes - With pleasure”
In the five years that followed, Mayumi didn't speak of that day once By any chance, perhaps she forgot Perhaps that was athat suddenly came into a child's mind
But even so that was the day Yuuji decided Even if it's all the fa at the peak of it, he dedicates all his loyalty to Mayumi only
Whether it is the relationshi+p between a man and a woe of a knight to protect the noble lady or if it was soether, Yuuji didn't think about the nature of their relationshi+p, not even once Because such things didn't matter
There was only one valuable thing To protect Mayumi and Mayumi only Only that decision, sacred above all else
No matter what he has to throay, even if he were to sacrifice all else
I will definitely protect you!!
Due to the influx of power, both his heart and body changed But that most important emotion could never disappear from inside him
No matter who tried to, only that couldn't be snatched away
Part 3
The ground was violently ru Even if it's Ayano or Ren, unrelated to the Spirits of the earth, they understood the show of high density power, the activation of the earth pulse to the extent of seeing its radiation
”Wait a secondthis is”
Seeing the endlessly congregation of enor at one point, Ayano's face became stiff
”Ren! Without delay - ”
”I told you that's no good!”
While answering in that manner, Ren's complexion was bad nevertheless
At the bottom of the crater shrouded in dust, a power like that of a volcano on the verge of erupting was coether The focal point of it it's probably Yuuji
However -
Can he control this kind of power?
The aggregate a power clearly reached tenfold of Yuuji's original strength It doesn't seem he can control it very well
He took a defensive stance against a probable spontaneous discharge but no matter how much tiround's vibration and the influx of power are in the process of being stilled
” Which means”
Ti like a screen vanished in an instant At once the field of vision cleared and the bottom of the crater became visible
”uaaa!”
He let out an excla there
It's surface was thoroughly covered in hard stone Or perhaps it was made of stone to the core
Its hands and legs, its head, the basic coular Its extreer than its head
Although rese, that silhouette had delicate deviations from the human for in an anime would be closest
”it feels like soht?”
While throwing a sidelong glance at the dumbfounded Ren, who murmured so, Ayano asked for confirmation
”Do you still want to go at it alone?”
Ren nodded with no hesitation
”Well, I'll see how far I can go If it becoerous please save me, OK?”
Ayano responded at Ren's joke-like smile, deadly serious
”That's what I was planning to do butdo try not to instantly die”
”I'll be careful”
While overlooking the rock giant standing in the crater, Ren thought so
That must be Yuuji's former self butdid it retain any consciousness?
The answer appeared instantly The giant that up until now stood still, started toits body
Holding his hand before its face, gripping his fist and relaxing it Doing it all over again with the other hand, lowering his gaze and inspecting his body and feet
And then circling his head, it made a complete rotation He carefully observes his back
”I see”
Froh somewhat lowered and cracked, that was definitely Yuuji's voice
”Is thispower?”
The facewhy, Ren clearly understood that
The rock giant - Yuuji lifted his head and seized Ren And then he said:
”Are you laughing at me, reduced to this appearance, brat?”
””
”But I don't regret it If this will protect Ojou-saraded to a monster This is my resolution! Do you think you can break it!?”
””
Ren didn't say a word For the sake of that one i back at the fact that he himself would become a victim, he had no choice but be overwhelmed by that sort of firm determination
But although he was speechless, so
Is <to protect=””>> so like that? Is it i it all, without throwing everything else away?
So far, Ren wasprotected Protected by Kazu protected
This unco he didn't feel from them, he felt it now from Yuuji Especially Kazue of ine it
Is it because he's strong? No It's not just that Between thisat a fundamental level is different
He had the feeling he understood so>> that could break this state of affair, already reaching it's limit
And that was -
”Let's go!”
But, the answer he finally grasped, ashed away in a torrent of earth and sand Sensing a terrific force, Ren released the flame with all its power
”Kuuuu!”
The backlash that als He was being pressed down
Experiencing for the first ti his powers, Ren felt horror
Thehis power even more, Ayano's voice shouted in his ears
”Behind you!”
”!!”
Reflexively, Ren jumped forward Simultaneously he expended a flah even that barrier the rock fist hit Ren's back
Chasing Ren, that flew like a shell, the rocky build was changed into a hurricane Catching up with Ren flying in the air in the twinkling of an eye, the giant's leg that wasn't by no ht overhead
”Kuuuu”
The only thing that Ren could do in the space between Yuuji's leg and his own body was to interpose a small fireball
The detonation of the fireball slightly decreased the kick's power, but Ren's body soared even higher in the sky
”Guuuhaaa”
Even higher than his body, his consciousness that flew beyond the clouds was restored by the wave round's ominous howl could be heard
So
This is badif I don't counter-attack it
Although thinking that, histhe Juutsu At his wits end, he had no choice but to wait for the fatal attack
But -
”Gobaah!”
The one bleas Yuuji A sharpened wind blade cut through the rock on both his aronally slashed deeply in torso, from the shoulder doards
”eh? Wh - what”
At the excessively convenient development, for a second Ren's brain failed to understand Continuing to fall down in a daze, he doesn't notice the earth is rapidly closing
But a soft wind stopped Ren gently A strong ar it
The sensation of that ar very fa to look at his face, he understood
”You guys, what are you doing at this place?”
A co of tension whatsoever A presence always firm There is no mistake And yet, fearful of the one in a million chance, Ren nervously looked up to the man's face
The usual cynical sht there
”Onii-sama!”
”Yo First of all, it's good you're alive Don't be so reckless”
With the usual ami Kazuma smiled
”So, what are you guys doing?”
Once again, Kazu near with a changed expression
”Kazumaaaaaaaa!!”
”Hey, what's up? You seery for some reason”
”That's because I a to hit him
”Where have you been until now? You don't even answer your phone!”
”Where you ask, because of my job I was here all this time Now that you say it, I did close my phone”
He took the phone fro and the answering machine were buried with phones from Ayano
”Youthis is quite a breach of manners”
”Then answer it already! Leaving that aside, whose job is it?”
”This things”
Kazuma pointed at a place on his left, obliquely upwards Following the line of that finger Ayano recognized it for the first time
”Long time no see!”
A se tur created Ayano instantly flipped out
”Ahhh! Yooouuuuu!”
”Kyaaa - so scary Help me Kazuma ♥”
As expected Tiana hid behind Kazurabbed her body and carelessly flung her aside
”I don't reuard”
”Eh! Such a thing -If I die the compensation will”
”You're not the one ill pay the compensation I will claim it directly from the fairy's patriarch”
”Auuuuusuch a thingUhyaaa!?”
Tiana barelyfro over her shoulder, she saw Ayano, Enraiha set up, ai at her Her eyes were serious
”Don't you move, you evil fairy!”
”Kyaaa!”
The pair that started playing tag was strangely watched by Kazuma and Ren
”She's so easy-going, really”
”ErrrOnii-sama, that is”
”Ah, you were fortunate enough not to see it before That's called a Pixie, a sinful living thing whose tiny body is loaded with cunning If you get involved with it you will meet misfortune like a certain idiot, so be careful”
Kazuma's irresponsible explanation raised voices of protest full of anger Two, to be exact
”What are you saying!”
'”What are you saying!”'
At the coht, Ren unintentionally sniggered Controlling both of the to complain about it, Kazuma pointed forward
”Well, the co is still alive”
There, a Yuuji turned to stone tu to move but it seems he wasn't dead yet The evidence for it were both his cut off aronal slash was rapidly being closed Ayano snorted her nose in dissatisfaction
”Why did you fail killing hi easy on him?”
”It was unexpectedly tough But that's not particularly troublesome”
Kazued his shoulders and molded a wind blade that will certainly kill him this time
”Please wait I am that person's opponent”
”You are? By yourself?”
Ren nodded twice
For a short while Kazu pushed back by Ren's determined face, he accepted that proposal
Letting Ren down from his arms, Kazuma informed him shortly
”Do your best”
”Yes!”
Ren vigorously replied and started walking towards Yuuji, whose body was still creaking, but after advancing a few steps he looked over his shoulder
”Can I ask you so?”
”Say it”, Kazuma coolly nodded
”Onii-sa me?”
”No”
”Why is that?”
”Because my life issomeone with it is unthinkable”
Without a speck of hesitation, Kazuma declared so
”Beside, if I were to die while protecting you, that would be boring Everyone ht as well become happy”
””
After a few seconds of silence, Ren nodded expressing a really gentle smile
”That's right That's so right”
”I know right?”
”Yes! I'll be going now”
”All right”
Kazuaze on Ayano standing beside him
”What?”
Looking at Kazu, Ayano asked with an even stronger doubtful look
”No way - have you heard it all since the beginning?”
”What exactly?”
””
Of course, she understood that couldn't possibly be true No er
Clearly Kazu, and despite that, it see and with led Ren's bewilderment
The reatness of this man's capacity are always like this In spite of his usual devil-may-care attitude, when it's important he's more reliable that anyone else
If he were normally like this I
She suddenly realized that Kazuaze full of wonder, as if seeing a new species
While she herself was agitated to this extent, Kazu that difference really irritating Ayano turned away in annoyance
”How shi+tty”
Part 4
”I thought so eird - ”
In response to the tsunami-like torrent of earth and sand that closed it, Ren used a high-density barrier that will protect only his circumference
”I thought so eird - ”
The earth spears that tried to grow alht back-steps Just as he thought Even if his brute strength was in a different league, his aim was off He didn't control the vast power newly obtained If he were to use that gap, this was an opponent he could defeat
”The unco I couldn't put into words What was theto beco away your own self is not kindness Your words are only trying to justify your oeakness!”
”What!”
The stone face arped in anger The angry roar changed to shock wave, the ground and the atmosphere trembled
”You're saying this is weakness in front ofable to decide what you should do, a brat whose only loitering around!?”
”If so, what are you doing? Do you think Mayuly shape?”, Ren vehemently retorted
”To protect someone is not to let them live It is to not make them sad It's to make them happy! Only for them to live, that's pointless!”
Let's all become happy - as a matter of course, Kazuma said so
That's right, it was soly mundane - because it was the most valuable, he made efforts to protect it
”Is Mayu as you beco the only one to survive? If that's not true, if your existence has even a bit of value to her, than you can't die! You can't let her be burdened with your life!”
”Th- that's only ashi+ng prattle!”, Yuuji shouted entrusting it to anger but -
”A et in my way!”, Ren retorted on the spot
”<there is=”” no=”” other=”” method=”” so=”” it=”” can't=”” be=”” helped=””>> After all, that's what you are trying to say Because there's no way out without a sacrifice I' afraid to becoth But - even so, I'm not OK with that!”
Right now, Ren is perfectly overpowering Yuuji The Ren who embraces his ideal persistently and Yuuji who lost to reality trying to reach his goal to the utement on which one is correct we leave it to the individual but, as far as eoes, Ren's side has more force
”I - I won't let anyone beco, I will protect everything - and then I will save Ayumi-chan!”
No matter how you look at it, the reckless discourse that doesn't seem at all practical but for some reason Yuuji felt like he lost the mental battle
”Ohh - ”
While viewing the battle between those those eyes becaely subdued, Kazuma quietly clapped his hands And then, turned his attention on Ayano
”So, Ayano - ”
”What?”
”I dehting the rock doll at this kind of place and it's forcing the grassy-s=””>> on it?”
”Rock doll you saythat's kind of a human”
Kazuma unnaturally forced his eyes wide
”That thing? That's an excellent shark skin you can see right there Please teach him at least some skin care tricks”
””
Seeing Kazu too reatly perplexed
”how should I say this, you're very good at spoiling such a serious atmosphere?”
”Flattery won't get you anywhere ♬”
”I' you!”
The retort at full poas obviously ignored by Kazu innocent in front of the previous conversation, he asked a second time
” - so? ♬”
”to put it siirl ill become the sacrifice And now, he apparently decided he wants to save her”
Ayano roughly explained all that happened until now
”He?”
Without thinking deeply enough Kazued
”Which- ”
”He knows”
Ayano coldly controlled Kazuma's words
”Both me and Ren, we know it all”
”Is that so?”
”That's right That's why don't you ever say that thing At least not in front of the kid”
””
Kazuma didn't reply
A heavy silence was flowing
The rock asked
”Do you understand what are you saying?”
”I think so”, the boy replied
”Do you think you can do it?”
”I have no choice but to do it”
The rock was silent The boy too, had nothing more to say
No, just one
”Please move aside”, he told him quietly
”I already lost ht with you anymore Leave the rest to me”
”That's impossible”, Yuuji coldly declared
”The reason to fight didn't change To protect Ojou-sama I will kill you No, I will kill all of you That is my responsibility”
”Why - ”
”You're noisy”
Ren understood it was e Yuuji's will For the sake of going forward he has no choice but to bring him down
Resolving hied his stance Yuuji too, polished his power for the sake of his strongest attack
”If you are serious, defeat the likes of me with one blow If you can't do it, it htless words”
Ren was quiet He was concentrating on the enemy in front of him
He h To make his ideal reality, he need a superior power from the one until now
Power - I want power
At the saoal was the same, to reach a conclusion ordinary methods were mutually exclusive
”!!”
”Oooaaaaaaa!!”
There was no need for a signal As ifit, both of the sea of earth and sand covered the field of vision That was an overwhel mass The most steady
> of this world
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