Itsuka Tenma no Kuro Usagi:Volume 1 Chapter 3

Chapter 3 - Gekkou's Lightning

Two hours later.

At the school where the gates were already closed, and neither the students nor teachers, nor anyone else were present.

"Kiss me!"

A girl said.

However, without looking up from the book he was reading,

"Shut up."

Gekkou muttered.

With jet black hair at the stand up collar of his school uniform. His rational black eyes in which a quiet light was embedded were merely cruising along the words in the book in his hands.

The girl further went on to say.

"Huh? Shut up? What do you mean by 'shut up'?"

However, in response to that.

"............"

Without a single word, Gekkou ignored her.

"Wa, wait! Are you listening to me!?"

"............"

"Quickly kiss me!"

"............"

"I'm telling you to kiss me!"

"............"

"Uhn nowwwww! Quuiicckkllyyyyy! Quick quickk! Otherwise I'm going to die! If you don't kiss me, I will die!"

At the excessively noisy annoyance, Gekkou finally looked up.

Fed-up, he looked in front of him.

The place where a girl was hollering, kiss me, kiss me, was a suspicious --- no; it was just a usual, ordinary student council room in an ordinary school.

Miyasaka High's central premises, in the corner of the fifth floor, the student council room.

Containing a somewhat untidy document shelf, a whiteboard, an long oblong meeting desk, and such. And at one end of that meeting desk, in the seat of the student council president, Gekkou calmly sat.

He had just entered this high school two months ago. After graduating from junior high, on debuting at the high school at an ignorant age of sixteen, how did he end up as the student council president? Regarding that, let's ignore it for now. For a certain Miyasaka High which was strange in various ways, such a thing was not that unusual.

Now, more importantly than that,

"Kiss me please."

He seemed about to turn his face to that heartrending, cornered voice of a girl,

"...... hn."

But, it seemed like the contents in the book that he was reading were about to become interesting, for now, he took a sip of the red tea placed in front of him, and once again let his sight fall onto the pages ---

"Huh, why are you ignoring meeeeeeeee!?"

Once again, a loud voice rang out.

"Now, Gekkou! Didn't I tell you to quickly kiss me! I'm dying, you know! I'm really dying, you know ~!"

A girl causing an uproar in the student council room. This time round, he really turned to face that voice.

Following his sight along the direction of the meeting desk.

A single girl ---

"Argghhhhhhhhh, I can't take it, I'm dying, I'm going to die, I'm seriously dyingggggggggggggg!?"

She hollered.

A short, young girl. With a well featured face with a slight hint of childishness, gentle looking eyes, and a long ponytail.

However, those lovely calm eyes, were now colored with anger, and were fixing a glare onto Gekkou.

Andou Mirai --- that is her name.

In a navy blue pleated skirt and sailor uniform, a high school girl with nothing unusual. No matter how you look at it, she's just a normal, regular, somewhat short, high school girl.

However.

The girl called Mirai who was now before Gekkou's eyes, was not just any high school girl,

"I'm dyinggggggggggggggg, seriously dyinggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg!?"

She was a somewhat strange girl.

For some reason, with both her hands, she was now pushing against the wall of the student council room. Frantically pushing against it. Even if one looks at that figure from the side, it would be an incomprehensible scene. Her cute face which looked strained only increased the bizarreness by five times.

But despite that, even as she was saying I'm dying, I'm dying, she continued to push against the wall desperately. And then, with both her hands continuing to press against the wall, she turned her face towards Gekkou, and with a face on the verge of crying,

"Nowww Gekkou, I'm begging you, so kiss me please. If not, I'll...... I'll...... really die, you know?"

Saying that, she continued badgering for a kiss.

With tearful eyes on her bishoujo's well featured face. Because of her short stature, more than usual, she resembled a child and won't kissing her feel somewhat like a crime? Even if one feels guilty of a crime, so as to speak, for a bishoujo of her level to ask for a kiss, there probably isn't any man who would be able to refuse that kind of invitation.

That's why Gekkou replied.

To her invitation.

To her invitation to kiss her, he replied in earnest.

He looked at her intently with a serious gaze, and with one line.

Gekkou said.

"...... shut up, small fry."

Instantly, Mirai's face froze. She froze at the unexpected answer.

Following that immediately, her face turned red with anger,

"Who, who are you calling small fryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!?"

"You."

"I'm no small fryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!?"

"Haha. Howling just like a weakling dog."

"Thissssss...... this, this guy...... really......"

But, Mirai's words stopped there. All of a sudden, her face contorted in pain,

"Ah, this is bad......"

Her whole body shivered.

As if she was exhibiting some kind of withdrawal symptoms, beads of sweat formed on her entire body.

"Uwah...... Ge, Gekkou...... I'm begging you...... please don't torment me any more than this...... I really can't take it any more than this......"

"............"

"So...... I'm begging you, so....... kiss......"

She said with a face that was on the verge of crying. She said with a face that appeared to be in misery.

Kiss me.

She had said in the student council room where only the two of them were present, during the hours after school.

Kiss me please.

She had said while pressing her hands in desperation against the wall.

That was really something incomprehensible.

Of course, even if the reason was not clear, it was still possible to kiss her. She's a bishoujo, and to kiss that bishoujo in the first trimester of the freshman year. If that were to happen, what would follow would be a rose-colored summer vacation, a development which could possibly unfold.

But.

"............"

That kind of story would never happen.

Gekkou knew that.

That kind of plot would never unfold.

Gekkou knew that.

That's why he stood up. Then he snapped close the book that he was reading and placed it beside the red tea. And with a cold pair of eyes, he looked in the direction of Mirai.

He faced the high school girl who was pressing her hands against the wall, and had been making a face that was on the verge of crying while she pleaded for him to kiss her, and who now looked like an uncertain lump of mass.

And then he said.

"Do you want me to save you?"

"Yes."

Mirai gave two sharp nods in response.

"Quickly kiss me!"

She forced the words out.

On hearing that, Gekkou,

"............"

Exasperation born from the depths of his heart appearing on his face, he said.

"...... this is really the worst plot. A shitty plot."

After saying that, he looked at the cover sheet of the bundle of documents currently placed on the desk before his eyes.

It was a copy of the directive documents that were just created secretly by this school from a collection of various intelligence.

Rather.

"............"

It was the organization that was behind the school.

This ordinary looking Miyasaka High in this provincial city, which appeared to be nothing unusual from outside, was a front for a military organization that was conducting ongoing, worthless experiments; it was this organization that had created these directive documents assembled from various intelligence, and it was a copy of these documents that lay before his eyes.

He looked at the cover of these documents.

With piercing eyes, Gekkou looked at the cover of these documents.

This was what was writtten there.

<< VampireMost Ancient Sorcerer >> Saitohimea.

<< S-a-c-r-i-f-i-c-e >> Kurogane Taito.

And Regarding Kurenai Gekkou.

Looking at that.

Looking at that cover of the documents,

"...... jeez. Why did my name appear in the military's investigation documents at this kind of timing?"

Gekkou said in a groaning tone.

Even though he didn't want to stand out if possible at all. Even though he didn't want to stand out before things happen. However, this shitty plot didn't seem to be advancing in that direction. Thinking about that,

"............"

Gekkou scowled.

And then he looked at that girl who had been clamoring, kiss me, kiss me, and who was now pressing her hands against the wall.

Looking at her figure.

Following that,

"............"

His thoughts stirred.

From within his memories.

From an old scene.

The story of how everything had begun started reeling in. The start of something in which he had expected himself to get involved with several troublesome matters, but somehow things just didn't go the way he had thought it would,

"The start of this shitty story......"

As he muttered, he recalled everything.

It was a story that had happened just before the point where he first met Mirai.

No, on that day.

On that day, Mirai, so as to speak ---

It was a story that had happened just before the point where he first met that, which was, from head to toe, an enigmatic monster, Mirai.

♦ ♦ ♦

I think let's first go back right to the true start of the story.

Of course, with my memory in fragments, to be able to remember everything precisely is quite a tall order. But still, I don't think I will ever be able to forget the memory regarding that day. The day where everything took a hundred and eighty degree turn.

That day started like any other.

I woke up in the morning, went to elementary school, attended classes, passed the day without talking to anyone, and then came home.

I didn't have a single friend, and that's how my day repeats itself everyday.

Not having a common topic with anyone, not having a common view with anyone, and not sharing a common perspective of this world with anyone.

"A true genius will be in isolation in the end."

I just happened to see that documented in some book, though I think it's probably true.

I was born a genius.

Ever since I was born, I have held a view of the world differing from others. I realized that around the age of four. After realizing that, my heart was filled with an immense amount of loneliness.

I couldn't connect with anyone else.

Be it with friends or parents, I don't feel like talking to anyone else.

I could only see everything as foolish. I could only see everyone as a fool.

All this while, the world was shrouded in a shades of gray.

That's why the only time when the void in my heart could be filled, when I could have a conversation, was the time when I talked to my younger twin brother. The only time when I was with my little brother, Kurenai Hinata.

Since we are identical twins, we really look the same. Black hair, black eyes, the same height, the inside of our heads, and even the loneliness we bore as well.

The two of us, having seen too much of the world at an early age, were in return isolated from the world, and could only shake in loneliness. That's this world only consisted of myself and my little brother. We have to live our lives depending only on each other.

But that was what I thought.

Gekkou and Hinata.

Night and day.

We would end up becoming broken if we didn't stay with each other, that was what I believed.

But --- that was a big misunderstanding.

A misunderstanding by the foolish me.

My little brother was more of a genius than me.

He carried a much deeper despair than me.

That's why on that day.

What must happen had happened.

What had happened made me realize that I'm in truth a fool who had mistakenly thought that he could see everything.

That day. A day that had started like any other day.

I woke up in the morning, went to school, attended classes, passed the day without talking to anyone, and then came home and saw ---

My parents were killed.

In the living room just to the right of the door.

Two strange looking monsters, which at the time I knew not what they were, were devouring my dad and mom.

"........."

On seeing that, not a single sound came from me. No, before my very eyes, I couldn't understand what had happened. Because it shouldn't have been the case. Such a thing couldn't possibly have happened.

Two strange looking monsters, like those from movies and manga, were in my house.

With bodies that seem to be three times as large as an adult. With red eyes and two horns each. Jet black skin and a tail like that of a lizard. Sprouting two bat like wings from their backs, they just clearly resembled that.

Demons.

They had the appearances of demons that had come out of worthless fairy tails and were used to dupe kids.

Those apparent demons were devouring my parents.

Those apparent monsters were devouring my parents.

And standing between the demons was my little brother.

"...... Hi, Hinata."

With an idiotic-sounding voice, I called my little brother's name.

On hearing that, he turned around to face me. Possessing the same hair, eyes, and face that should have been the splitting image of me, but yet, a rational smile floated on the face of my little brother, who had turned around to face me.

"Yah, Nii-san, you're early."

"What the hell...... did you do?"

I asked.

Right now, it was as if I couldn't comprehend anything that had happened.

My parents were devoured. And they were devoured by something which should not have been in existence, monsters that resembled demons. There was not a trace of blood. It was as if the existences of my parents themselves that had been devoured, as their forms seemed to become increasingly transparent as the demons were chewing on them.

A bizarre scene. That was a truly bizarre scene.

What the hell...what the hell had happened here?

Hinata then said delightedly.

"It's something that Nii-san can't understand."

Indeed, I could not understand. That was no way I could have understood such a scene.

"...... is Nii-san able to see this?"

As Hinata said that, he raised a single finger. And pointed to mid-air.

"............"

But there was nothing there. I could not see anything there.

"What the hell are you really......"

As I said that, with a lonely expression, with a sad expression, from where he was standing ---

He made a face that appeared to be looking down on me.

Looking at that, my words stopped.

Looking at that, my movements stopped.

And I understood immediately.

Ahh, this fellow could see something that I couldn't see. He was looking at something that I couldn't understand. In spite of having thought that we both possessed the same abilities, and carried the same solitude, Hinata shouldered a far greater darkness than me; that was what I had understood.

Hinata looked at me. With a lonely expression, with a sad expression, but yet, a mocking smile floated on his face.

"...... if you can't see it...... then there's nothing more I need from Nii-san."

That's what he said.

Then, he touched the leg of the demon that was devouring our parents. Before I knew it, the figures of my parents had completely disappeared. Completely devoured. Their entire existence was completely devoured.

The demon carried Hinata and put him on its back.

"Well then, I have to get going. Using our parents as sacrifices, I've made a nine year << contract >> , and because of that, it seems like I will be able to go on a faraway journey."

While saying that, the demons spread their wings. They intended to take off. From the cramped living room where a ceiling existed, I knew not how and to where they intend to fly off to, but yet, it seemed they intended to fly off to somewhere.

That's why I,

"Wait......"

But, my little brother interrupted me again.

"I won't wait. But, after nine years have passed, I'll return. Since I will need a sacrifice for the next << contract >> . That's why for another nine years. I shall let Nii-san live. To be devoured by the demon nine years later......"

At that moment, the demons flapped their wings. My little brother and the demons rose up a little, and seemed about to disappear.

Just a moment before disappearing, Hinata said.

"That's why for those nine years, please enjoy yourself."

Then, promptly.

"............"

Hinata disappeared.

The demons also disappeared.

My parents were also no longer there.

I'm all alone.

"........................"

I stood alone shocked, in the center of the living room, having lost everything.

I couldn't comprehend what all that was about.

I couldn't do anything at all at the time when everything was taking place.

The demons devoured my parents.

My little brother disappeared.

During all that time, I couldn't do anything but stand there in shock.

I felt a deep sense of despair. I felt an intense pain. Even though I had thought myself to be a genius, but yet, I could not even comprehend half of what my little brother had said.

My little brother had talked about << sacrifice >> .

But a sacrifice to who? To that demon? Or was it a sacrifice to something else?

My little brother had talked about << contract >> .

But a contract with who? With that demon? Or was it a contract with something else?

There were a ton of things that I didn't understand.

"............"

But there was something I did know. There was only one thing that I did know. That was the knowledge of me only having nine years to live.

Right now, I'm seven years old. I could only live until nine years later, the age of sixteen.

Since my little brother will bring the demons to come kill me, I could only live until sixteen.

Thinking about that.

"............"

I looked at the cheap-looking digital clock that was placed above the TV in the corner of the living room.

The time was 5:27, 30 seconds, 31 seconds, 32 seconds......

Moment by moment, the time advanced.

Even though that much had happened, appearing unconcerned by all that, in an uninterested manner, the numbers advanced.

"............"

The amount of time I have to live, was gradually, gradually, decreasing.

Looking at that. Looking vacantly at that digital clock glowing in the dark room.

"...... uwah......"

For the first time, I shivered.

Too many abnormal things had happened at the same time, and the emotion of fear that was paralyzed came spewing out in one shot.

"...... uuu......"

I felt like crying. But no tears came. I felt like hollering. But no voice came. I only shivered. Filled with fear and despair, I only shivered.

Since I've lost everything too quickly in a flash, since I've lost anything and everything, right now, I could no longer think.

But yet, during that time, the digital clock continued advancing.

My remaining life continued ticking away.

Even if I cried, even if I was dumbstruck, even if I shivered, even if I came to a standstill.

Gradually, gradually, my remaining life ticked away.

"...... what, what should I do?"

In the dark room, my feeble voice reverberated.

"...... I don't want to die."

In a room without anyone else, my shaking voice reverberated.

"...... what in the world should I......"

What in the world should I do?

In the house where everything was gone, I mumbled to myself.

But there was no answer. There was no one who could answer me.

With both parents dead, and the disappearance of my little brother whom I had once thought as the only person I could connect with.

"............"

That's why I shivered all by myself.

Feeling the fear of death, I shivered.

Feeling the fear of the monster that would one day appear to take my life.

And then.

While shivering in fear of death, the nine years passed in the blink of an eye, and the appointed day came upon me.

♦♦♦♦

Deep into the night.

"............"

Kurenai Gekkou awoke with a start.

He was now in the house where that incident took place nine years ago.

Before he turned sixteen, he had been putting up at his uncle's place, and as he had decided to advance to that << Miyasaka High >> in April, he took the opportunity to return to that house which he and his parents and his little brother Hinata had formerly lived in.

In his room on the second floor of the house which was much too large for a single person. In the room he used to stay with his little brother, but now he had it all to himself.

In that room which was six tatami units in size, were a bed, a study desk for children, and a bookshelf. With a blue curtain, decorated with a number of childish automobile drawings, that was chosen by his dead mother, and an electric light that was not working.

If he were to continue to live here, he had to get a new desk. And with regards to the illuminating devices, while the one in the living room had been changed, he still had to take care of the one in his room. Perhaps, he would change it tomorrow, he thought.

If tomorrow.

"..............."

If there was a tomorrow.

Thinking about that, Gekkou gazed at the ceiling. And he thought back on the nine years that had passed since that incident.

These nine years.

Looking back at these nine years, he realized that he had been living in fear all this time.

While shaking in fear at knowing what little of his life was remaining. While shaking in fear at the inevitable doom that seemed to be drawing closer rapidly, in spite of that, Gekkou struggled to live. More than anyone else, he accumulated knowledge, more than anyone else, he became stronger and moved forward.

But still, his fear did not vanish.

All these nine years, he could only continue shaking in fear, and had never smiled even for a single day.

That was an unbelievable kind of solitude.

That was an extreme deep despair.

Day by day, filled with agony.

Many a time, he had awoken in the middle of the night.

Many a time, he had awoken from a nightmare of seeing himself killed and devoured by a demon.

Many a time, he had awoken from a dream of seeing his little brother laughing.

"............"

It was like hell. An endless hell. A hell where he thought he would rather die before his brother appeared before him.

And today, he awoke as well.

He awoke, with a most dreadful kind of sensation, from a nightmare in which he was killed by a demon.

And as he did so, in that room which no one.

In that room which no one else should have been present since that day when the incident had happened, all of a sudden ---

A koton (sfx) sound was heard.

"............"

With that alone, Gekkou knew what was about to transpire right here, right now.

Rather, he had been waiting all along for this very day.

The day which he would be killed.

The day which a demon would come to kill him.

That's why he had chosen to live alone. He could not afford to bring any further trouble to his uncle, and as such, he forcefully brought himself here to this house.

And tonight just happened to be the night nine years from that very day. It was just the night that was nine years from that very day in which his parents and little brother were no longer around, a day in which he had lost everything.

Gekkou closed his eyes once, then opened them again. He sat up and looked towards the direction from where the sound had come.

That was in the direction of the window of this room.

He could see the blue curtain being parted slowly.

And then, the figure of the monster Gekkou had been fearing all this while was standing right there.

The figure of despair was there.

At last, the demon had come to kill Gekkou.

The curtain was parted. The window was open as well. And he could see a single monster squatting on the railing of the balcony beyond the window.

"............"

The monster was in the form of a short girl.

And it was a pretty cute girl.

But it was clear that she was no human. With calm golden eyes, and brilliant, angular golden hair scattered out around her. Even though she was not wearing any clothes, her short body was wrapped by a vortex of lightning, which was giving off crackling sounds.

The golden eyes of that lightning girl was gazing at him.

And she said.

"...... are you Gekkou?"

He nodded.

"So, are you the demon sent by Hinata?"

"That's right."

"You've come to kill me?"

"Nope, I've come here to devour you. Since Hinata has offered you as a << sacrifice >> to me. That's why your life belongs to me."

The lightning girl puffed out her chest and said happily.

--- since Hinata has offered you as a << sacrifice >> to me.

That's what she had said. As expected, she indeed was sent by Hinata.

She further went on.

"You are my first << sacrifice >>. After devouring you, my powersthunder will become much greater."

As if to show her small body becoming big, she stood up. At the same time she did that, her surrounding lightning scattered. Just that alone sliced the window apart and scorched the curtain.

Clearly not a human being, she was wielding an unnatural power.

Clearly not a human being, she was wielding an unnatural power.

Gekkou looked at it absentmindedly.

"...... awesome."

He murmured, and the lightning girl, once again, smiled happily.

"Awesome right!"

She puffed out her chest and more lightning dispersed.

Gekkou nodded in agreement.

"It's awesome indeed."

"Are you prepared!"

"Prepared? Yeah, right...... so as to speak, since a long time ago, I've already prepared myself for death."

Gekkou acknowledged.

"............"

For the first time in nine years, a small smile surfaced on his lips.

Following that, he quietly stretched his hand into a crevice at the side of his bed. And he pulled out a single, sharp, pointed, sword that he had prepared long ago.

It was a slender, long sword.

With a jet black blade that has no edge, forged purely to be used for thrusting. Adorned with a simple bell guard that was shaped like the crescent moon.

So as to speak, it was a weapon that resembled an epee rapier used for fencing.

But it was different from an epee.

It was different from a rapier.

No, to begin with.

"............"

To begin with, it was not a weapon forged to be used by a human.

Gekkou gripped the sword with his right hand.

He gripped it strongly.

And he said delightedly.

"Ahh jeez...... you've come at last. This day has finally come. I'm getting tired of waiting."

With that, he stood up.

And raised his sword.

On seeing that, the lightning girl laughed.

"Haha. What's that? What are you planning to do? If you think that's going to have an effect on me......"

But, Gekkou didn't wait for her to finish.

He stepped forward with his right foot.

He put in his strength into that step.

He took a large stride.

The lightning girl, surprised, attempted to dodge, but he wouldn't let her. He wouldn't let her dodge. Since he had long awaited for this day. All this while, he had been living in fear, in fear, in fear, and as he got sick of the fear, irritation came, don't mess with me, don't kid me, that damn Hinata, as a younger brother, who does he think he is, well fine, let's fight it out, when your demon comes, I'll be the one to kick its ass, and all this while, all this while, he had continued accumulating power.

"............"

And then the weapon for that purpose was decided right away.

A light, pointed weapon that could be used to deal with any situation. He swore that he would get his hands on a weapon that could slay demons, no, a weapon that could even slay gods.

And in order to wield such a weapon, he trained.

By the time he ascended to middle school, there was no longer anyone of the middle school level who was of a match for him.

But still, he thought that it wasn't enough. He still had a long way to go, he thought. The reason was because his opponent was not a human. Since it would be an unimaginable supernatural monster from an alternate dimension.

But, regarding that,

"Haha. Foolish damn human. The likes of you will get toasted readily by my lightning!"

As the lightning girl said that, she waved her hand. And a part of the lightning wrapping her split off and came assaulting Gekkou.

But ---

"Exorcise, Spell ErrorWicked Blade"

Gekkou called out the name of his sword, and brushed off the lightning with it. The lightning got mowed down by the black blade of the sword and disappeared.

On seeing that.

"Eehh!?"

The expression of the lightning girl changed. She looked at Gekkou with an astonished face.

But Gekkou did not stop. Drawing back his sword, with that, towards the chest of the lightning girl,

"Wait, wait a minute!? That's so unfair!! Timeout! Wait, time......"

But Gekkou, not complying,

"Shut up, small fry."

He thrust Spell ErrorWicked Blade into the small chest of the lightning girl.

Instantly.

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?"

The lightning girl cried out in agony.

But Gekkou, without slowing down, drove the sword deeper. Consequently, the body of the lightning girl was pushed down and pinned to the ground with the sword.

The girl's face contorted in fear.

Looking at that face, Gekkou sneered.

"So, who is devouring who?"

On hearing that, the girl glowered at Gekkou,

"For, for a lowly human...... go! Lightning!"

As she said that, she put forth her hand as if to fire something. But nothing came out. More than just that, the vortex of lightning that was wrapping around her a while ago had all but vanished.

Realizing that, once again, with a surprised look, the young girl,

"Wh, why!? Why didn't my power come forth!?"

She yelled. And then, her gentle looking eyes started filling up with fear and tears,

"You, you, what the hell did you do to me?"

But Gekkou did not reply to her question.

With his sword piercing through the lightning girl, he had already lost interest in her.

He looked up and examined the surroundings of the balcony.

The night was a very clear night. Both the moon and the stars were clearly visible. But that was all he could see. The only things present were the quiet residential neighbourhood and the illumination from the moon.

There was no other demon.

There was no sign of Hinata.

It seemed like the lightning girl was the only one who came to kill him.

"...... what's this. Did I become a little too powerful?"

Gekkou said with an exasperated voice.

In fear. He had been living in fear of genius little brother who was smarter than him.

"...... haha. It seems like I've grown beyond the expectations of Hinata."

He said with a slight sense of satisfaction in his tone, and looked down again. Looking at the figure of the lightning girl whom he had defeated.

No, she was no longer a lightning girl. Her powers were currently sealed by Spell ErrorWicked Blade. That's why she had lost her lightning powers. The lightning that was wrapping around her body had vanished, her hair and eyes had turned to a normal black, making her look no different from an ordinary person.

What lay at his feet was no longer a lightning girl, but an ordinary, short, and somewhat cute stark naked young girl.

"Wait, my lightning has disappeared, I'm nakedddddddddddddddddddd!?"

She shouted at this late juncture.

She frantically tried to cover her flat chest, and with blushing cheeks, glared at Gekkou,

"E, ecchi! Sukebe! Hentai!"

She said, but Gekkou couldn't be bothered by that. There was only one thing he wanted to know.

"...... hey brat. I've a question."

"I'm not a brattttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!"

"Whatever, just answer."

"I'm not a brat duh! I'm already fourteen, you know! That's an adult by demon standards......"

"Annoying."

As he said that, Gekkou went on to apply a stronger pushing force to his sword.

And her face contorted,

"Arggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?"

"Of course. You're feeling pain. However, I can further increase this pain by two thousand four hundred times stronger. If you don't answer me promptly, I'll just keep on increasing the level of pain, got it?"

On hearing those words.

"Uwu ~!?"

Frightened to the verge of tears, she glared at Gekkou and said.

"Damn demon!"

"You are the one who's a demon though."

"Then, you meanie!"

"Wrong. I'm a genius."

"Eh?"

"That's enough, just shut up and answer me. Among the demons employed by Hinata, are you on the strong side, or the weak side?"

Depending on the answer to this question, there might still be a ton of things he needed to do. If she was a weak one, then, he would need to prepare for the next demonic assault. However, if this brat was considered strong at this level, then, there was no longer a need to do anything.

He merely needed to smile and say to Hinata when he appears. He merely need to say those words which had been tossing in his mind during these nine years.

"...... you know, Hinata. In the end, I'm a notch above you, isn't it? Hahaha."

As Gekkou was thinking about these words, a slight smile seemed about to surface on his lips.

But that smile didn't surface. It's not yet time for that. Right now, there was still something that needed to be done.

As he pushed on the sword through the young girl's chest, he continued.

"Now, answer me. Are you strong, or weak?"

"I, I'm an ultra strong kid who didn't even cry when I fell down, my Mama had said......"

"I didn't ask about thattttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!"

"Yikesssssssssssssssss! Ouch ouch!"

"Answer me properly to match my question. Got it? I'm asking you, among the demons Hinata is keeping, are you strong? Or weak?"

On hearing those words.

"............"

The young girl became flustered.

On seeing that, Gekkou immediately,

"So that's it. In the end, you're just a small fry."

"That, that's not it! I've only seen Hinata once when I was summoned by his magic formation, so I don't really know anything about him!"

"Then, it means that you hardly know anything about him?"

"Yeah."

"Then, let me rephrase my question. Among demons, are you considered to be strong or a small fry?"

After asking, he thought that it was not really something that needed to be asked. Such a fella couldn't possibly be strong. If a demon possesses power only up to such an extent, then a three year old kid would be able to go to the toilet alone without feeling scared.

It's the end. It's the end of the conversation. What's left was to kill this fella and start preparing for the next assault......

However, at that moment, the young girl spoke up. In spite of having her powers sealed by the sword piercing through her chest, for some reason, she spoke with a confident smile on her face,

"I'm strong, Gekkou."

That was what she said.

On hearing that, once again, Gekkou looked at her face. Looking intently into her eyes, which were black from the loss of her powers.

"Really? With this level?"

"That, that's...... that's only because I haven't yet formed any contract with anyone, and can't bring forth my full power into this world."

"Really. Then, are you saying that you'll become much stronger after forming a contract?"

Once again, a smile floated on her lips,

"At the very least, I won't be defeated by the likes of you! That's because, right now, I'm the only one with the blood belonging to Andu of IndraThunder flowing inside of me!"

She said it with a face brimming with confidence.

Andu of Indra --- Gekkou didn't seem to have any recollection of that name. Indra was the name of some demon lord of thunder from some religion, but as to 'Andol', who's that? No, wait, in the first place, was this the same Indra? Well, no matter, whichever it was --- Gekkou said.

"...... you're trying to form a bargain, aren't you?"

Instantly.

"...... uwu."

She uttered and her face had a nervous look.

Gekkou continued.

"In order not to be slayed by me here, you are trying to portray yourself as a useful, powerful demon......."

But, in response to that,

"It's, it's true that I'm powerful!"

"Liar."

"It's true! Mirai of Andu is pretty famous on the other side!"

That was what she said.

Mirai of Andu.

It seems like Mirai is her name.

Gekkou looked at the lovely face of Mirai.

And said.

"So, you don't want to die?"

She nodded sharply twice.

"And you'll become my slave for that?"

"Sla, slave!? Why should I become something like a slave? Who do you think I am...... ouucchhhhhhhhhhhhh!?"

"Whatever, just answer me. If you form a contract with me, will you be able to repel the demons sent by Hinata?"

At that question, while looking intently at the sword protruding from her chest with hateful eyes, Mirai replied.

"After, after the contract is formed, I won't lose to anyone. That includes you."

She looked up, and glowered bitterly at Gekkou.

A smile then surfaced on Gekkou's face,

"I see. Then, let it be so. I shall let you live. And we shall form a contract."

"Real, really!?"

"Really."

"Well then, you will be offering a << sacrifice >> to me?"

"Yeah. I'll do that."

As he was saying that, Gekkou recalled the information he had gathered during these nine years, regarding the contract with demons.

<< Demons and Contracts >>

That is something established when a human offers something precious to himself to the demon as a << sacrifice >>.

On doing that, the demon will devour the << sacrifce >>, acquire power, and will be able to employ this power for the contractor in this world.

However, in most cases, humans hold nothing more precious than themselves, and because of that, one usually ends up offering his soul to the demon to establish the contract.

But, it was an exceptional case with Hinata.

Their parents were actually more precious to him than himself ---

And me as well.

"............"

He also thought of me as something precious.

What an irony, Gekkou thought.

Even after nine years, that had not changed.

Even now, Hinata loved his twin brother Gekkou, that's why he had chosen him as the << sacrifice >> for the demon.

That's why the demon came here.

That's why Mirai came here.

At that moment,

"Well then, quickly take out the << sacrifice >>! Take out the thing that's precious to you! Form a contract with me! After the contract is formed, I won't lose to anyone."

Mirai rambled to him.

While he had tried researching for the literature that document the benefits acquired by a demon after the contract, it was to no avail, but seeing how happy she was, there must be some tremendous benefits, it seemed.

"Well, let's form a contract then."

"Let's do it! Hurry up! So, what would it be? What would you be offering? Your own soul? Or a the life of a beloved kin? What in the world is precious to you?"

On hearing that question, Gekkou considered.

A thing that was precious to him. Something that was precious to him. There were several of them. There were several things he didn't want to let go.

"Hurry up and tell me. Tell me what's most precious to you. Tell me and form a contract with me."

Mirai said. She said it with a face full of excitement and enthusiasm.

And Gekkou began,

"The thing that's precious to me......."

"Uhn."

"My precious thing......"

And then Gekkou answered.

"It's you...... Mirai."

On hearing that, she nodded and acknowledged loudly,

"Alright! Then, I'm going to receive that as a << sacrifice >>........................ wait, eh? What did you just say?"

"As I was saying, it's you."

On hearing Gekkou's proclamation, Mirai's face turned into one of surprise, then all of a sudden, as if she just had a sudden thought, her face blushed in embarrassment,

"Eh? Eh? Eh? What, what do you mean what do you mean? Ermm, does that mean that Gekkou is in lov......"

Immediately,

"Don't get conceited, stupid brat."

"Don't call me stupid bratttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt!? Then, then, what do you mean by that! Aren't you forming a contract with me?"

"Yes, I am."

"Then, hurry up and tell me what you value most."

"As I've said, it's you."

"That's why I'm asking why meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!? Gekkou is forming a contract with me right? Then what's the meaning of making me the << sacrifice >>!? I can't figure this out!"

She was already yelling with a bewildered expression, but unbothered by this, Gekkou just spoke with an indifferent tone.

"The fact that you don't get it makes you stupid. Try considering the current situation. Who is the one currently about to be killed? You, isn't it? Then, the one who should be pleading for your life is you, right? That's why I'm selling it to you. Right now, I'm selling you your own life which could be snuffed out in an instant. You should just buy it and form a contract with me."

On hearing that, this time round, it's Mirai's turn to make a Is this guy an idiot face,

"There's no way you can rationalize in such a manner to forcibly form such an unreasonable contract, right! The rules bounding a contract are pretty strict, you know! If you don't offer something that is truly precious to you and form a contract properly......"

But, at that moment, Gekkou said.

Gazing at Mirai with an earnest face.

"I truly see you as something precious to me, you know."

He said.

On hearing that, for some reason, Mirai once again adopted a somewhat troubled, somewhat surprised, somewhat embarrassed expression,

"That, that, that's why, as I was saying, how can you say that with such a serious expression!? That couldn't be possible right! Didn't I only just meet Gekkou, so how in the world did I become someone precious to Gekkou!?"

However, the answer to that was exceedingly simple.

"That would only hold if you really are strong. It's because you've told me that you're capable of repelling the demons that Hinata would send. If that's the truth, then you are something precious to me. If you can truly be of help to me, as a useful slave, I see you as something very precious to me."

On hearing those words that were overflowing with love, Mirai,

"Don't shit around with meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!?"

She hollered.

But that was totally meaningless.

Since she didn't have any choice in the matter.

Gekkou looked down on her.

"Either way is fine with me. If you're not forming a contract with me, I'll just kill you here. Now, hurry up and choose. Which do you want? To live and become my slave? Or to die here in solitude?"

Killing her was a simple matter. This sword was made for this kind of purpose.

In response to that.

"............"

Mirai glowered at Gekkou. Uwuu ~, even as she moaned, she glowered at him with a face on the verge of crying. And then, she said.

"Such, such an unreasonable contract won't take place. It won't go well if you don't offer what's precious to you as the << sacrifice >>. If it doesn't go well --- a demon who devours a fake << sacrifice >> will die, you know?"

But, promptly,

"Then die."

"Uwuu ~"

"Since either way you're going to die, then there's nothing to feel troubled about right?"

"Uwuuu ~"

"However, at the very least, I would think it's worth a try. I'm not lying when I said that you are precious to me."

"Liar."

"It's not a lie. If truly, you are really useful in helping me kill my little brother --- that is kill Hinata, to me, you are more important than my life."

That's what Gekkou said.

And that was not necessarily a lie.

Since that was the only thing he could think about during these nine years. Since, during these nine years in which he lived through, he was always only thinking about how to deal a blow to the little brother who would once again appear before him.

"Quick, make your choice. To die? Or to form a contract with me? The << sacrifice >> is your own life. Now, which one will you choose?"

Hearing those words, Mirai still pondered for a little while,

"Geez, why is my first contractor such a bothersome fella......"

She said dejectedly. And with a resigned look on her face, she looked up at him.

"But...... but, alright. I get it. Then let's try to form the contract......"

"Are you resolved on this?"

"But, I don't have any other choice right!"

"That's right."

"Then I just have to do it right!"

"That's right."

"Idiot!!"

Mirai yelled in a half-crying tone.

But it didn't matter. Gekkou put out his left hand.

"Hurry up and get on with it."

"Uwuu...... why is this guy, this guy acting high and mighty? Even though I'm such an awesome demon......"

While saying that, she put out her hand. And clasped Gekkou's hand. Following that, she had a slightly frightened expression.

"I, I...... might just die here, you know."

"............"

"If I'm not really something precious to Gekkou, I might just be split apart and die, you know."

"............"

"You're lying right ~. It can't be. There's no way such a thing can be possible. Uwuuuuuu I'm scared."

"Whatever, just hurry up and do it."

"Uwuuuuuu."

"Or, I'll just kill you."

As he said that, he seemed about to put in more force into his sword.

"Uwuuu wait. I get it. I'll just get on with it. Well then, you're sure? You truly think of me as something important?"

"Yeah."

"Really?"

"Yeah, hurry up and get on with it."

"Uwuuu this guy definitely thinks otherwise ~"

While saying that with a face on the verge of crying, she gripped Gekkou's hand tightly.

"I'm going to establish the contract ok?"

"Yeah."

"Uweh ~ I'm so scared, terribly scared...... but...... but I don't want to die...... uwuuuuuu, here goes, oryah!"

As she said that, she closed her eyes. Her entire body then gave off a blue black light and following that, directed through their hands, it moved towards Gekkou.

And then the light ran about his body, seemingly searching for something within him. And following that, the light once again returned to Mirai. From Gekkou's left hand, to Mirai's right hand. And then it ran through her arm, her shoulder, her head, and finally to her left chest, at the place where the heart is located, the light vanished.

And then.

"............"

"............"

At that moment, Mirai opened her eyes. And with a shaking voice, she said.

"I, I didn't die?"

"Seems so. Is the contract established?"

"Uhn, yeah."

"So you didn't die."

"Yeah. Wait, this feels unreal...... so Gekkou truly thought of me as something precious to him."

"As a useful slave, yeah."

But, somehow.

"............"

Somehow, Mirai did not rebuke that. With a strangely embarrassed looking red face, her eyes shifting restlessly as if she was some kind of a suspicious person, she averted her gaze.

But, Gekkou had not the slightest interest in those things. There was only one thing he was interested in.

"Well then, show me your power. Didn't you say that after forming the contract, I won't be a match for you? Show me that power."

On hearing those words,

"Ah! That's right!"

All of a sudden, she adopted a cocky expression,

"Don't get awestruck after seeing my power, I'm telling you."

"Ha. It would be nice if it's something to get awestruck about."

"These episodic scenes of me getting treated like a fool, shall end here once and for alllllllllllllllllllllllllll!"

As she said that, she grabbed hold of the sword protruding out of her body with both hands. And then,

"Mumumumumumumu ~"

She tried pulling it out.

At the same time, the dispelled lightning that had been wrapping around her previously seemed about to come back to life. Crackle, crackle, crackle, the sound of popping thunder rippled through the air, and her hair and eyes seemed about to be covered with a golden color.

But that was something impossible.

The Spell ErrorWicked Blade that was impaled into her body, should possess the power to suppress all forms of demonic powers.

The sword possesses a hidden great power to seal off whatever kind of demonic powers, no, even powers at the god level --- this was told to him by the previous owner of this sword, a shady-looking, alcoholic Father who was living on top of the mountains of the Principality of Andorra, a remote place of Europe.

However, this fella seemed about to pull it out.

"Muu ~ orrhhhhhhhhhhhhh ~!"

Forcibly trying to pull it out.

Her both hands were wrapped in lightning as well. As the sword was pulled out little by little, her powers seemed to return gradually, the lightning that was gathering around her became steadily more intense, and it had reached the level that was greater than it was previously.

On seeing that.

"............"

Involuntarily, a smile surfaced on Gekkou's face.

At the thought of what she said might be true, a smile surfaced on Gekkou's face.

A great demon in which flowed the blood belonging to Andu of Indra.

A new demon whom Hinata wanted to make a contract with.

Instead, he had seized her and made her his slave.

He had managed to get the better of him.

Thinking about that.

"Ha, haha."

Gekkou laughed softly.

Appearing to misunderstand that, Mirai glowered at him.

"Laugh while you can! Once I get this strange sword out, I will just kill the crap out of you!"

"Huh? Kill me? Won't that be going back on your contract?"

"As if I care!"

"That would be troubling. For a slave who doesn't know where she stands, some punishment needs to be meted out."

However, in response to that,

"The meanie who should be punished is youuuuuuuuuuuuu!"

As she said that, she pulled on the sword with all her might. If this carried on, it's possible that he would be incinerated by her lightning the moment right after she pulls out that sword.

However.

"I won't allow this."

Gekkou said, and following that, with a soft voice,

"Elu, Eluelut."

He chanted an incantation.

On doing that, the true form of Spell ErrorWicked Blade was revealed. The jet black sword was colored with a bloody red ---

Mirai, looking at that,

"Eh? You, you, what did you do this time......"

As expected, Gekkou ignored her and continued chanting.

"Toris, Elumire."

That curse will take place on delivering a kiss. The person who is impaled by the sword, with the curse placed on him, and then on receiving the kiss, will lose everything.

"............"

Gekkou caught hold of Mirai's hand and pulled it towards him. And with that, he put his lips onto the back of her hand ---

"Wait!? Ehh!? Why are you kissing me all of a sudden!? Isn't that too early......"

At that moment, her words stopped. The instant his lips touched the back of her hand, the curse was activated. The crimson of the blood-colored sword seeped into Mirai's chest.

In a flash.

"Kaha."

She cried out in agony.

Following that, quite visibly, the lightning that had started returning to her body vanished. Her hair and eyes started turning back to black. Even the sword that was about to be pulled out slided back in deeply at the same time she lost her strength.

Completely exhausted, she looked up.

"...... wh, what? What did you do this time?"

She said.

Gekkou replied.

"A curse. In order to keep the noisy brat quiet, I've sealed seventy percent of your power. If you want to use your full powers again, you will need my permission. If I don't remove the curse through a kiss, your powers won't return."

On hearing those words.

This time round, Mirai said with a truly angry face.

"Wh, wh, wh, why a kiss!?"

"Huh? Is that the place where you're making your comeback?"

"Ehhhhh, isn't that the natural place to make a comeback!? I've heard a lot about such wicked stuff where a curse is placed to manage the demon, so I can put that aside, but why must the curse be lifted through a kiss!?"

"Like hell I know."

"Know it already!"

"It just so happens that this is the way the power is prescribed by the sword, so I don't have a choice in it either."

"Don't dismiss that so easilyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! Well, you see you see, I'm still that, you know? I'm still only fourteen, you know? I've never kissed before, you know? But yet, I have to kiss...... I have to kiss to get back my powers...... such a thing, such a thing......"

It seemed like she was going to ramble on further, but since it didn't really matter to him at all, Gekkou sighed and stopped listening.

"Listen to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

There was no real need to listen to her hollers as well.

He pulled out the sword and stood up. Even if he pulled out the sword, her powers were not going to return. Since the curse was already in effect. After ascertaining that her eyes and hair were still black, and that her stark nude body was no longer clad in lightning,

"Uhm."

He acknowledged once and turned on his heel.

And from behind him,

"Don't you 'uhm' meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Anyway, why are you leaving me here!? After taking my powers away forcefully, and you're leaving me!?"

At the clamor, Gekkou turned his head around.

"Don't turn your head around!? Sukebe! Hentai!! Right now, I'm nude without my lightning!? Close, close your eyes!!"

"............"

Already feeling vexed, Gekkou.

"Then, what do you want me to do?"

"Wait, just wait a minute. I'm going to wear some clothes."

"Did you bring some?"

"No, I did not!"

"Then, what?"

"Whatever, just close your eyes!! If you open them, next time, I'll call you Sukebeda Erogorou! I'm serious, just you know!"

After she clamored noisily, for some reason, she came into the room.

Gekkou shut his eyes once again.

I wonder whether it's a mistake to form a contract with such a boisterous demon, he thought with just a little, just a little bit of regret.

From within the room, came the noise of someone rummaging through various things. Following that, there was the sound of drawers opening. What's with this, there's nothing inside! And an angry yell followed. Next, came the sound of a suitcase opening, the suitcase which Gekkou had brought along when he came back to this house, after a clickety-clack sound of the case opening, Uwah, isn't everything large!, such a voice rang out and finally,

"Alright, it's fine now!"

The voice said.

On hearing that, Gekkou opened his eyes.

A single cute girl was standing in that dark room.

With her hair tied up into a ponytail with a hair rubber-band she found somewhere, and wearing Gekkou's white shirt loosely. For some reason, her face seemed to be red with embarrassment. Even with drooping eyes, a strong spirit could be seen from within; they were bleared. How is it? Does it suit me? Am I cute?, she seemed to be making such an expression.

From all angles, she looked just like an ordinary girl.

And a pretty cute one at that.

She didn't resemble a demon at all.

She didn't look powerful at all.

Looking at that, Gekkou thought.

He thought from the bottom of his heart.

And he sent out those feelings to her.

"Hm. Since I'm pretty fed-up with your irritating disposition, maybe we should annul the contract......"

"You're a thousand times more irritatinggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg!!"

Mirai exclaimed loudly.

And that ---

That was basically how Gekkou met Mirai of Andu --- Andou Mirai.

Since then, the two of them had lived in the same house. On top of that, they went to the same Miyasaka High; with a mere two months elapsing; thus still a story of yesterday.

And once again, Gekkou looked in front of him.

He looked at the usual student council room.

He looked at the student council room of afterschool hours, a time when the school gates were already closed.

The Gekkou who had become the student council president at the age of sixteen.

Looked at the student council room of the mad school that had accepted the fourteen year old girl of unknown nationality, Mirai, as its student.

In that student council room, the Mirai wearing a sailor uniform was yelling. She was yelling while desperately pushing against the wall.

"Uwooooohhhhhh, it's impossible for me! It's definitely no longer impossible for me, Gekkou! With my powers sealed up, I can't hold out any longer than this! So hurry up and kiss me, and release my powers!"

On hearing that, Gekkou looked at the wall that Mirai was desperately pushing against.

In an instant, 'dokun (sfx)', the wall seemed to become distorted. In a spongy manner, as if there was a warp in dimension, the wall seemed to become distorted.

And in a desperate manner, Mirai,

"Uwah."

And,

"Uhnyaro."

She uttered as she was starting to get overwhelmed.

He could tell that clearly, something irregular was on the other side of the wall and was trying to come over to this side. He could tell something irregular was about to happen in this student council room.

However, in response to that, Gekkou,

"Even without releasing the seal, you should be able to deal with it right? Or what was all that about? I'm a great demon, you know, all that dramatic talk was a bluff?"

He said that without moving an inch.

So as to speak, such a thing was an everyday occurrence right here, in this student council room.

A dimensional rift causing the wall to distort.

A strange hole that leads to numerous other worlds.

This was a facility that was established for the purpose of overseeing that. On top of that, only brats who are eighteen and below could come and go through that hole.

That was why this school was constructed.

A school built by the military with the purpose of having kids to oversee the rift while camouflaging it from the eyes of the other countries.

An irregular school built to gather brats with extraordinary power.

Of course, most of the students were not aware of it. No, even teachers were kept in the dark.

The only people who knew this were the military personnel working in the underground facility under this school, and the student council members who were tasked to oversee the rift.

And then, Gekkou beat the previous student council president until he was half dead, and on top of that, he fired all the useless committee members, and easily took the seat of the student council president. The student council president in this school has absolute authority. More than any student, more than any teacher, an overwhelming amount of authority.

That's a matter of fact. On the other side of the rift, from the other worlds, any discovered power, artifact, or living being, holds the possibility of bringing the might of this country soaring upwards.

And it was the task of the student council to oversee all that.

That's why everyone dreamt of becoming the student council president. Everyone who knew of this, came to this school, and dreamt of becoming the student council president.

All for the sake of attaining fame and position.

But.

"............"

All that meant nothing to Gekkou.

Whatever was happening on the other side of the dimension, whatever the military was planning, why a dimensional rift had appeared here, however much authority a person could acquire on becoming the student council president, all those meant nothing to Gekkou.

What he needed was only power. Nothing mattered to him as long as he could get his hands on the power to kill the Hinata who would appear sometime in the future. And that power seemed to be obtainable here, that's why he came here. That's all there was to it.

At that moment, coming from the other side of the wall that Mirai was pressing against ---

<< Vaaaaaaa -- Va -- Va -- Vaaaaaaaaaaa 1 Aaaa 1 Aaaa 12 Aaa >>

With that ear-splitting howl, a strange monster-like thing was attempting to come over. Somewhat different from a demon, a strange monster was about to come over.

Mirai, in response to that,"Uwuuuuuuuu I can't hold this! I told you I can't hold this anymore, Gekkou! Help me!"

On hearing that, Gekkou,

"That's why small fry are so troublesome."

While saying that, he moved towards Mirai.

And Mirai began,"I'm not a...... small fry."

She said with effort. In the contest of strength against the something that was on the other side of the wall, she was losing.

Following that, Gekkou let out a small sigh, and walked to her back. And then, like a vampire, his lips started closing in on the nape of her neck.

"Then, show me your true power. Show me that you are more vicious than the monster on the other side."

As he said that, he gently touched her.

Gekkou touched the nape of Mirai's neck with his lips.

At that moment.

"...... the curse, is liftedddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddddd!!"

Her powers burst forth.

Her hair turned golden, and the lightning bursting forth caused her hair rubber-band to fly into the air.

Piercing golden eyes overflowing with confidence,

"Then, watch me, Gekkou! I shall kill this monster in a flash, and show you how awesome I am, so watch me proper......"

But, by that time, Gekkou had already turned on his heel and was making his way back to his desk,

"Look hereeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!"

With her whole body glowing from the flashes of lightning, the cute demon in sailor uniform hollered.

But he didn't look. There was no need to.

"Whatever, just finish it quickly. In one minute. Once it's over, we're going over to the other side into that dimensional hole. We're going to catch that fool who had sent the monster here --- we're going to catch that Saitohimea."

"That's why, I'm asking you to wait. It's not that, I mean, didn't Gekkou want to see me dispose an awesome looking monster......"

At that moment,

"Uwah, wait, this bastard, it has the balls to attack me while I'm talking...... uwah, this guy's drool, it's acidddddddddd."

And the battle began.

In response to that, he did turn around once. Mirai was fighting a squishy slime-like monster with no physical form that had come flying out of the wall. Her brilliant golden hair, dispersing flashes of lightning, went thrusting towards the monster, and with her fist wrapped in lightning, she went striking the monster in a flashy manner, and on seeing that, Gekkou,

"Hm."

He acknowledged once and sat in his chair. He drank down a mouthful of his red tea, and seemed about to continue reading his book once again, but his eyes fell onto the documents on the table.

<< VampireMost Ancient Sorcerer >> Saitohimea.

<< S-a-c-r-i-f-i-c-e >> Kurogane Taito.

And Regarding Kurenai Gekkou.

Those words written on the documents.

His eyes fell onto them.

And then he recalled its contents.

It was an intelligence report on the various power factions that had created this distasteful plot which had led to this damn troublesome, roundabout, worst-case situation.

He recalled that. He recalled the contents written inside. And then, he re-enacted it in his mind. And the following is what was written in those documents.

With regards to the << VampireMost Ancient Sorcerer >> Bahlskra who had created the most distasteful magic, << Bliss >>, and his lover Saitohimea.

With regards to the sealing of Bahlskra, as a result of the betrayal from Saitohimea and several << VampireMost Ancient Sorcerer >>.

With regards to how Bahlskra, and his former compatriots, Saitohimea and various << VampireMost Ancient Sorcerer >> had committed sorcery crimes and were wanted criminals pursued by the Church of the world.

With regards to how our military, despite the fact that most of the << VampireMost Ancient Sorcerer >> had hidden their tracks and had managed to escape detection from the Church, had chanced upon and succeeded in discovering the whereabouts of the most important individual among them, Saitohimea, nine years ago.

With regards to how our military succeeded in capturing the Saitohimea who, while on the verge of death, had managed to escape from the clutches of her previous captor, a believer of the Demon God.

By the way, during that time, Saitohimea was raving Taito Taito nonsensically while she was crying. And then we conducted numerous experiments on her, but unfortunately, we had judged that there was no longer any shred of power left in her anymore.

Whether it was stolen by the Demon God believer, or it was hidden somewhere, we had judged that she had already lost the powers of one of the most fearsome demons, the powers of a << VampireMost Ancient Sorcerer >>. If she had hidden it, Spill out where you've hidden it, we had repeatedly tortured and grilled her, but she remained tight lipped on it.

She only continued crying about wanting to see Taito.

She only continued crying out nonsense about wanting to see Taito.

She really must have lost her powers, it seems.

We decided to stop the interrogation.

In the end, we found that Taito was actually the name of a young man named Kurogane Taito. We found that it was the name of a young man who was living in the town that was under our jurisdiction. However, somehow, that young man was just an ordinary person with no special ability, merely a child who was good in karate, and thus we judged that there was no need for any further probing. Of course, we still kept him under surveillance, but we had judged that both the names, Saitohimea and Kurogane Taito, were no longer important to the further advancement of our research.

As such, the military considered selling off Saitohimea.

And it was decided that she would be sold off to the Church that all along has been fearing her master, Bahlskra.

And thus she was sold off at a high price, and imprisoned in another dimension.

Specially prepared by the Church, a dimension that has no sound. No light. Anyone who was placed in there would go mad, so as to speak.

Without any power, a magical being being degraded to the level of junk, she probably wouldn't be able to escape from that prison.

This matter came to a close.

And then nine years went by.

Nothing happened in that period.

But a few hours ago.

All of a sudden, an irregularity appeared in that dimension.

The Saitohimea who should no longer possess any form of power suddenly attempted to escape.

She readily crossed a number of dimensions, and consequently, the Church having lost her tracks, came to us for help.

At the same time as that.

At the same time when Saitohimea had regained her powers.

Someone penetrated the world in which she should have been imprisoned in.

The request to apprehend this trespasser also came to our military.

According to the intelligence from the Church, it was highly probable that this trespasser was a mad Demon God believer who came here to capture Saitohimea and scheming to use her to remove the seal off Bahlskra.

And that single mad Demon God believer who was attempting to revive that monster.

That single mad Demon God believer who was trying to take Saitohimea captive, isn't he Kurenai Gekkou --- the Miyasaka High student council president that your military is keeping?

The Church said to us.

"............"

That was what was roughly written in those documents.

And that last part.

Once again, Gekkou flipped through the documents to the very last section.

And this was what was written on it.

That single mad Demon God believer who was trying to take Saitohimea captive, isn't he Kurenai Gekkou --- the Miyasaka High student council president that your military is keeping? That was told to us by that Church, and we shall, with immediate effect, strip Kurenai Gekkou of his position, and mete out his punishment.

He looked at that description.

Kurenai Gekkou looked at that description,

"Hah."

He laughed mockingly.

At the same time.

Don (sfx)!

Such a sound rang out.

On hearing that, he looked to the side. He looked through the small window that was part of the entrance door of the student council room.

Gekkou ascertained that someone was knocking on the small window with the grip of a gun with a Don Don (sfx) sound, attempting to break it, and that a squad made up of dozens of people were trying to force their way in.

The man with the gun in hand, clad in military uniform, said.

"Kurenai Gekkou! You are surrounded! If you give yourself up obediently, we will spare your life. Open the door and come out of there!"

His voice resounded.

Looking at that.

"............"

Gekkou merely smiled.

He smiled at the foolish figures of the military folks who were trying to force their way in with brute strength.

"You can't open that door with that alone. A seal has already been placed on it. Unless you get a Curse Breaker, that door won't open."

The man outside then said.

"We've already summoned a Curse Breaker. It's only a matter of time before the door opens. But, you should surrender before that. If you value your li......"

However, at that point, Gekkou had already stopped listening to the meaningless talk of that man.

And once again, he looked at the documents on the desk.

The last section.

The section in the very last page.

That single mad Demon God believer who was trying to take Saitohimea captive, isn't he Kurenai Gekkou --- the Miyasaka High student council president that your military is keeping?

"............"

However, the guy who became the student council president of Miyasaka High, Gekkou, only had knowledge restricted to << S-a-c-r-i-f-i-c-e >> Kurogane Taito, the schoolmate he was tasked by the military to keep an eye on, and had not a single clue about the existence of Bahlskra and such.

In other words, Gekkou had never had the slightest thought of something like resurrecting that unknown monster.

But the military and the Church were under the wrong impression that Gekkou was trying to resurrect Bahlskra.

For some reason, the military and the Church had misunderstood that Gekkou was trying to resurrect someone he was completely unacquainted with.

Why was that so?

Why had the military misunderstood that Gekkou was trying to resurrect Bahlskra?

In response to that.

"...... is it Hinata?"

As he said that, a smile floated on his face.

The person who has the same appearance as himself,

"So Hinata is trying to resurrect Bahlskra?"

As he said that, a smile floated on his face.

And he thought that it was interesting. He thought that it was extremely interesting.

A legendary monster.

The worst kind of monster that was causing such a ruckus in the military.

The fearsome monster that sparked such fear in the Church.

Hinata was attempting to get hold of that power. Hinata was desperately trying to get hold of that power.

Then.

Then.

"...... what will happen if I first get my hands on that?"

After saying that with a tinge of happiness in his tone, he stood up. Following that.

"Mirai, not done yet?"

He said.

Before him. The Mirai who was fighting flashily with the monster in the student council room,

"Orrssha I've beaten itttttttttttttttttttttttttt!!"

Her voice rang out.

But Gekkou ignored that. And then once again, he verified the various places which he should read over in the documents.

"Eh? Erm, hello, Gekkou, I've beaten it, you know?"

"............"

"I've beaten the monster, you know?"

"............"

"Hey hey? I defeated the monster in a really cool......"

"............"

"Why are you ignoring meeeeeeeeeeeeeee!? I gave everything I got, so don't ignore meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!?"

"............"

"Hey! Hey Gekkou! Are you listening!?"

Mirai hollered.

Even with that, he continued ignoring her, and finished reading all the important parts of the documents, then looked up and said.

"Are you done?"

"I was done a long time ago!"

"You're slow."

"Gekkou is the slow one, hello!!"

"Don't make excuses."

Instantly, Mirai, with a dumbstruck face,

"Eeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!? Wait, uweeehhhhhhh!? What's with this guy!? What's with this guy!? Where the hell can I vent this rage on!?"

However she hollered, it didn't matter.

Gekkou looked at the clock in the room. It was 2052 hours. Until the school opens the next morning, there was still roughly a night's worth of time left. It was likely that the military wanted to clear up all this mess before the school starts, without any students or school personnel being the wiser. At that thought,

"...... more than enough."

Gekkou murmured.

He had the confidence that he could resolve this complicated state of affairs with just one night.

He looked.

He looked at the dimensional rift that Mirai had been pressing against.

Currently, that opened up dimensional rift was connected to a world that was different from this one.

When Gekkou disregarded his orders to keep an eye on Kurogane Taito, he had already discovered the location of the world in which Saitohimea was imprisoned, and the first thing he did was open a rift to connect to that place.

Following that, if he were in Saitohimea's shoes and were to escape, he would probably open a rift to connect to a place somewhere around here.

On top of that, he would open a rift on the other side to connect it.

Warping space, warping dimensions, connecting to unbelievable worlds with a portal.

"............"

The only place where this could be done is this school, no, the location on which Miyasaka High was built --- the location known as the << Holy Ground >> due to its special properties.

Brats who possess a particular power, the power that equates to being at an age of eighteen years or younger, are able to connect the gaps dividing the different dimensions at their whim, and thus move among them.

The other worlds that are connected here come in various shapes and sizes.

Worlds such as the prison constructed by the Church to imprison Saitohimea with a large expanse of land.

It's a much more immense world than this one here --- in other words, a world much more immense than the Earth, but yet, it was filled with nothing but plains and a lone dragon which lived there.

Or a world with merely three towns in which lived various kind of beasts that continuously wage wars.

Large ones, small ones, various kinds, a countless number of worlds.

One could connect to any of them via this school by choice.

One could go to any of them from this school.

It was an exceptionally special power. It was an attractive power that had prompted the military to build a school in order to hide it from other countries.

Of course, there were certain risks that came with it.

Connecting to other dimensions as and when one likes may result in the possibility of being attacked by a monster from some strange and unknown world.

Such as connecting to sealed grounds which all are forbidden to set foot on may result in the undertaking of the penalties that come with the violation, or such as connecting to a place where a death curse is activated instantaneously, thus causing one's own death; such are the possibilities.

On top of that, this is an unstable place that could connect to anywhere, and if a monster from the other side comes over to feed, every student and individual of the school will die within the day; that kind of possibility ---

"............"

No, it was not just a possibility; there was one time eighteen years ago, when such a event did take place. During that time, the useless student council president could not control the rift, and allowed the inhabitants from the other world to invade the school.

But even so. Even with those risks, this special property of the location could yield substantial returns.

"............"

At that moment, once again, Gekkou looked at the squad that was still frantically trying to remove the seal. He looked at the figures of all those useless, unsightly adults of this country who were trying to stop him.

Looking at that, a smile floated on his face.

"You guys won't be able to control this power."

After saying that, once again, he looked at the rift that Mirai was pressing on earlier.

This rift seemed to form a << Way >> to the dimensional space in which Gekkou had expected Saitohimea to be.

"Seems like I hit the jackpot."

He said.

The << Way >> was created, and he was attacked. Apparently, Saitohimea had deemed that she couldn't cross over to this side, and had instead sent a monster to attack them.

But.

"I won't let you escape, Saitohimea."

As he said that, he grabbed hold of the sword on his desk. Following that, he moved forward to the dimensional rift.

And he said to the Mirai who was standing beside the rift.

"...... alright. Let's go over to the other side."

"I refuse."

"Small fries have no say in the matter."

"Uwahhhhhhhhhhhh, uwahhhhhhhhhhhhh, I, I really hate......"

Ignoring her, Gekkou grabbed hold of Mirai's head.

"Eh? Eh? Wait, what are you......"

However, he ignored that as well, and forcibly pushed her head into the rift,

"Wait, why do I have to be the first......"

"Shut up."

"Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!?"

After ascertaining that Mirai had disappeared into the other dimension,

"How is it? Is it safe?"

He asked.

On saying that, Mirai's angry face came poking out of the dimensional rift,

"I, I'm going to kill youuu!"

"Hm. Seems like it's safe. Then, let's go."

As he said that, in one stride, he put his foot forward and stepped into the rift.

And then, the two of them disappeared.

To the other side.

To the other side of the story.

What will await them there?

Kachin (sfx: loud click of clock), the clock in the room sounded.

The needle struck nine, and the school chime rang out.

The chime that normally should not be ringing at this time of the night rang out.

And then, as if to aid the story in taking shape, one other destiny started running.

---