Kaze no Stigma:Volume1 Chapter1

Chapter One - The Disinherited Son Returns

1

"What bad taste……"

That was the first impression he had of the client. Incidentally (it should also be noted) this impression did not change in the slightest all the way to the end.

In this hilly, high-class residential area, the mansion sat arrogantly on display. With a design that completely disregarded the harmony of its surroundings, there were plenty of reasons to doubt the owner's true character.

If you were to disregard the bad taste thus far, you might have to say it was rather magnificent. Climbing up Governor's Hill, close by the famous Catholic girl's school, was the mansion. When he saw it, he was honestly, completely stunned.

Did Turkish harems have this feel?

Yagami Kazuma didn't seem to be joking when he thought that. He wanted to grab that person's collar and preach, "Don't paint the walls of a Japanese house in such wild colors!" It was that kind of house.

This could probably be considered the place of origin of Japan's Westernization movement. The first gaslight was lit here; ice cream was sold here first. You would expect it to be a stylish, refined town with a distinguished history.

Considering that, this is probably some kind of breach of contract…

He saw a decorated golden carp on the roof and let out a sigh. The image, held dear in Yokohama, had crumbled completely away with a clattering sound.

When he accepted the job at the agency, he was given not only an address, but also a detailed map. It was completely unnecessary, however. By asking the neighborhood residents, "Where's the house with the poorest taste around here?" even a monkey could manage to find his way here.

A structure painful to the eyes——he didn't want to call that a house——that when seen made Kazuma look begging up to the sky. The sky was empty and blue.

"Hey, at least it's work…" he muttered to convince himself.

However, this is the same Kazuma whose look probably wouldn't by any means be called appropriate for work.

Jeans and sneakers, a checkered shirt and a black jacket. His youth——at 22 years old——and his relaxed facial expression made him seem (no matter how you looked at it) no different than a student from the nearby university.

He was completely blind to his own faults. As he continued his observations he noticed something strange.

The darkness covering the mansion was thicker than he was told. Because of this, maybe even an ordinary person with no spirit sight could sense the darkness in the mansion's surroundings.

Maybe I'll just go back…

Nagged by a horribly bad premonition, Kazuma's thought was halfway serious.

The darkness that covered the mansion——it was something more unearthly than he expected, but it wasn't so much that he couldn't deal with it. For this reason, this premonition was a bad omen. There was something else up.

Judging from his experiences up to now, it was a credible and important premonition. However, he couldn't just throw away work on that alone.

This was his first assignment in Japan. If he broke off the arrangement with only a "For some reason or another," he would never get jobs in the future.

He made his way toward the mansion with heavy steps. He stopped once more, in front of a ridiculously huge gate.

While standing in front of the doorbell, Kazuma was still unsure. Danger signals bombarded his instincts. He couldn't help wanting to run away. However——

"Yagami-sama, I presume."

Without any warning, a voice came from the intercom, and completely disrupted Kazuma's thinking. He jumped back with a start, and stood on guard. The voice continued from before without concern for this.

"You've been expected. Kindly enter through the auxiliary entrance on the side."

Click.

Simultaneous with those words, a small door to the ride side of the gate unlocked. Apparently he was supposed to just go in.

Compared with that "You have been expected," that's some rude treatment…

He felt uncomfortable, but he was dealing with a customer. He entered through the side door as instructed,.

Inside the fence were a large number of security cameras and sensors. They must live a very shadowy life.

Multiple cameras followed him as he walked into the entranceway. With anger almost to the point of wanting to kill whoever put him under this rude surveillance, Kazuma somehow repressed himself.

"Eeek……"

That's what he'd intended, but apparently it showed on his face. The face of the maid, who came to greet him, was filled with a fear akin to having come across a man-eating bear. Kazuma hurriedly smoothed over his expression.

"Welcome, please come this way."

She went from a face of horror, as if she were being picked up and eaten, to an overly bright smile.

It didn't seem possible for someone to change their expression so dramatically, forgetting their suspicions, yet the maid smiled as if nothing had happened. A pro.

As the maid walked ahead, Kazuma observed her gratifyingly swaying bottom, while going to the living room to wait.

It would have been better if I'd left…

Kazuma felt deep regret at his choice as soon as he was guided into the living room. There inside, was a thin little man, self-importantly lying back, legs outstretched——Sakamoto Nanigashi, the master of the mansion and client——but he wasn't alone. There was one practitioner in the room as well, a face he knew well.

That practitioner, upon recognizing Kazuma, showed fear on his face for a moment, and then immediately twisted his lips into a sneer and glared at Kazuma with a face full of scorn.

"What? The other practitioner was you, Kazuma? You became a disinherited child of the Kannagi because of your incompetence, and now you dare to call yourself a practitioner?"

Probably those explanatory words were for Sakamoto to hear. Practitioner——Kannagi. The youngest child of the branch family, Yuuki, Shinji truly took great pleasure in abusing Kazuma.

Sakamoto showed the response Shinji expected. His expression changed and he approached Kazuma.

"So this is true, then? Isn't this different from what you said? You said you were a top-class spiritual practitioner, so I hired you!"

Kazuma calmly——while retreating the same distance as the other advanced——answered.

"I don't know what the person at the agency said. If you're dissatisfied, perhaps I should leave?"

"Hmmph, that's right."

Sakamoto's eyes showed a faintly cunning light. Kazuma's desire to work, scarce even at the best of times, quickly neared zero.

"Mmmm, how about this? Why don't you both try the exorcism, and only the successful one gets paid? Ahh, naturally I won't tell the loser to return the advance payment."

"Good idea, yeah."

They were flippant words, but Shinji had immediately accepted them. And then, with the face of someone who was completely made a fool of, he asked Kazuma.

"And what are you going to do?"

"I'm out."

Kazuma gave an immediate reply. In the scornful stares of the two, not even one muscle of an eyebrow moved.

"Hmmph, coward! Sucking your finger like a baby! I'll show you a model example of Enjutsu."

"Model example, eh? Didn't you say that? Just like the youngest child of the branch family."

"Y-you!"

Having the one he looked down upon look down upon him in return enraged Shinji. He completely forgot about being in front of a client, tightened a fist, and struck out.

It was a fist intent on crushing the skull, which Kazuma handled by opening his body to the left.

In the instant Shinji's right thrust was dodged he transferred the movement energy to his left leg, without stopping the rotation of his hips.

In reaction to the shift in center of gravity his left leg flew up in a rotating kick from Kazuma's blind spot, aiming for his temple.

However, Kazuma, as if he had seen it, lightly bent his head back. The heel of Shinji's left leg passed by a few millimeters in front of his eyes.

Kazuma's movements were like the leaves of a tree swaying in the wind, without hesitation. Into the space the kicking foot had left he entered with complete spontaneity, and lightly swept Shinji's pivot leg. Shinji, his left leg still floating in the air under the power of his own rotational power, violently slammed into the floor.

"Sh-shit!"

Shinji just barely managed to do ukemi, and quickly got back up. Incorrigible, he assumed a fighting posture.

"You—! Thinking you could beat me in Taijutsu? Even four years ago you weren't a match for me. There's no way you could be an opponent for my current self."

"Sh-shut up!"

Kazuma showed not the least bit of triumph. He chided disinterestedly, as if facing a defiant child. Being looked down upon from such a securely elevated position, Shinji's reason made a sound and broke.

"Stop it right there, you two."

However, just then, a restraining voice spoke, and the two turned at the same time to the voice's owner. Sakamoto showed great satisfaction at getting their attention. Then, in a tone as if he were an extremely important person, he scolded them.

"I didn't call you here to fight. The furnishings in this room, no matter which one you look at, are each more expensive than what I'm paying you. Any kind of rough behavior would be troublesome, okay?"

Suddenly, around the vicinity of money talk, there was a scumbag. The person in question was probably attempting to flaunt his assets, but for the ones made to listen, it was nothing but the stink of the nouveau riche pushed up their noses.

Maybe I'll leave… since I still get the advance payment.

With the discomfort index continuing to rise with no end in sight, Kazuma's desire to work had already dropped into minus territory. He couldn't help feeling how even being in this place was agony.

"Mm……?"

However, without warning, an unearthly presence began to converge, heralding a new development.

"——It's coming."

The unearthly presence spread throughout the mansion, directed its focus to one point in the living room. Kazuma casually moved to put Sakamoto and Shinji between himself and this presence.

"What's that? What just…?"

The unearthly presence solidified into something black. Shinji, over 10 seconds slower than Kazuma, finally noticed it as well.

"Mmmm, so it came out?"

"Wh-what? What's wrong?"

Hesitatingly breaking the suddenly tense atmosphere, Sakamoto shouted in a shrill voice.

Kazuma answered in place of Shinji, who was already beginning to focus his mind for the use of jutsu.

"It's time to work. The 'evil spirit'―or whatever you've been struggling with―just came out."

While giving this offhand explanation, Kazuma felt a beyond-ordinary sense of unease.

That's no evil spirit. What kind of thing is it?

When Kazuma first accepted the assignment, the person at the agency said "Just a normal evil-spirit exorcism."

——Hey, your first job should be one of these, right? If you're as good as the rumors say, you should be able to take that evil spirit with one hand——

A superficial seeming man, but with definite achievements, he'd heard. Their kind of work was, in some sense, even more than practitioners', something where confidence was life. Making a mistake this big was extremely unlikely. It wasn't an easy business, that that kind of irresponsible agency person would survive.

Was I set up? Well, fine. Should I just observe his skill?

Kazuma leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, and looked about as if sightseeing.

Shinji focused his mind to prepare himself for the appearance of the "evil spirit."

It seemed he planned to burn it away when it appeared. It was clear to see in his expression.

Suddenly, the space in front of Shinji turned dark and thick. Shinji faced both his palms towards each other in order to set up a transparent ball in front of his chest. A small fire was held between those palms.

Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooon……

A voice full of resentment shook the air as the evil spirit showed itself. A melted-away face projected infinite hatred for all living beings.

"Eeep!"

"HAAAA!!"

Paying no attention to the screaming Sakamoto, Shinji released a devastating flame, along with a sharp yell. The evil spirit became cleansed due to the fire; it would disappear without a trace——or so Shinji believed.

However——

"Idiot."

Gioooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo……

While the evil spirit's cries of agony echoed and Shinji snickered——

Flame exploded.

"Gahhhhhhhhhh!?"

Shinji screamed, wrapped in flame. In a moment the uselessly large living room became a sea of flame.

Kakakakakakakakakakakakakakakaka

Shinji's flame was eclipsed by the evil spirit. The flame was completely devoured. The youma began to sneer with laughter.

2

Even among the Enjutsu users who can freely manipulate fire, the Kannagi family is the strongest and most famous family. It's not just because their power is simply great. There is a special ability in the family's blood; there the reason surely lies. The flame they manipulate is not through the physical phenomenon of simply accelerating molecular motion. It possesses the power to burn away impurities and destroy evil.

Because of this "purifying flame" the Kannagi family practitioners hold absolute dominance over youma, evil spirits, and all beings who transgress the law. Even with the ability given by blood, to the extent their blood is diluted, it is inevitable that their power will deteriorate.

Already, the branch family practitioners had long lost the highest rank of "gold". If a youma with fire attributes were the opponent, likely even the released flame would be absorbed.

Like just now for example——the living room was turned into purgatory. The high-class furniture and the shag carpet were already carbonizing. The glass from the chandelier on the ceiling was melted, turned into some grotesque art object.

"Wonder if he's dead?" Kazuma muttered with a refreshed-looking face.

A cool breeze wrapped around Kazuma; the raging flame wasn't even allowed to get close to him. Even the heat was sealed off; not a drop of sweat was apparent.

"H-help……"

A frail voice stimulated his eardrums. Kazuma looked down at the blackened object at his feet.

What had rolled screaming into the kekkai, was the former client, Sakamoto. He didn't seem to be dead but he was burned here and there.

"Aaaaaa! He-help me!"

Sakamoto screamed while clinging onto Kazuma's legs. However Kazuma heartlessly kicked away his former client.

Thud!

Sakamoto's face writhed in a new kind of pain as it was mercilessly trampled upon. Since Kazuma didn't want to touch anything beyond slippers, he brought down his heel instead of stepping on him. It seemed like you could hear the skull making a creaking sound, but that wasn't a big problem.

Kazuma, trampled, grinding on Sakamoto's head, and clearly stated: "You're not a client and I don't have a habit of saving middle-aged men."

"If it's money, I'll pay. Twice as much, or so…"

"Twice? Your life's worth only one million?"

Kazuma took a cigarette from his pocket. He gently stretched out his hand, only exposing the cigarette's tip to the outside of the kekkai. He filled his lungs with tobacco smoke and slowly let it out.

Sakamoto didn't have the leisure to be so relaxed. Whether by chance or on purpose, only around Sakamoto were there holes in the kekkai. The tongues of flame began to lick him.

"Hot-! Ee-eeee! Help! I'll pay 10 million!"

"Thanks for your business."

Upon tossing away his cigarette Kazuma suddenly changed, smiling brightly. The smile of a demon that has made a profitable deal.

"All right now. Then, won't you please stand back?"

Kazuma kicked Sakamoto in the rear, sending him rolling, and, as if it were obvious, proclaimed: "You're in the way."

He began muttering in a staccato voice, and waved his right hand sideways in a mowing motion. As if being squeezed out by his hand, the raging fire was taken care of, expelled out the window.

The fire didn't spread to the grass and trees in the garden but scattered and vanished.

And then, inside the room, a distorted face attached to a fireball—only the youma's true body remained.

Hyuuoou-

In place of the extinguished fire, wind raged around the room. Kazuma stood quietly. With his hand still in his jacket pocket, he did not move a finger. And yet the wind followed Kazuma's intentions and erased the flame.

The fight was already over. The youma wasn't even able to put up any resistance in front of Kazuma's overwhelming power as it was torn to pieces. All that was left to do was wait for its annihilation.

"And with this…"

Kazuma slowly raised his right hand. For someone with the power to see spirits, the density of spirits crowding his hand would be terrifying.

"…the end!"

The hand swung down ten times faster than it came up. In a straight-line extension from the right hand, an invisible blade that cut even air molecules, cleaved the youma precisely in two.

Without sound, without any spirit fragments remaining, Kazuma regarded the destroyed youma with a calm look.

"Finished," Kazuma pronounced to Sakamoto. Sakamoto still lay on the floor, dumbfounded.

"Pay the money in three days. Otherwise, would you like to regret having ever been born?"

They were completely like a criminal's words. Even if that was a mistake, it wasn't the way you'd speak to a customer.

However Sakamoto, realizing the horror of going against Kazuma, did not complain.

"Y-yes. Understood. But something terrible has happened to Yuuki-kun. I never thought something so serious would happen."

Kazuma wordlessly came closer to what appeared to be the ashes of Shinji's remains and trampled on them in despair. As expected, Sakamoto also raised his voice.

"Wh-what are you doing!? I don't know whatever happened between you two, but you still shouldn't desecrate a corpse, right!?"

"He's not dead," Kazuma dryly spat the words out, and then continued to kick Shinji again and again.

Upon doing so, the ash covering the surface fell off, and almost unburned skin appeared.

"Wh-wha……?"

Sakamoto doubted his eyes at this unbelievable scene. Kazuma gave an offhand explanation.

"All of Kannagi's people receive the divine protection of fire spirits. Even people from a branch family wouldn't die in this degree of fire."

Kazuma curled his lips in self-derision, and added, "Though I'm the exception."

"Uu……Guu……"

Upon doing this Shinji woke up. Upon looking out around him, he confirmed the youma was already destroyed.

"You did this?"

"It's just like you saw."

Who do you think you are, saying whatever you please?——Kazuma answered in that kind of tone. He had already seen through how Shinji had kept his consciousness. Shinji hurriedly attempted an explanation.

"So you noticed……? But I couldn't help. I honestly couldn't move."

"I don't want to hear your excuses."

Kazuma coldly spoke this over his shoulder, as he turned his back. Shinji called out to the unhesitating figure leaving. There was still something he had to ask.

"Why did you return?"

"Must have been for something, I guess."

At that play-dumb answer, thinking he was being evaded, Shinji's gaze sharpened.

"'For something...' Do you think the elders will understand that?"

"I was only disinherited, I wasn't deported. Where I am is my business."

"What are you planning?"

"Nothing in particular," Kazuma answered curtly, shrugging his shoulders.

"Are you returning to the Kannagi?"

"Idiotic talk. Not even if I die."

He answered as if spitting out the words. Then Kazuma, this time, without hesitation, walked off.

Shinji was driven by an unease he couldn't stop. He continued to stare at Kazuma.

I have to tell this to the soushu as soon as possible…

In a sense Shinji's unease was on the mark. From this moment on began a war to push the Kannagi into an abyss of ruin.

3

"Do you know? It seems Kazuma has returned to Japan. What's more, he's become a fuujutsu practitioner."

"What! That incompetent has? It must be dead simple, then, to be a fuujutsu practitioner."

"Nope, 'I'm a dark magician' is what I heard. For him to become a practitioner he'd have to sell his soul to the devil—right?"

"Ah, that's probably true."

"Ahahahahahahahahahahahaha…"

That day rumors of Kazuma were the talk of the Kannagi main house. Of the elders—the general term for one retired from active service and now overseeing the management of the practitioners—having heard Shinji's report, only one wasn't jokingly spreading around nonsense.

Shinji was currently under probation for the offense of the aforesaid failure in his duty. Tail fin, dorsal fin, belly fins, all were wildly added to the rumor, until it grew to maturity—and not one person tried to stop it.

The source of the rumors, the elders, appeared to be in complete delight. The kind of people called elders—if you accepted the extremely serious exceptions—were basically men of leisure. "Looking important is work," and so on, was the gossip some attacked with.

When there was no work, they would drink tea all day and amuse themselves in talking about various topics. Obviously, they could not resist something interesting to talk about.

They were dancing for joy on the inside upon hearing Shinji's news. The elders, when they passed the verdict of probation on the dejected Shinji, had even something of a skipping type of light gait, while they drank tea and turned back to each other. They haphazardly began talking like this:

"Ohh, did you know…?"

The elders, during this work time, were like different people in energetic activity.

Within the hour there was almost nobody in the huge mansion who had not heard of Kazuma's return to the country. It certainly reached the servants—and then all kinds of people heard about it.

It was, in short, a situation where almost nobody knew the true facts, but it wasn't a big problem for the elders, since If it's interesting, who cares what happens later! was the elders' basic attitude.

And so, news of Kazuma spread—the exact opposite direction Shinji hoped for,

To wit—

"Kazuma's returned as a dark magician."

"Kazuma was secretly murdered; he's buried in the back garden."

"Kazuma clashed with Shinji during work and suddenly killed him."

"Kazuma made a contract with the wind spirits. An evil demon."

The truth was subtly mixed in; but having come this far nobody could really interpret it. Obviously no one feared Kazuma's retribution.

The main family's failure had left all his talent in his mother's womb, like liquid skimmed off the top, had somewhat found a preferable power to take in, it seemed. Nobody laughed at that.

However, there were a small number of exceptions. One of those was the current suzerain, Kannagi Juugo. During supper, in the humorous talk that was being told, there was one item Juugo was interested in.

"Ohhhh? Kazuma chose fuujutsu? Did you know that, Genma?"

Juugo spoke to his cousin sitting next to him. For some reason, as if harboring some ill will, he smiled a hating smile.

"…Oh"

Genma answered in brief. Apparently the rumor had already reached his ears, and he didn't appear disturbed.

However, it was clear he wasn't happy about the rumor either. The saying, like someone chewing up a bitter bug, perfectly described his frown as he gripped a tight fist.

If Kazuma was in front of me, I'd want to strangle him to death. It was that kind of face.

"It's shameful."

"It's not especially shameful." Juugo answered lightly, and then gave a command to a servant. "I would like to hear a detailed account. Call Shinji."

"Certainly."

Shinji went as far as scraping down to the tatami in his prostration. His tension was great; sweat floated on his forehead and his breathing was disordered.

Regarding the Kannagi family, it would be fitting to say that the difference between the main family and the branch family's status was absolute. To even dream of a revolution was foolish.

Tradition, social status—it wasn't a system based on that kind of abstract idea. The thing separating the two was only—only—the overwhelming difference in power.

If all the practitioners of the branch family were to fight, if it was with someone like Juugo or Genma, they would be smashed by the wiggle of a little finger. Because of this hopeless kind of power difference, no thoughts of rebellion were harbored.

You could say it was understandable how Shinji would be under such tension. In front of Juugo, who had something similar to a god's absolute superiority, and having to recount his clumsy failure. This was definitely worse than his original feelings.

"Raise your face. You don't have to humble yourself like that."

Juugo spoke in a friendly manner; but to look into the suzerain's face and speak was far too overwhelming for Shinji. In the end he raised his face, but his eyes still stared towards the tatami as he submitted his report.

"A-and, I now have the privilege of being allowed to give this report."

When Shinji had finished recounting everything, Juugo said "…I see," and was silent for a while.

"…I see."

As if to confirm, he repeated it one more time. He closed his eyes lightly, and reminisced back to when his nephew—to be accurate, the relation was more separated than that, but he used the label since it was too much trouble—had left 4 years ago.

—What a poor child he was.

If he had been born to any but the Kannagi family, he would have been considered a superior child, probably. Excellent intellect, good reflexes too, and he also showed great promise in learning the jutsu; except for one, only if you exempted the ability to manipulate fire.

However, for the Kannagi family it was certainly the most necessary ability.

No matter what else he was proficient at, someone with no talent for manipulating fire was treated as an incompetent. As a result of that, Kazuma was no longer part of the Kannagi.

Yet— Juugo thought.

Why didn't you ask me for help, Kazuma? There was no need to disown you from the family. If it was me, I would have made a place for you. Whatever Genma said, I wouldn't have cared about the Enjutsu, I would have made use of your talent, yet despite that…

Juugo looked down upon his right leg. That right leg was a thing made of metal and plastic. If that accident hadn't happened, and the "rule of inheritance" hadn't been rushed, maybe Kazuma would be here right now?

However, it was far too late. Kazuma had thrown away the family, the family name, all that was Kannagi, and had left Japan. This was reality. The past is a thing that could never be changed.

"…Suzerain?"

That uncertain sounding voice brought Juugo back to reality. Upon looking around, he found everyone in an uncomfortable silence. It wasn't surprising. There were almost none among these who had not tormented Kazuma.

However, the one who had driven Kazuma out was calm. That person—Genma—spoke out, without a single change in his expression.

"Suzerain. Kazuma is already someone without any connection to the Kannagi. There is no need to worry about him."

"Genma, you would, of your own son—"

"I have only one son, Ren."

Genma spoke coolly, interrupting the suzerain's words. Juugo tried to say something else in reply, but disliking unproductive battles, he put other, safer words into his mouth.

"It's fine then. After all, Kazuma has become successful with fuujutsu. Maybe it was best that he left the Kannagi. Or maybe, Hyoue, if he had been entrusted to your place, he would have become skilled and powerful?"

"Perhaps." Sitting at a lower seat, the head of the Fuuga clan answered sullenly.

At that, Genma again cut in with an objection.

"We are afraid, yet Fuujutsu and such, are after all, lower arts. The most they are capable of is acting as assistants to Enjutsu. Even supposing 4 years ago, we knew of Kazuma's talent for Fuujutsu, for us to leave him to people like the Fuuga clan, clearly, we would still have to disinherit him."

Hearing his art publicly insulted, Hyoue twisted his face in humiliation. However, nobody paid any attention to neither Hyoue nor his face.

For the Kannagi family, who only noticed the value of fighting power, the Fuuga clan, having been given the reconnaissance and battle support duties, was limited to a lower status. Genma's words were not reckless. They weren't anything beyond the normal beliefs of the other Kannagi.

"…We will go no further with this talk. Dinner will become unpleasant."

At Juugo's words, everyone showed clearly relieved expressions on their faces. As if on cue, cheerful talk began, and they rolled around laughing at silly jokes.

Though awkward, the usual dining hall atmosphere returned.

And so, nobody noticed the dark light harbored in Hyoue's eyes. He suppressed the expression on his face, and murmured in a voice so small it did not even reach his own ears.

"I will not forget this disgrace, Genma…"

4

"Kannagi……no, Yagami Kazuma……? You came back at a very good time!"

"Huo-huo-huo……" In a darkness-filled single room, without even one streak of light in it, a hoarse laugh broke into the strained silence.

"And……?"

"Yes, it's better if everyone hears this. Finally the time has come. The time when we shall dispel the disgrace that has lasted 300 years. Now is the time for us to regain the power we lost and return to our previous glorious position."

"Ohhhhhhhhh…………"

A stifled commotion filled the air. No one shouted. Afraid of being discovered, they kept their breaths in check, keeping their tension locked in themselves.

"Oh, when you finally realize it, you Kannagi... We will overthrow you and leave not a single one remaining… Kukuku…"

A low and gloomy voice echoed with resentment darker than darkness.

"U-uwaaaaaaaaaaaa! Wha-what, what are you doing-?!"

Late at night that same day Shinji screamed out. Nearby were two freshly severed heads, and two headless corpses tumbled down. And then, standing before him, a——human?

Shinji wasn't able to say for certain. There was nothing different from a human by outward appearance; but its unearthliness was something a person could not possibly have.

The two——who were alive up until 30 seconds ago——had been captured in a kekkai without any chance to prepare themselves and were immediately decapitated.

The mysterious person had not moved a single finger. And yet Shinji had clearly witnessed two heads sliced off with incredible force, as if they were nothing. Or rather, Shinji had been forced to witness.

Even though the other two surpassed him in skill Shinji was the only person left living. It wasn't because of luck. Shinji realized this more than anyone else.

He was being toyed with. This demon in human shape was feeding on Shinji's fear and hopelessness. It held off killing him for the moment, playing with him lazily, enjoying his empty resistance.

"What the hell?! What did I do…?"

The thing gave no answers. It came near without even footsteps, taking its time.

The thing was completely silent. Not even the hint of a sound as it drew closer, wielding an invisible sword.

Silence——even when those heads were severed. The two blood-covered heads rolling on the ground seemed not to have noticed their own deaths, still with drunken, relaxed slack smiles.

Shinji knew of only one person who could do what this thing could do. He had just met him yesterday. In addition, that man had a motive to kill them.

Shinji became frantic, begging the thing for forgiveness. His voice did a complete about-face.

"Ka-Kazuma? You're Kazuma, right? Forgive me——it was my fault, I regret it, so please, forgive meeee——"

The only reply was the flash of the wind-blade. It severed his right arm at the base. The blade, formed of a high density of spirits, cut through meat and bone as if it were tofu.

"Uwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!"

While screaming, Shinji threw himself fully into starting Enjutsu. The intense concentration from being so close to death brought forth the greatest power of his 25 years of life.

The thing was covered in golden flame. With the power of destroying any and all demons, the highest level of purification. The flame burned through the darkness.

"Y-yeah! I think I——"

Suddenly, that thing, now changed into a huge torch, began to move. Shinji's face, full of hope, froze.

The thing stretched out a hand, easily taking hold of the golden flame, and in one movement, tore it from its body.

The thing escaped from the flame's restraints completely uninjured. To say nothing of its body, not even the clothes showed any sign of having been burned.

The thing slowly turned to Shinji and began walking. Underneath the freezing moonlight, without a sound, it came closer, an ominous shadow.

This was, in some ways, twisted. There was something there the eye could not help being fascinated by. A scene filled with beauty one had to admit was of the spirit world.

"Hee, heehee, heeheeeeheeheehee-, kyahahahaha, ahahahaha!"

Suddenly, Shinji began laughing in a strange voice.

Apparently his mental equilibrium had snapped from an overload of fear. Even when the wind-blade soundlessly sliced through his body, splitting it, he tumbled over laughing without even showing a reaction.

Perhaps the thing tired of Shinji's lack of response. It casually sliced off his head as if throwing away an unwanted toy.

There was a dull thunk. The third head rolled on the ground.

The thing was still dissatisfied even having finished killing everyone alive. It persistently continued slicing up the bodies. Though it was only a few minutes, the three bodies were turned into many small pieces. To not even speak of the parents being able to recognize them, they wouldn't even be able to tell what kind of flesh it was.

The raw stink of blood and meat drifted through the kekkai. The thing laughed cruelly and vanished as if melting into the air.

Afterwards, three severed heads remained. In contrast to the bodies there was not one injury on those heads.

Somehow the three heads had ended up in a straight line facing the gate; each had a strange smile, as if to say to anyone coming through that gate, "Welcome to a nightmare world."

Words delivered with a smile.

And so the tragedy began——

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