Kaze no Stigma:Volume1 Chapter1
Chapter One - The Disinherited Son Returns
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 a 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 it's 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, 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. Destroying any and all demons, the highest level of purification. The flame burned through the darkness.
"Y-yeah! I think I—"
Suddenly, the 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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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 blackenedd 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 who 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 excepted 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 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 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, were 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 must 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 a resentment darker than darkness.
"U-uwaaaaaaaaaaaa! Wha-what, what are you doing-!"
That same day, late at night, 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. By outward appearance, there was nothing different from a human, but that unearthliness was something a person could not possibly have.
The two who had been living up until 30 seconds ago, had been captured in a kekkai without even any chance to prepare themselves, and had been immediately decapitated.
The mysterious person had not moved a single finger. And yet, Shinji had clearly witnessed two heads being sliced off with incredible force, as if it was nothing. Or rather, had been forced to witness.
Shinji was the only person left living, even though the other two surpassed him in skill. 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. For a moment, it held off killing him, playing with him lazily, enjoying his empty resistance.
"What the hell! What did I do……?"
That thing gave no answers. Without even footsteps, it came near, taking its time.
That thing was completely silent. Not even the hint of a sound, as it drew closer. wielding an invisible sword.
Even when those heads had been severed, silence. 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 that thing could do. He had just met him yesterday. In addition, that man had a motive to kill them.
Shinji became frantic, begging that thing for forgiveness. His voice did a complete about-face.
"Ka-Kazuma? You're Kazuma, right? Forgive me, it was my fault, I'm regretting 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.
That thing was covered in golden flame. 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.
That thing stretched out a hand, easily taking hold of the golden flame, and in one movement, tore it from its body!
That 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.
That 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 that the eye could not help being fascinated by. A scene filled with beauty that one had to admit was of the spirit world.
"Hee, heehee, heeheeeeheeheehee-, kyahahahaha, ahahahaha!"
Suddenly, Shinji began laughing in a strange voice.
From an overload of fear, apparently his mental equilibrium had snapped. Even when the wind blade soundlessly sliced through his body, splitting it, without even showing a reaction, he tumbled over laughing.
Perhaps that thing had tired of Shinji's lack of response. As if throwing away an unwanted toy, it casually sliced off his head.
There was a dull thunk. The third head rolled on the ground.
Even having finished killing everyone alive, that thing was still dissatisfied. It persistently continued slicing up the bodies. Though it was only a few minutes, the three bodies had been 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. That thing laughed cruelly, and as if melting into the air, vanished.
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 to 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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