《Taikutsu-girai no Fuuin Jutsushi》 CH 1 1. Life Note C Introduction If I were to summarize my life history in a book, it would had end in one page. Maybe I cant even finish the Ki part of Ki-sh-ten-ketsu. [TN: Kishtenketsu is a way of how the story constructed. which is, Ki for Introduction, Sh for Development, Ten for Twist or Progress, Ketsu for Conclusion] My life was a repetition of sleeping and waking up. There is just too little that I could write on it. My Life Note will most likely be filled with nothing but blank pages. But, there is one thing that I could write.. It was something that happened half a year ago. DDSix months ago, I protected a stranger girl from ruffians. At that time, I was probably reading too much of adventures stories and burning with a sense of justice. After seeing a girl taken to the back alley, I followed and stunned the ruffians by hitting them with a wooden stick from behind. The girl bowed while saying Thank you with her blue colored face, then she stood back and run away in fast, even though I thought it would be okay to stay a bit longer.. While I was thinking about the girl, suddenly a knight with full armor grabbed me from behind. After he had heard the story, somehow it became the lords son was beaten by me until fainted. So, I was sentenced to one year in prison for beating the lords son. Sure, it was a half false charge, but I didnt have anyone to defense me, and my explanation just sounded like an excuse. Then I realized that the ally of justice was powerless and worthless in front of authority. Wait, it was not that worthless Thanks to that, I could write a few lines in my life notes. In a way, it was a good story. Now, I could write more than one page on my life notes. But, my limit is 4 pages at most. So, if one book is about 40 pages and it is equal to the depth of one person life, so the depth of my life is about one tenth of that of a normal person. Not bad. After all, this is what my life is like Until I met that old man C DD The sky seen from the iron-barred window looked beautiful. The sky I usually saw when I was outside didnt look so beautiful, but the sky I looked up from inside the prison looked so beautiful. The sky, which also a symbol of freedom, looked like it was shining. Perhaps, because it was seen from a cramped place, the light seen from the shadow felt so dazzling. Another half a year, huh There was a bookshelf, a study desk, a toilet, and two wooden chairs. And also, there were two sets of mattresses and blankets. The scenery that would not change. Its been half a year since I was imprisoned for a boring sense of justice. I will be released in another half a year. When I came here, I was grateful for the environment where I could have three meals every day but, living in the same place with the same scenery every day was harder than I expected. Get up in the same room Do the same things Sleep at the same time Its not that this prison itself is bad. The guards dont hurt the prisoners, and the labor and exercise in here are appropriate. It just that I?want?some?change. I wanted something to happen that could completely erase my boredom. Its okay even if its just a simple thing like adding some pudding to the usual breakfast menu. I really want a change even if its just a trivial matter. I was tired of repeating the same day. The same thing also happened when I was living outside, but at the very least the scenery was always different. Im bored. Im tired of this. And I need to keep living here for another six months Im going crazy. I wonder if those who have been here for 10 or 20 years went insane or not? I took my eyes off the bar and sneaked into the blanket. Are you awake? Prisoner number 089. My number was called. It was the voice of a familiar male guard. I turned over on the mattress, but seeing the guard frowning in a bad mood, I hurriedly stood up and bowed. Thank you for your hard work. Do you need something? Yeah. Actually, Im going to put a new prisoner in this room from today. It was just news about a new prisoner. But in my mind, Finally someone else will be here. The prison cell where I was in was large, large enough for 6 adults to sleep side by side. But for the last six months, no prisoners other than me inside the cell. Even though all the other prisoners in the prison was saying that they were not alone in their cell. This is it. Come. Fast. The guard beckoned, and a weak footstep approached my cell. What emerged from the shadow of the guard was a tall gray-haired old man. I was a bit disappointed. Sure, I didnt expect a beautiful woman to come (well, the prisons are gender-separated in principle), but at least if someone around the same age came, I could talk to him. An old man like him cannot bring a change that I want. I will be in your care from now on. Boy Me too. Prisoner number 118. He had hollow eyes as if he had given up everything. DDI never thought that from the encounter with the old man, my life notebook will be filled with many words. If my life was a story book, this moment was surely the Introduction part. Prisoner number 118, the old man, he started reading all the books in the room. He monopolized the study desk and read books while muttering something. I wrapped up myself in the blanket, while trying not to get involved, but after ten minutes. Boy, Whats your name? The old man suddenly came near me. Seal Seal? What about your family name? I dont know about it because I was abandoned by my parents since I was a baby. Even my name, I thought about it myself. I saw a faint sympathy in the old mans eyes. Its none of your business. It doesnt matter if my parents abandoned me, Im sure there was a reason why they had to abandon me. Well, nothing will change even if I keep thinking about it. I never really think much even if my parents werent there, and since they werent there from the beginning, I never feel anything about that fact. I never jealous over someone else family. So, I dont need your sympathy. And Please, Stop?seeing?me?like?that, I hate it. Well, then Ill call you Seal. Feel free to call me old man Bar. Go away, old man. Im sleepy. Wait, Seal, I want to hear one thing. Then I said, What?, with a slightly annoying tone. The old man held up a thick book at his hand and asked me. If I ask the guard for a new book, will they give me? Huft, Seriously? old man You are so narrow-minded that it disgusts me. I got up and pointed to a small bookshelf in the corner of the prison. A total of 20 books were stored on the bookshelf, from childrens books to books with hundreds of pages. Cant you see that bookshelf? There are still books packed there. Yes, but Ive already read all the books on that bookshelf. Unconsciously, I replied, What?, And looked at the bookshelf again. The way it arranged has changed The books on the bookshelf have only been touched by me so far. Therefore, if there was a change in the arrangement of the bookshelves, I could immediately notice it. The top shelf was mostly my favorite books, the second shelf was some books for study, and the third shelf was childrens books. However, the arrangement was out of order. Its been less than an hour since you came. Did you read all the books here in that short time? Its not that difficult. Its easy to read one book in a minute if you get the hang of it. Bullsh*t. It might be possible if it was just a simple picture book, but there are books with hundreds of pages. So, its impossible to read it in a minute. I casually picked up a book on the bookshelf It was a book about a hero with a title Hero Solon and the Devil Dragon and opened the 122nd page. Chapter 3, Second Paragraph. What Solon said to the small devil who was begging for its life? An emissary of pure justice will also listen to the devil who was begging for its life. But I am neither an emissary of justice nor a pure good man. There is no ear to lend to the devil who has attacked, killed, and ate people. As a mere warrior, the only thing I can give you is to help you die faster.CThe lines written on page 122, from lines 7 to 9. There was no mistake at all in his word. I put the book back on the shelf and gazed at the old man with expectation. Could I hear your name once again? Barha Zetta. 79 years old, Male. What kind of crime did you commit to be here? .Human experimentation My heart got cold at once. However, the cold heart immediately burned with the heat of curiosity that sprung from the bottom of my abdomen. DDThe boredom that I felt until now starting to melts. You Who are you? What kind of job did you have outside? I did a lot of different things, but Im good at being a Sealer. [TN: its ӡg (Fuinjutsu-shi) in raw, I cant find a good English word for it, it can be translated as Seal Master or Sealman or Sealer, but the LN write it as Sealer, so yeah To be honest I prefer to leave it in Japanese, but well] Sealer? I have never heard of it. Your face is saying, Ive never heard of it. Well, theres only one Sealer in the world So yeah, theres no other than me. Its really in minority. I dont care whether its in majority or minority. This old man is definitely different from the normal humans I have ever met, and somehow, he has an aura that I have never felt. maybe I could use this to kill time. What does a Sealer do? I asked the old man while grinning. The old man was looking at me. A few seconds of silence. What? Is there something wrong within me? The old man who had a face full of despair suddenly his eyes lighted up with hope and laughed. Are you interested? Maybe? Just a little? In this way, I became a disciple of the old man Barha Zetta. It looks like I wont be bored for the remaining six months until my release. CH 2 2. Seven Types of Mana I didnt hate studying. After all, it was fun to get new knowledge. Besides, the content of Magic learned from the old man was interesting. The old man first explained to me the power of magic. There were seven colors of Mana. Red, Green, Blue, Black, White, Yellow, Rainbow. Of these, Mana of the colors Red, Green and Blue were flowing in all humankind. This called, Three Main-source Colors. And Mana of the colors Black, White, Yellow, Rainbow. One of these was randomly given to one individual. This called, Four Sub-source Colors. In other words, it seemed that a total of four colors of Mana were flowing to humans, Three colors ofMain-source+ one color of Sub-source. Mana has characteristics for each color. Red The Mana of Strengthening. It was a Mana that strengthens things. You could increase the strength of things and strengthen your own body by using the Red Mana. Green The Mana of Creation. It was the Mana that create things. You could make flames, water, or substances / objects such as iron and steel from the Green Mana. Blue The Mana of Operation. It just the Mana that moves the Mana It was this Mana that guided the Red Mana to the place where you wanted to strengthen, also ejected or stagnated the substance created by the Green Mana. The more dexterously you could move the Blue Mana, the wider the range of magic. In a sense, it might be the most important Mana. When Blue Mana was exhausted, it became impossible to operate any others Mana. The role of the Magician also changed depending on what extend you could operate theThree Main-source Colors. If you were good at using Red Mana, you would be a Warrior type that pushed anything with your physical strength, If you were good at using Green Mana, you would be a Magician type that casted magic as many as you could. If you mastered both Red and Green, you would be a Versatile type that could handle both. However, basically, it was said that increasing both Red and Green was a waste of efficiency, so it was popular to choose and focus on one of it, and at the same time learn how to use Blue Mana. Its just a theory though. However, up to this point, each Magician had no personality. The Magicians personality was determined by the Four Sub-source Colors. Black The Mana of Destruction. As the name implied, it was a Mana that destroys the substances touched by it. Applying it in others magic could enhance the destructive power of the magic and applying it on a sword would increase the sharpness of the sword. It was similar to Red Mana, but unlike Red Mana, it couldnt strengthen the body or objects itself. This was because the body would collapse when the activated Black Mana was being circulated in the body. This was the same for the sword. There was no problem if you applied it to the sword like an aura, but if you put it on the sword itself, the sword would break. It was a Mana that said difficult to handle. White The Mana of Regeneration. It could be used to repair the body and things. You could heal a wound by lighting the White Mana on the wound, also repair an object by lighting the White Mana on the broken object. Healing could only be performed by using White Mana. Yellow The Mana of Domination. The Mana that targeted brain and soul, then controlled the vessel. Used for causatives of spirits and brainwashing of others. So, it could be said that the Mana had a bad property, and if you were known to had it, you would be hated. Yellow Mana was a must for a summoners or necromancer. Rainbow the Mana of Freedom. Manas that cannot be classified by the other six colors were generally called Rainbow Mana. So, it also could be said as the other. It didnt have a fixed property, so it said to be versatile in application. It was a mysterious Mana that had not been studied yet, and it was a rare Mana with the smallest number of individuals who possessed it. Basically, there were many people with Black Mana or White Mana, and the theory for it was well established, so it seemed easy to handle. The Magician who handles black magic was called Black Magician, and the Magician who manipulates white magic was called White Magician. There was no particular name for the one with the other two colors, Yellow and Rainbow. Perhaps because the number of individuals were small. Well, the name of Yellow Magician or Rainbow Magician just feel weird. So from theFour Sub-source Colors, I wonder what is my color I was mumbling so, but Its Yellow. The old man answered immediately. Contrary to his crumpled skin, the old man was staring at me with his fresh silver eyes. How you know it? I have a little special eye. Which one is the special eye, the blue right eye or the silver left eye? Which one? Yellow so its Mana of Domination? The Sealer is useless unless he has the Magic of Domination. So, youre in luck. Domination I mean Sealing, it has an image of keeping the other party in a jar or a bill. Can it be called Domination depending on the viewpoint? After all, you need to control, bind, and trap the other persons body. Youve confirmed that Im qualified, so please teach me a sealing technique. Before that, you need to know how to handle Three Main-source Colors. Grasp the features of Mana with it, and after that, start training for Sub-source. This is the basic pattern of a Magician With that said, I learned about how to handle the Red Mana. And at the same time, the Blue Mana too. Red Mana was the Mana of Strengthening, and the core was the heart. It was said that there was an energy source that producing Red Mana in the heart. I need to Imagine something like transferring power from the heart to the limbs through blood vessels. Blue Mana was the Mana of Operation, and the core was the brain. I need to Imagine something like transferring power from the brain to the limbs through blood vessels. Blue Mana from the brain and Red Mana from the heart, I needed to mix it and transfer to the whole body. Ah, I got the image. Easy-peasyDD Its impossible. I practiced as I was told and gave up early. In the first place, Ive never dealt with Mana, and I dont know how to transfer power at all. Tell me why I cant do it, Master. Because. you dont have the sense. Thats it. You, are you really want to teach me? He is an old man who is not good at explaining. Maybe he has never taken a disciple. After all, he said he was the only sealer in the world. I mean, is it really present, something like Red Mana? or Blue Mana? Isnt it just your nonsense? The old man stood up silently and swung his thin arm up. Hmm! When the old man hit his fist on the stone ground. Ah, the ground cracked. I was worried that such a sloppy old man could keep up with the prison labor, but there seemed to be no problem. I broke a rock when I was eight. When I was the same age as you, I split the sea with my fist. Ah, Yes! Its definitely exaggerated! After all, old geezer and old hag like to forge his own hero`ic story. The old man was looking at me with a blank face. The face was saying, I dont know what youre talking about. Huh? Youre joking right? Did you really split the sea? Youre kidding, right? You can do it, if you try hard. My so-called Master folded his arms, spitting out stupid words. Yeah, yeah, you want me to keep trying, right? okay, okay Oi, you d**khead, Seal! What did you just say?! I said, Lets fight and bet the prisoners boss seat. In this prison, prisoners took a bath at the same time in the public bath. I was now facing another prisoner, the one who bossing other prisoners, who was 2 meters tall and weighed 150 kilograms, equipped with a towel. The Prisoners Boss, Butamaru, he glared at me, then stood up. [TN: Butamaru, which also could be translated as fat pig. but since its a name? Ill put it as it is for now.] If I win, Ill have you take over the labor that my room was assigned to. Haah! I hate it. There is no reason for me to ride this game! If you win, Ill give you a dessert for lunch every day. Alright !!! Butamaru kicked the ground before deciding the rules of the game. A greasy giant approached. A rock-like fist was swung up. If I received the fist, I would have been knockout before the game start. CRACK!!, There was a sound of crushed bone. My forehead and Butamarus fist clashed. Uggghhh-aaaahhh!!? Butamaru held his right fist with his left hand and rolled around the stone floor of the bathroom. Alright, I succeed in controlling it. I focused the Red Mana in one place, on my head, and received Butamars fist with it. There was no damage to my head, but a slight shock was transmitted from the neck down. I think its good enough to just concentrating the Mana in one place, but if I do not cover the other parts with a certain amount of Mana, the impact be transmitted, huh? Next is Butamaru kneeled on the floor and glared at me. Butamaru screamed and rushed to me like a wild boar. I kicked up the wooden bucket at my feet, caught it with my right hand, and let the Red Mana flow into the bucket. DDObjects Strengthening. I threw the bucket at Butamaru. If its a wooden bucket, he could repel it easily. Even if it hits, it does not cause much damage. But what if it hard as steel? Uggguuu?!!! Yup, it will be like this. Butamaru broke his nose as he tried to catch the tub on his face. And he was dispirited. Apparently, it was my win. I passed through the noisy prisoners and approach an old man who scooping hot water from a bathtub and pouring it to his body. Shall I wash you back? No need. It seems that you became quite skillful in handling the Red Mana now. Yeah, its perfect. Well, it took me a whole week though. If so, I will start the real training of sealing techniques from tomorrow. I and the old man entered the bathtub and sat side by side. Hey, old man. Who was the one that tricked you into this prison? Tricked? Why do you think so? Because youre not a sinner. You see, Ive lived on the other side of the city since I was born. So, I know the smell of trash. The old man looked like he was thinking about something. I cant trust that nose, because Im a trash. If you realize that youre a trash, its mean youre now the real deal. Warm water ran around my whole body. I like it better if the water is hotter. The hot water in this prison is way too warm. Its warm I agree. I nodded to the old mans grumble. It had been a week since the old man came, and Id become able to handle Red Mana and Blue Mana Im not sure if this week is short or long. CH 3 3. Sealing Technique Since I was able to use the Read Mana (Mana of Strengthening) safely, it was decided that I would be taught Sealing Technique. As for the Green Mana (Mana of Creation), I didnt learn anything of it because it said that it was difficult to practice in the prison environment. If anything, I was more interested in the Mana of Creation than the Mana of Strengthening, so I was very disappointed. After all, when it came to magic, everyone would think of a fireball Everyone should yearn for a ball of fire. After all, boys are such creatures. Fireball, Ill definitely learn it when Im released, so wait till then And so, I was completely struck by the old mans Sealing Technique. First of all, as a basic knowledge, I was taught about what was a Sealing Technique and what was a Sealer. DDA Sealer was a person who manipulates the Sealing Technique. The target was sealed in an Mana Fillable Object like a talisman or a box, confined and isolated from this world. The old man said that the only thing that can be used sealed was limited to a Mana Filled Object. For example, the small stones in the surrounding or a pigs and cows that were not filled with Mana, were not applicable. There were three major conditions required for Sealing, ? Knowing the other partys name ? The opponents Mana is less than the Sealers Mana ? To mark the other party by putting a Character Stamp on them. If the target were not a living thing, the first condition could be omitted. In other words, you didnt need a name to seal a sword or spear. There were many loopholes in the first and third conditions, but basically the second condition DD The Targets Mana is less than the Sealer DD couldnt be excluded. By the way, the only one who can be sealed in this prison is me or you. Well, theres nothing here that could be filled with Mana. Hmmm? So, I cant put it into practice right now even if I learned it? Well, there is a way, its to seal yourself However, its a waste to do that, and also a Sealing Technique takes time to learn because it is a high-level technique. No, no, even if I know how, I wont do it because Im too scared to seal myself. Dont worry. In my personal belongings that I let to be keep in this prison, there is a demon. So, lets bribe the guard with money and ask him to bring it here. The old man made a bribe declaration brazenly. The characteristic of the guards in the prison were that they were vulnerable to money. That said, perhaps the old mans strategy would work. Old man, you said that you need the name of the creature to seal it, but what about monsters and others that dont understand language? I mean, you cant know the name. A monster is basically be thought of as something that cannot be sealed Given that it is not necessary to seal the non-speaking monster. From the way you say, it sounds like there is a monster who can speak? Monsters gain intelligence every time they eat a person after they eats hundred people, the monsters can learn the humans words and have the same thoughts as human. And that kind of monsters, I called it . On the contrary, a human who has gained power by eating a monster Both are evil and atrocious, but unlike normal monsters, they are aware of their name and can be sealed. [TN: The literal translation of the word is Jinma is Humanoid Demon and Majin is Demon Human] and , huh Seeing that the old man makes a bitter face, it seems to be a troublesome opponent. Another question, is there any fixed form for the character stamp? There is, the shape depends on the sealing method. I will tell you about it later. After finishing the explanation, the old man was out of breath and sat down on a chair in the prison. Sealing is a lot of work, isnt it? But its a magic technique that can beat anyone if the conditions are met It requires a tricky action, but you dont hate to play with it, right? Oh, it looks like youve grasped my personality in this short period of time. You have a lot to remember. DDWell, I can use it to kill time. So, (1) Hit the target with a fist covered in Yellow Mana. If the targets total Mana is less than you, the opponent will be marked. (2) Take out the object with the magic circle drawn in advance. This object can be anything as long as it does not contain Mana. If the opponent is a living thing, write the name of the target in the outer frame of the magic circle. (3) Cast the sealing spell. The target will be sucked into the object on which the magic circle is drawn. If the magic circle is dyed red, it is a success. (4) Cast a special spell to unlock the seal. Sealed items that cant hear your voice cannot be unsealed. That was the basic procedure for sealing. - After eight hours of class, I was burying my face in the stone floor. How to write magic circles, types of spells, how to handle Yellow Mana It took a considerable amount of time to accurately pull it out from a poor old man. My head hurts. However, the old man is tired more than I am. Old man, are you okay? Yeah, Im okay. No, youre not, youre lying. An okay person wouldnt lean forward and sit in a chair. The old man was completely exhausted. And, to that old man, I was half-jokingly suggesting, Lets me massage your shoulder., But, then the old man smiled. Could you? Oops. I intended it to be joke, but its hard to say that its a joke now, especially after he give a carefree smile. I scratched my head, stood up and went around behind the old man. Then I made a fist and rhythmically hit the old mans shoulder. Seal, can you weaken your strength a little more? Hmm? like this? Thats too weak. Then, how about now? Its hurts! Seal, it hurts! Are the option only 1% or 100% force?! Tch, I cant help it! Ive never massage someone shoulder before! I hit the old mans shoulder while searching for the appropriate strength. As I hit the old mans shoulder, I immediately felt the brittleness of that shoulders. Weak shoulders which was likely to be dented Based on his age, it was not something strange. I somehow asked the old man a question I couldnt ask before. Old man, why do you teach me Sealing Technique? Ummm? I mean, youre the only sealer in the world, right? That means you havent taken a disciple until now. Thats right maybe you could say that its similar to the human nature who want to leave an offspring before they die My life will not last so long, so I wanted to leave my skills before I meet my end. Not last long, huh There is no lie in that word The feeling that I feel in my fist says so. I stopped and sat on the floor, leaning against the old mans chair. Seal, why did you decide to learn Sealing Technique? Just for killing time. Isnt there any other purpose? I have no other purpose, even a dream too, not at all. So, I have no plans for my future Ill be free for my whole life Thats why Ill always killing my time for the rest of my life. And, this Sealing Technique is likely to be a good way to kill time after being released Thats why Im learning it. Just for killing time, huh. It might be the same reason as why I teach you Sealing Technique Just for killing time, no, maybe its just an act of vain struggle? The old man laughed with a strained smile. I didnt even know what the old man was carrying or what he was trying to carry. I didnt think the old man would ask me to do anything or fulfill his wish just because I learned Sealing Technique. I didnt think that Sealing Technique would be useful. I wouldnt even try to take over the things that the old man was carrying. Well, as a gratitude for this, I want to give something back to the old man I thought that I want to pay him back. CH 4 4. A Warm Palm Three months have passed since the old man came. I was still awake in the prison where I was sleeping. I placed the ring with the red jewel in my hand on the desk and hit it with a fist covered with Mana. DD MARK. Yellow Mana was injected into the ring, and a character stamp emerged on the ring. CLOSE When I chanted, the ring was sucked into the rectangular talisman next to it. I saw the ring disappeared and the talisman was dyed red. Then, I clench my fist made a small victory pose. Sealing, complete! . This was the basis of Sealing Technique. by hitting the object with a fist with Mana, then, placed a vessel (talisman, jar/box, object that does not contain Mana) with the name of the target and an appropriate magic circle written on it, and lastly, recited the incantation, CLOSE, to . Then, the object to be sealed would be sucked into the vessel. If I broke the vessel or if I thought about releasing the object that I sealed, the seal would be broken. This was called . There was no need to Write out the name except for living things. That was why, I straight chanted Close after I marked it. No, but Never did I think that I really could do it! I had accumulated it as knowledge, but I didnt know if I could actually do it. It was unexpectedly easily. I was honestly happy Hmm? Maybe Im a genius? OPEN The seal was broken, and a ring with a red jewel embedded in it popped out of the talisman. The unsealing was also successful. The name of this ring was Osiris Orb. It was a magical product imbued with Mana that the old man asked to be brought to the cell by the guard. Good. I suddenly heard a voice from behind. Looking back, a familiar white-haired old man stood there. Did you see that Well, yeah. As expected of a grandpa, he woke up early. How is it, I could do the sealing technique properly, right? Well, youll scream slow anyway It took me about ten years to learn how to seal. At the same time, I said, What?, A hand with only bones and skin was placed on my head. Even though it was only bones and skin it was a warm palm. I was stroked for the first time in my life. Well done, Seal youre a genius. The old man laughed, and I could see the wrinkles on the corners of his eyes. I wondered what was the feeling that I felt at that time. If I was to take it easy, I would definitely cry. I was purely really happy. tch, dont treat me as a kid. Contrary to the inside of my chest, I glared at the old mans hand. Huh, Im sorry. I just remember that my granddaughter is about the same age as you Granddaughter? Is she cute? Yeah. Introduce me to her. Ill kill you. I could feel a serious murder intention from the words. Perhaps because of his love for his granddaughter. Well, I dont really care even if you dont want to do that. Also, I dont trust that your granddaughter is cute. Now I dont have anything more to teach Please practice by yourself from tomorrow. Huh? Hey, Old man Bar. You only taught me one sealing method yet. If I teach you a lot, youll have no creativity. Thats why, find out how to use it yourself. The old man brought a wooden chair in the corner of the room and placed it in front of the chair I was sitting in. Didnt you say that you wont teach me anything anymore? No, the only thing I wont teach is about Sealing Technique Lets change the topic a little today. Well, its just an ordinary story. The old man smiled and closed his eyelids. The story that spilled from the old mans mouth was neither about something that had to do with Sealing Technique nor Magic. It was just an adventure story. White sea, rainbow-colored fog, fortress floating in the sky. The story of the dragon and the sacred sword that appeared in the story about a Hero. Oceans, deserts, volcanoes, trees. The beauty of nature. The old man talked about all of that. But, I quickly realized that the adventure was the old mans own adventure. The story that the old man told was full of romance. The old man happily talked about the beauty of the world. Sometimes he was laughing, sometimes he had a sad face. The old man didnt talk about the dark part of the adventure at all. He told me only the story of the beautiful world from beginning to end. My heartbeat kept skipping a beat when I listened to the story. I had never left the city I was born. Therefore, I was afraid of the outside world. I didnt know whats there, I was scared because I didnt know anything. The old man might have seen through my weak heart. That was why the old man told me that story aboutThe fun of adventuring in the outside world Old man. I will travel to the outside world when I leave here. A dream was born within me for the first time. Oh, thats good. I wanted to say, together with you, but I decided not to say it. The old man had the face like he had achieved his purpose He had a happy face. He talked about adventures like a young boy, and when he was done, he realized like an old man. The face of the old man who had returned to the young boy looked really happy. That was why I also wanted memories that I could laugh and talked about. Perhaps the old mans story would be over soon. And, surely that was where the story of a man named Seal began. CH 5 5. Four Visitors Two months left until my release. One day on the weekend. It was a rainy morning. I used a broom to do my daily routine. After that, I did push-ups and read the study book. After reading the book, I had a friendly conversation with the guard and the prisoner in the next room. In the afternoon, I would train my Mana. There were special trainings that could increase the amount of Mana. And, the method changed depending on the color. Red -> move your body. (Commonly known as: Muscle Training) Green -> think, means use your head. (Commonly known as: Brain Training) Blue -> use your Mana. (Commonly known as: Magic Training) It seemed that yellow color increases by communicating with people, though I didnt really feel it. (Commonly known as: Communication training) In a sese, the amount of Mana was fixed, but it can be extended in this way. There were many methods to increase the amount of Mana, but the old man said that the method just mentioned was the common one. So, it could be said that if youre living your life healthily, the amount of Mana would increase naturally (other than blue). The important point was that you couldnt increase the amount of other Mana by leaving blue (Mana of Operation). For example, if Blue Mana was 10 and Red Mana was 20 or Green Mana was 30, you would not be able to control your own Manas. In such cases, the human body would limit the increase in Manas other than Blue Mana as a defensive measure. So, it meant that normal humans who had never used Mana, the Blue Mana was never increased. Therefore, non-magicians were also limited to some extent in other Manas. I worked hard at training Anyway, the old man was thinking while reading a book. The cause was perhaps the customer who rushed in yesterday. Four visitors who asked to meet the old man. Each one said as much as they wanted and left. - The first visitor appeared early in the morning. Its been a long time, Old Man Bar Niamh! A woman with a dazzling bright blonde tied together. I think she is a little older than me? A beautiful woman no, she is probably the most beautiful woman Ive ever met in my life. But her dull blue eyes and sharp eyes are the minus points. Her skin is white, and no pores are visible. Wearing an armor where you could see her navel and a cloak with a dragon pattern, in that erotic figure of her there was a feeling of intimidation you could feel from her. A big sword about the same height as her on her back That Large sword. maybe I cant hold it without using Mana. The woman was probably a Knights official as I saw the guard bowing deeply. I was surprised to hear that you are in such a countryside Sorry but Im not so free. So, what is it? The old man was in a bad mood from beginning to end. Well, after I heard the womans response, I could understand his feelings somehow. Is that so? But, it looks like you have some spare time though? Well, never mind Now, Ill just say it straightforwardly. Please teach me Sealing Technique. I was a little panicked at the remark of a woman named Niamh. Perhaps it was a kind of monopoly desire. Without realizing it, I seemed to cherish the position of the old mans only student. I was surprised. After all, I thought that I was more of a self-satisfied person. No. Straight to the point The old man shook his head without hesitation. However, the woman seemed to have predicted the old mans reply, and immediately spoke back. If you teach me Sealing Technique, Ill erase your sins I will also release you from here immediately and pay the appropriate tuition fee. Your imprisonment will last forever if you keep going like this and you will die in a dirty prison. Immediate release & money. It was normal to give another reply under such favorable conditions, but. I refuse. You are not qualified. There, the iron mask of the woman finally cracked. Grabbed the bar and squeezed it. Seriously, when I heard a creaking noise of steel, I become panicked for a moment there. Why! Why keep it secret?! That much power, why do you want to monopolize that?! You.. are you not willing to save humanity?! Sealing Technique is an evils technique if mishandled With my teacher and my fellow discipline (younger) were cursed by the Sealing Technique and dropped themself into the darkness. I wont repeat that tragedy anymore I will only pass over the Sealing Technique if I judge the person to be credible! I will never give it to someone like you who is crazy about power! The old man said that he would only pass over the Sealing Technique to those who can be trusted. I want to tell him not to lie. I mean, old man, you taught me Sealing Technique immediately after we met. Old Man Bar, you have a granddaughter, right? Im sure shell be 16 this year. DD! The old mans expression became cloudy. 16 years old, huh Maybe shes about the same age as me. Im 16? or 17? or 18? I dont really know because there wasnt anyone to tell me how old I was when I started to aware of things around me, but maybe Im about that old. Well, I would love to meet her someday. Im genuinely interested in the old mans granddaughter. Next, the female knight spilled words that were not knight-like from her mouth. Your granddaughter seems to have lost her position at the Academy of Magic She was almost at the top, what a shame, really but, you know why? Because you have sinned. that is.. Its not just your granddaughter Both your wife and your child are seen with white eyes. Everything, is your fault So, to save your family too, teach me Sealing Technique DD When I saw the old mans face became gloomy, I decided to quit to be just an outsider. Cut it out already! its so noisy. I literally pinched my mouth from the side, keeping my eyes on the book. I knew without seeing the frosty gaze from the woman that she might had a face like Who the f**k, are you? Dirty Rat, Did you say something? Now Im talking about something in a higher dimension than what you could understand. So, would you please to not get in the way? [TN: Btw, the rat species is Rattus norvegicus] The woman was no longer tried to hide her arrogant attitude. Oi, oi, what do you mean by the higher dimension if you just did something so low level like intimidating someone? I could only see and hear that a scammer was bullying a bad old man. You mean me? You said that this, I am a scammer??? She was upset. I intended to say a very light provocation, but it seemed I perfectly hit her sore spot. It was childish to get angry with a red face. No, wait, she was a kid indeed. A kid who tried to keep up her appearance with some polite speech but did not know to hide her own emotions. I felt like I knew why the old man didnt teach Sealing Technique to her. The world I live in is different from you. Choose your language. I closed the book, stood up and walked to the front of the woman. With a lazy footstep, I thrust my hand into my pocket. I looked at the woman, our eyes met and.. I looked down at her a little from above. Thats right. You and I are inhabitants from different world, separated by this bar.Thats why your sword wont reach me. I raised my chin and provoked the woman. What do you want do now? Break the bar with your back sword and hit my neck? You piece of s**t!! If you kill a non-resisting prisoner, it means that you will live in the same world as me. So, what you will do, Knight-sama The knight tried to put her hand on her back but stopped at the last minute and turned to the right. At the end, the woman said, You will regret it, to the old man behind me, and left with the guard. Thus, the first guest went away. The second visitor was a middle-aged knight who called himself Pearl. He wore the same armor as a woman named Niamh. I was glad that he wore a thick heavy equipment. the navel of a middle-aged man is just no, thank you The mark of the knight and cloak were the same as the first visitor, so it seemed that they belong to the same order. I thought the old man would look unpleasant, but he was rather close to the middle-aged knight. Thank you for helping me out, Pearl. Thanks to you, I moved to a peaceful prisonThat noisy and annoying little girl cant come often now. The little girl that the old man meant was probably the first visitor. When the old man bowed his head, the middle-aged man suddenly wept. I, Im sorry Old Man Bar. If I had a little more power DD you wouldnt be in a crappy prison that wouldnt even have a meeting room like this Dont worry. Thanks to that, I also picked up something good. I felt that there were various emotions behind the words. Pearl seemed to be attached to the old man. By the way, Pearl, let me introduce you. Its my disciple, Seal. Suddenly my name was called, and I was surprised. But there was a man who was more surprised than I was. It was Pearl. O,O,OlllDDd Man Bar, your disciple you said?!! Well, nice to meet you. I said hello to the middle-aged knight, Pearl. Please keep this a secret. I, I understand, but you have a disciple. That You, who had rejected more than a thousand people! I changed my mind before death. Pearl looked at me with a promising look. I envy you. Do your best, boy. The words from the middle-aged knight were somehow heavy. After apologizing to the old man, the second visitor went back home after noon. The third visitor I wasnt particularly involved at that time. A red-eyed woman dressed in a black robe. She had a nice body, even though she didnt show her skin at all, she could make a man lust to her with just with the body line. She was a bewitching older sister. The older sister talked with the old man in a small voice, spilled a drop of tears and left. The old man also had a sad face somehow. And the fourth, the last visitor. Hooded sand-colored jacket and tattered black long trousers. A rucksack that swelled up on the back. He was a man who looked like the definition of The Traveler. I thought he was a lot older than me, but he was younger that I expected Was he about 20 years old? When the man found the old man, he matched the height of his eyes with the old man sitting on the ground and said something ridiculous like jailbreaking. Well, what should I do? Do you want to me to break you free? All the guards here, I will handle them. Upon hearing the statement, the guard wrinkled his eyebrows and tried to grab the mans shoulders But as soon as the man opened his eyes, the guard stepped back. It might be only my imagination, but I felt that I could see dragon-like scales and sharp yellow eyes through the gaps in the hood. The next time I saw the man, he looked like a normal young man. Adolphos, Stop joking around. Its not a joke. I can take handle all the people who chase you Even the Knights, I will deal with it too. Adol Ill say it again. Im not kidding I still have a favor that I havent repay yet And to repay that, I wont hesitate to do all of that for you I stopped reading the book involuntarily. Each one of the remarks was a mess. It was not like a joke either A man named Adolphos was serious about his words, and the old man was also seriously stopping him. So, it can be said that at least both of them thought that a man named Adolphos could defeat the entire Knights. I couldnt fulfill my role properly. The old man said so. If so, who will take over that role? He said in a stunned voice. The old man shook his head. No one needs to take over. .. Really? I see. A man named Adolfos bowed deeply and left the prison. Four visitors. Female Knight Niamh, Middle-aged Knight Pearl, Mysterious Witch, and Traveler Adolphos. Somehow, I felt like I would meet these four people somewhere again. CH 6 6. Soon One more month, huh There was only one month left until my release. My Magic and Sealing Technique training were going well too. It seemed that the amount of Red Mana and Blue Mana inside me had reached the medium level. It was hard to evaluate because there was no one to compare. I couldnt come up with a new Sealing Technique, but I came up with various applications of the Sealing Technique I learned at the beginning. The success rate of that Sealing Technique was almost 100%. The more I grew up, the weaker the old man was. The old man couldnt do light exercise anymore these days. He could no longer let out his Mana too. The old man was lying on the mattress. And once in a while, he woke up, approached the only desk in the prison, sit on a chair and hold a brush. After writing on the paper, he frowned and tore the paper. Perhaps The old man was writing a letter. There was no doubt about it. After all, he received an envelope from the guard. In this prison, letter was allowed to be sent outside Who is the old man going to send the letter to? What are you doing, old man? Youre just wasting papers. The old man held his head and looked at me with weak eyes. What kind of sentences that can make young girls happy? DD Are you writing a love letter? If its a love letter, I wont ask for your advice. Oi, Old man, what does that mean? Even me, I have one or two pick-up lines. Well, the pick-up line has never caught the heart of a woman. Rather, the woman starts to make some distance. As you can see from the situation, is the girl, your granddaughter? Yeah How about the story of a wonderful disciple who became your roommate? He has a good memory and has a handsome face depending on the angle DD Its a joke! Dont look at me with such a troubled face! I crossed my legs and sit on the ground. A letter a letter, huh I really dont know because Ive never sent any. What if you just write whatever you want to write DD isnt it okay? I think you dont need to think too much. I mean, there is no limit about how long it is So, why dont you just write everything you want to say? Just write anything Whatever I want to say, huh Write while Im going to the bathroomI will assess it when I come back. I got up and headed to the toilet in the cell on the other side of the desk. Seriously, why he needs to be so worried about something like that I could hear the sound of the chair being rubbed. BANG! Then, I heard the sound of something falling with a small echo. Old man? When I looked at the desk, the old mans slender body had fallen to the ground. The old man was struggling, holding his chest with his right hand. A black crest was shining in the chest part around the heart of the old man. The old man stretched his arm. Asking for salvationC Old, old man!!! I immediately ran up and held the old mans body which was lying down. Someone! Is there anyone!!? The old man, The old man is in a bad condition! I heard a small breathing sound. And that sound was getting smaller and smaller. A prisoner who responded to my voice were passing over the message until to the place where the guard was. Several guards unlocked the prison and went somewhere with the old man on their back. C Barha Zetta, will soon it seems his heart will stop soon. The chief guard told me directly. I was currently in the guards office. It was a simple room. All that being displayed was just a certificate or medal, and the rest was just a stack of paper. There was a guest chair and desk, but I didnt have the right to sit there, so I was standing in front of the chief guards office desk. The chief guard swung her long glittering green hair and put a cup of tea. What about a doctor? Thats not the kind of thing a doctor could examine. Then, what is that? Thats a curse. Curse. Ive only seen it in books, so its really exist? Is there anyone who can cure it? The curse is an unbreakable disease theres no need to argue whether it could be cured or not. Is that so? Is it impossible? Then, does the old man have no choice but to wait for death as it is? One thing, that I want to ask of you. The chief guard took out a dagger from the drawer of the desk. Something like a spell was written on the white blade, and the handle was bandaged. A blue stone was embedded between the blade and the handle. Apparently, it had a foreign power. Kill that man with this. I do not understand what you mean Cursed humans often become spiritual monsters This sword has a special spell on it, so you can be sure that the person you killed with it will be sent to the realm of the dead. In other words, this sword can prevent the old man from becoming a monster, huh? Why do you ask me? You can do it yourself or you could ask your subordinates. The chief guard turned away. Her eyes were saying that she wanted to run away from something. The woman in front of me had a crying face. DDSo thats how it is, huh? I guessed the meaning of that expression. YouAre you the old mans acquaintance? That person Im indebted to him. And so, its hard to kill the old man with your own hands However, it is also not funny if your benefactor is to be killed by a complete stranger is that what you mean? The chief guard didnt answer. Which mean, what I said was the answer. So, you mean that I, as his disciple, have the right to be the one to finish him off? I picked up the dagger, pointed it at the desk, and stabbed the desk until the blade couldnt be seen. Are you f**king kidding me?! I spoke with a loud voice. Someone has to do it! If a Technique User of his level becomes a monster, it will be a mess When the old man becomes a monster, Ill seal it. Without giving a second glance, I went back to where I belong, the cell. CH 7 7. A Man called Barha Zetta I didnt have a family when I started to aware if things around me. When I realized it, Id learned how to live alone. I didnt remember the human face that raised me from a baby until I started to understand what was going on around me. All I remember was that that person was a man and that he gave me the minimum knowledge about how to live. Id lived alone in this countryside, without a house or work. The source of income was the accumulation of boring wrongdoing. Considering my condemnation of sins so far, it could be said that the prison life for the past year was a natural result. I never thought my life was unhappy. After all, I didnt know if my life was good or bad. I didnt know what it could be called as a happy life or unhappy life. Every day, earnestly killing boredom. I didnt like to be bored. 11 months ago, when I was saving that girl from the lords son, it was not an act of justice. But at that time, I thought it would be interesting to help her. Thats it. I was really excited when I entered the prison. I thought something would happen something would change. Im such a trash. The environment was bad. or My natural-born talent was bad. No such excuse was allowed. There was more freedom in this world more than anyone could thought. And what made feel like I was crippled was that freedom. Humans could walk on any path if they try to walk. There were too many turning point too. What did people think when there saw many paths in front of them? They would think, Its annoying. Then they would say, I dont know which path is safe. or I dont know which path is fun. So, people chose the easy path they could think. Chose a road with footprints The footprints of parents, the footprints of teachers, the footprints of friends, the footprints of a strangerDD You stepped into the easy path that someone has pioneered and was guided unknowingly. By the time you noticed, the path was straight, and the path you had followed to was already in the point where it was too long to turn back, and so you were lazy to turn back. I didnt like to go straight, so I always stopped in front of myriad possibilities. Hey old man. Soon, I will be prepared. Be prepared to step into my own path from the path with your footprints. Old man. You taught me a lot in this short period of time. Therefore, I have a word that I must say. Well, its embarrassing to say it face to face. As soon as I returned to the prison accompanied by the guard, the old man put down his brush. The guard put me inside the prison cell, locked it, and left. I called out to the old mans back. How are you doing? DD not bad The old man looked sideways and looked at me leaning against the wall. It was long That word wasnt something for me. 79 years was a long time Pursuing a dream, leaving home, meeting a teacher Became a Sealer and threw myself into the days of adventure. I was sure that memories were flashing back in the old mans brain. It was different from when he taught me about the outside world. He spoke slowly while remembering the joy, sadness, and all of positive and negative emotions. I met a friend who I could share everything, and also a woman I loved dearly I had many encounters. There were many farewells too overcoming all of them, I, am here now. Are there any regrets? Yes, but more than that Im actually feel satisfied If I were to give a score to my life, I think its 80 out of 100. Still, its not 100 points. Of course. There can be no 100 points in the life of a human being who entered the prison at the end. But, the 20 points that were missing are infinitely large. If I were to give a point to my life, I would say 20 points Well, until I came here, I got 0 points. Before I knew it, my voice was trembling. The feeling of approaching Time was transmitted from the old mans back. Twenty points was given by you You gave me a dream. It was less than half a year. However, the thing that the old man gave me in that short time was big. Thats why that 20 points, the thing that left unfinished by you, old manDD Ill do something about it. The old man made a troubled face, but then he smiled with that face. Could I leave it to you? Seal Yeah The old man stretched his back and squeaked his neck. And with a deliberate voice, Hmm My shoulders are stiff Seriously, hes bad at acting. Shall I massage your shoulder? I rushed to the old man and massaged the shoulders. Alternately, I weakened my strength as much as possible. Seal. I have one present for you. Present? Thats right I looked around, but there was nothing that could be called a gift. In the outside world, without a family name, there would be various shortcoming. Thats right. So, Ill give you a name Actually, the name Barha Zetta is the name I succeeded from the previous generation of Sealer For generation, its passed to the main line of Sealer. Huh? That means that Barha-Zettas name to me? But youre still inexperienced, an amateurTherefore, Ill give only half the name. Yeah, yeah, I thought that would be the case. Hahaha! Dont be like that. After all, youre able to be called Amateur in just half a year DD You can be proud of it. The old man dropped his eyelids and called my full name. Seal. From tomorrow, I will allow you to call yourself, Seal Zetta. Seal, Zetta I got a name with only three letters, only three letters. [TN: why its only three letter? Because in Japanese it is å, its three letters.] It wouldnt become money it was only at most three letters. Still DD Its bad. Im felling happy more than I expected. DD I was recognized. I felt that I was truly recognized. I tightened my facial muscles tightly. It was somehow embarrassing if I knew that I was really happy to receive the name. Haaah-, Im glad At the very end, Im able to pass over this name. Then the power returned to my fist suddenly weakened. Old man The end was approaching. It was transmitted through while I was massaging the shoulders. Seal what is it? The old man laughed with satisfaction. Then, dropped the eyelids and said something silly. Youre getting better at massaging, huh. Somehow, I could hear a cutting sound. Right? I never massaged anyones shoulder, so I practiced I sneak up in the middle of the night and massaging your shoulder DDD Old manIts too early to go to bed. There are three hours left until the lights off. DDDD Thats right, old manI came up with a new way to use Sealing Technique. Ill show it to you later. DDDD Hey, old man Are you listening? DDDD There was no power returned to my fist. Master I squeezed out my voice in an empty room. Thank you very much. One month left until my release. Barha Zetta died at the end of spring when the cherry blossoms were falling. Barha Zetta POV I was a sealer. So far, I had sealed a number of great evils. In particular, I had sealed immortals, the one who could come back to life by rebirth, and those who cannot be defeated by proper means. and were afraid of me, I was called as the Natural Enemies. [TN: The Kanji of the word itself can be tl-ed as The one who sent you to heaven, but the author chose for it to be read as Natural Enemies, so yeah] I was sure this was also one of their schemes. One day, when I visited the laboratory, strange corpses were lined up. Most were related to the Knights, including the wife of the Knights. Then I heard well-organized footsteps come to my direction at the same time At that moment, I immediately instinctively could tell that I was trapped. A platoon led by the knight captain was furious when he saw me and the corpse. DDSo, I was sentenced to death by a curse. Killed by curse was said to be painful. The meaning would be close to burning at the stake. It was a punishment that causes as much suffering as possible before killed. I was engraved with a curse. I thought that I would be thrown into the prison of the imperial capital, but I was transferred to the prison in the countryside by my friend, Pearl. I believe in you! My wife was screaming until the end to the false accusations. Unforgivable. I will never forgive Grandpa! My granddaughter was crying and screaming at me with a grudge and left. I couldnt do anything. I appealed for innocence, but everything was failed. Perhaps there was a in the upper ranks of the Knights. was different from , and its appearance was not so different from human. So, it was not impossible to get into human society. I told Adolphos and Pearl about that, but from their standing, both would be difficult to reach it. I was lost. I was defeated by a monster for the first time. Among and , those who boast extraordinary power that have eaten tens of thousands of humans and monsters was called, . [TN: or could be tl-ed as ] I had repelled many . I didnt feel like losing in a head-to-head battle. But, they finally noticed. That to kill human, they could just use human. I will die soon. I was about to die, so I was prepared for it. The regret I had was what happens to all of the that I have sealed up until now. If they came back, the World Core would be disturbed and the ecosystem would be affected. The living beings without intelligent such as plants and monsters will be particularly affected. I need it. The one who succeeds me I needed a person who was qualified to become a sealer. Speaking of talent alone, up until this point there was one. Niamh She had Yellow Mana and prominent at handling Blue Mana. She was perfect for a Sealer who required to be dexterous at Mana Manipulation. However, I felt darkness in her. The same darkness as my younger brother who became a , a long time ago If the Sealing Technique fall into the hands of , the world would end. That was why, I couldnt pass over the Sealing Technique to her. So now, what should I do? Who should I entrust this power to? What kind of person do I want to be my disciple? I dont know. I wish I could not care so much about the world after I died. But unfortunately, I love this world. Please. someone Is there really no one? Is there really no one out there who deserves to inherit my power? Come here. come quickly. When I arrived at the prison in countryside where I was taken to, I thought that this might be what called as Fate. The boy had a demeanor that made him feel weak from his whole body. The eyes seen through the gaps in the jet-black bangs That eyes of him were hungry hungry for development. DDpure white. This was the impression I got from the black-haired boy. And surprisingly, the boy had no name. My right eye could see the quality and quantity of the targets Mana. My left eye could see the true name of the one I see. My left eye, which always reflected the other persons name, could not see the boys name. Whats your name, boy? Seal Red , Blue , Green , Yellow. And DDGolden. There was a Mana in him that I didnt even know. There were higher-ranking in each of Mana colors. Red Mana -> Scarlet Mana. Green Mana -> Dark Green Mana. I knew only these two types. I quickly realized that the boy Golden Mana was higher-ranking of Yellow Mana. However, the Golden Mana cannot be handled by ordinary means. I didnt even know what kind of power it has. I judged that it was better not to touch it without knowing it. What does a sealer do? Are you interested? Maybe? Just a little? After a little stimulating the boys curiosity, he came on board. The curious boy reminded me of a pure white notebook. It seemed that the person I was looking for was such a person. The boy had a medium upper potential for the three main colors (Red, Blue, and Green). But, the Red color was a little better than others. If the boy made an effort, he could reach out to any field, but he couldnt reach the top level in any field. That the how he was. Eventually the boy would be a Versatile type, but for the time being it was better to lead him into the direction of developing red Mana. The Red Mana was excellent in both offense and defense, and the Green Mana will only made him confused if he touched as of now, so I decided to postpone it. Now, about Yellow Mana and Golden Mana the digits were different for these two. Both were too many for those who had not received any Magic Technique training. It was not as good as I was in my heyday, but the boy had the same amount of Yellow Mana as I was now. Most people will surpass the total amount of Mana. Regarding the sense of Mana Manipulation, the three main colors was about the same. In a week, he showed off a certain amount of progress in handling Red Mana. Well, I learned magic and was able to operate it almost perfectly in a day, so it was far inferior to me. However, since I was a genius, it was difficult to use it as a standard. I didnt know how it was compared to other magicians. I had never taught magic from scratch, so I was the only one to compare. Next, regarding how good he was at handling Yellow Mana He was definitely a genius in this regard. He learned it in three months, even though it would take at least three years to learn even basic sealing. Im just killing time When asked why he learned Sealing Technique, he replied so. Many people had visited me in the past to learn Sealing Techniques from me. When I asked them the same question, for the world, or to be stronger, or to protect someone. Sure, all of it was a nice word. But it didnt touch my heart. After all, the reason of why I learn Sealing Technique It was just for killing time. It was a killing time for me to become a disciple of my teacher. I was bored since I lived in a remote village, after all there was nothing much to do, so I became a disciple after the person who happened to visit the village. Sealing Technique was an evil technique that robbed the other party of their freedom and gave them a fixed time. Only those who knew the fear of boredom and the fear of leisure could handle it. Humans were creatures that dominated by unawareness. There werent many people who could control themselves. Hey, Seal. We dont want to control anyone, right? We want to rule over our own life. right? If I were to give a point to my life, I would say 20 points Well, until I came here, I got 0 points. Twenty points was given by you You gave me a dream. Thats why that 20 points, the thing that left unfinished by you, old manDD Ill do something about it. If my life were to be written in a book, this might be the Conclusion part. However, the story of this world continued even after my life was completed. Seal, perhaps my last mission was to be in the introduction part of your life. Yeah, I have no regrets. At the very end, I was satisfied with my life. As a thank you-Ill present you this name. Seal. From tomorrow, I will allow you to call yourself Seal Zetta. Seal, Zetta The name of Seal-Zetta came to my left eye. The true name was the thing given by your parents when you were born. Without his parents, he probably had lost the chance to get his true name. But at this time, the moment Seal acknowledged the name I gave him, his true name became it. Master I was able pass over your name, though only half. Youre getting better at massaging, huh. Seal, thanks to you. You taught me. That I wasnt that free until the very end. That my life wasnt a boring life. Seal, I want to say this word to at the end. Well, its embarrassing to say it face to face Thank you The name of my wife, the name of my son, and the name of my granddaughter disappear from my soul. So, this is whats called as the purification of the soul, huh Im scared the darkness is falling. Mysteriously, no tears came out from Barha. Barha Zetta certainly lived his life. Goodbye world. Until the day we meet again. CH 8 8. And, The Adventure Begins In the end, the old man never became a monster. It seemed that the old mans body was recovered by the chief guard and secretly buried. Also, it seemed that they would not held a funeral. On the other hand, as for me, there were no major incidents since then, and I just repeated my training. And one month after the old man diedC Alright, Im ready! I went out of prison. Black shirt and sand-colored long trousers. And while wearing a gray cloak on top, I looked back. There was a large three-story building. It was surrounded by a fence that was taller than the building. A green-haired female guard was standing beside the main gate. Congratulations on your release You are free now. I was taken care of for a year. Dont say something you didnt even think aboutAh, Thats right The chief guard handed me an envelope. You forgot this. An envelope that Id seen somewhere. I looked inside the envelope, saw that it contains a letter, and realized what it was. This is a letter that the old man wrote to his granddaughter I cant deliver it because the address isnt written. Dont say that, you want me to deliver this? Thats right. This chief guard Do you want to push all the troubles to me? I dont say that its for free Ive added a reward to your service. Ah, so its the reason why my wallet was swollen? Yeah, yeah, I understand. I will deliver the letter responsibly. Well, its going to be a good way to kill time. The name of his granddaughter is written on the table, so please use it as a clue. Seriously, forgetting to write the address what a sloppy old man. Besides the granddaughters name, there was another clue. DDMagic Academy. A villainous knight named Niamh said that the old mans granddaughter is there. But I dont know how many Magic Academy there are in this world Is there no other choice but to visit it one by one? Take it with you. What was handed over was a dagger in a scabbard. It was a dagger that I slammed into the desk in the chief guards office a month ago. What is it again? a dagger that surely sent the killed opponent to the realm of the death, right? This dagger is a Magic item. I thought that it would be good if you could use it in combination with Sealing Technique. Got it Im not going to say thank you for this though Thats fine. I picked up the drawstring bag from the ground and hanged it on my shoulder. Finally, I glanced at the chief guard.. I mean, the prison behind her and turned over. Be careful, Seal. Ah right. I forgot one thing Chief guard, my full name. Ill tell you. I looked back and gave this name for the first time. Its Seal Zetta And so, The Introduction part was over, and a long, long Development began. The life notes of the Sealer, Seal-Zetta, were going to be piled up from here. DDI start walking. Towards the endless world that spreads in front of you CH 9 9. Forgotten City The forgotten city was always dead I had lived here since I was born, but the residents here were had no motivation. It was balanced in both good and bad ways. Completely forgotten by the empire. The helpless part of this city was that the resident in here loved the stability. The people in here would disagree if someone tried to promote the city, they would disagree if someone tried to reform the city. They would shake their heads even if there was a reform plan that would make the city 100% better. To be better, it meant to make waves. For those who refused even one ripple in the quiet water, it was unpleasant if stability disappeared whether it was to be positive, or negative. That was why there were only ordinary shops in this city. Weapon shop, armor shop, tool shop, food store, restaurant, and liquor store. Only the stores that were also located in other cities were available. I talked to the middle-aged shopkeeper of such a common weapons store. Its been a long time, Dozen Oh, youre still alive, huh? Bad boy, Seal-kun. Bad boy? But, Ive only done a few times of bad things since I was born. As far as I know, you should have tried stealing more than 100 times?and 89 of them are at my store. But, I hadnt succeeded in stealing at this store even once. I heard that you hit the lords pampered child. Yeah- Sure, there was such a thing. You, are really stupid to be caught because of it, some more for a year. Shut up, I regretted it too! Even so, because I was caught, I met that old man, so its not a minus No, its a plus. I looked around the store. What do you want? Magic item Magic item was an object constructed with the help of Mana. My sealing technique could only be used for things with Mana. In order to increase the number of means, I would like to seal the Magic Item on a talisman paper, unsealing it when necessary, and equipping it That was my strategy for battle. When you went on an adventure, sometimes you needed to fight monsters and maybe even human. And, it was not strange for someone who wouldnt tell their name to have more Mana than me. For such opponents, there was no choice but to attack them directly instead of sealing. A magic item huh it is a high-level craft created by the alchemist. The alchemist will stick the Alchemy Stone and the item (Armor, Weapon) together You will have a hard time finding it in this boring city. Ah, I guess so But! I have one in my store. The shopkeeper proudly pointed to the back wall of the counter with his thumb To be precise, the long spear on the wall. A spear with a Red Alchemy Stone and a Green Alchemy Stone embedded in the center of the handle. Well, the dagger I got from the chief guard had a similar Alchemy Stone The color is blue though. Its not for sale, though. Lion Spear, The spear stretches when you put in Mana Perhaps. Perhaps? The Magician in this city is only in the lords house. So, I havent tried it. A growing spear huh Lend me a little. Ah? Youre not going to steal it, right? No. You know, Im something of a Magician myself That spear, I may be able to stretch it. You? A Magician?. Hahaha! This guy is funny!Alright, try it! The shopkeeper removed the spear from the wall and brought it to me. I received the spear and turned the spear up. Can I? First of all, I tried to put in the Blue Mana (Mana of Operation) into the spear. If my prediction is correct, this would not stretch the spear. DD There was No change. Next, I put in Green Mana (Mana of Creation). Then, the Green Alchemy Stone embedded in the spear glowed Ooooh! The spear stretched vigorously and reached the point where it touched the ceiling of the store. Y-you did you really become a Magician?! As expected, Does the color of the Alchemy Stone specify the color of the corresponding Mana? That means something might happen if I put in Blue Mana into the dagger that I got from the chief guard. However, the spear lost its strength after it stretched, and withered. The tip of the spear hung loosely. The more it stretched, the more brittle and softer it became. It seemed to be such a property. I see I put in the Green Mana and at the same time I put in the Red Mana. When the Red Alchemy Stone glowed, the spear kept its original strength. With Mana of Creation, it created the spear handle and stretched it. With Mana of Strengthening, it maintained the original strength. This was the ability of the Lion Spear, and perhaps that was the reason it had two Alchemy Stones. But, this is hard! Im not good at handling Green Mana in the first place. I heard that the core is the throat, and so I practiced secretly when the old man wasnt looking, but the limit I could do was to make a harmless mass of Mana. Originally, I cant create anything with the Mana of Creation, but it seems that with the help of the alchemy stone, I managed to do it. I used the Green Mana that I was not good yet at the same time with the Red Mana. Since I was handing another with Mana, it meant that I also used Blue Mana. So, at the same time, I was handling the , so it was not strange to say that it was hard. The ability is attractive, but I cant use it every time. In conclusion its interesting? When I stopped using Mana, the spear shrank to its original length. Alright I can use this..Sell it to me. Did you hear me? I said that its not for sale. Really?. I handed the spear to the shopkeeper. Well, never mind then. See you again. That spear had been on display since I first came to this store. Maybe its a heirloom? If so, even if I beg, Hell not give it up. When I tried to leave the store, DDIts not for sale, but Ill give it to you specially. The shopkeeper shyly said so, while scratching his cheeks, Hmmm, is it some kind of trap? Of course not! This is a thank you. after all, you helped my daughter. Daughter? Did you have a child? No, well thats a surprise, but what did you say now? Thank you for helping my daughter? A daughter who inherited the gene of such a gorilla-like.. I dont remember helping one. Ive been separated from my daughter for a long time, because I ran away with my wife. Thats a pity So, I met her for the first time in a few years shortly before you came My daughter was looking for a fool. The idiot who hit the lords son in front of the guards and released from the prison today. I, I, I seeee So, a year ago, the girl I helped by hitting the lords son was his daughter? DDwhat? Seriously? Wait, if I remember correctly, the girl I helped a year ago was pretty beautiful She cant be the daughter of this guy! So thats a gift of gratitude. My daughter wanted to apologize. She wants to say, Im sorry I couldnt defend you.. If she wants to say thank you, she shouldve come to visit me once when I was in the prison. Dont be stupid. If she went to see you, that lords idiot son will even more hostile toward you. I know Anyway, is it really okay? This spear is an important thing, right? The shopkeeper nodded and he smiled broadly. Its okay. After all, you protected the more important things than that. What a common line that you just said..Then, Ill received it gratefully, thank you. Yeah! Take it! Wait. Now, you need a scabbard that protects the spearhead Ah, I dont need it. I checked the shopkeepers expression while receiving the spear. Then I hit the spear and say, MARK, CLOSE I casted the spell and sealed it on a talisman with in my right hand. Huh?!! The, the spear has disappeared Y-you! What have you done?! Of course, The shopkeeper, who didnt know anything about Sealing Technique, was seeing with his eyes wide open at the mysterious phenomenon in front of him. I told you, Im something of a Magician myself. Its just a magic trick. Well then, Dozen. I thought there was no benefit to being an ally of justice, but it seemed that was not the case. Surprisingly, the world seemed to be kind to allies of justice. I went out, laughing at how Dozen was surprised. - Well, I have all the tools now. Lets go on an adventure. For now, my objective is to deliver the letter to the old mans granddaughter. It means, the destination is an unknown Magic Academy. I dont know where it is Maybe if I go to The Twenty-two Cities of the Emperor, I will find one of the clues. The Twenty-two Cities of the Emperor was the cities that the Empire had well protected, which in total twenty-two large cities. The Twenty-two cities of the Emperor near were the Red-light district or the Everlasting Spring Town . I dont think there is a Magic Academy for children in the Red-light District, so lets go to Mother Punk. Ill definitely go to the red-light district when I have enough money. Please wait until then. So now do I have to go through the valley in the north? After I pass through the barriers of the city, the monsters will be out in the valley but still, its scary to be alone. I, a beginner on a trip, if suddenly go on an adventure alone, Im sure that everything would not go well. I want a companion. Who is like me, the one who wants to go to Alright, should I check the back alley The development is sleeping in the back alley. If you go to the back of the alley, there will be girls who are likely to be attacked by thugs. And If you help it, the girls will become my friends. Im sure of it Well, that cant be true, but, sure there are a lot of stray people in the back alleys, so lets hire someone and take them. There must have been some guys who came to this town from . I have a months worth of living expenses when I was released. With that money, I will hire people. It might be a little pricey, but I cant solve a problem without making some sacrifice. I have no idea of ??the land outside this city after all, so if I dont have a guide, I could get stuck somewhere out there. I immediately headed to the scrap spot where the scraps were gathered in the city. There were many taverns on the road, and many scraps were lying behind it. I entered the back alley of the bar, enduring the smell of alcohol. Then Oi, oi, seriously There was a busty blonde ponytail girl who was entwined with three bad guys. Miss, youre wearing such tight clothes, are you inviting us? Oooh! You have a very good style! Are you about 15 or 16 years old? Your face is also very good if you sell it off, Im sure itll get a nice price. Are you stupid? such a pretty woman, itll be a waste to sell her to aristocrats. Certainly, its a perfect development. right? The blonde girl wasnt looked like she was scared at all, she just kept staring at the ground. I felt like she wanted to say. Im not interested in whatever youre all doing.. Another ten seconds The girl was counting something. Hey, Mysterious girl What are you doing in this situation? Even so, I had no intention of defending the men, but I could only think that the appearance of blonde girls was really inviting men. A tight shirt with the navel area could be seen. The short trousers were squeezing the buttocks. She was carrying a cane on her back. Especially the chest It was terrible. The shirt was about to tear. I felt that the size was wrong overall. I thought that, she was just a fool to walk here in such an attire. Well, it cant be helped I had a Red Mana covered my right hand. Alright, this is good. I could do a pre-adventure preparatory here. Ill use those muscular thugs as a warming up. Oi. You guys, stop it nDD The moment I approached the men, just right a few steps left, something went wrong. Ahh?! What is this?!! White smoke broke out from the whole body of the blonde girl. When I was squeezing in between the thugs, the white smoke cleared, and a girl appeared from inside. The same outfit as the blonde girl. However, her hair was long brown and tiny. Did you just transform? Unlike the blonde girls who were sexy, the brown-haired girls had the perfect body shape for the clothes. A long-haired brown-haired little girl. The brown-haired girl stared at the men, with the blue streaks on her forehead. You guys, what are you doing to my younger sister ! A visible red Mana was released from the girl. The killing intent was also directed at me. Apparently, I was mistaken as the member of the thugs. Hmmm? The development, it goes completely different from what I expected I mean, being able to use Mana, that meansC This girl is ! She is a magician?!! It looked like the thugs cant see this ridiculous amount of Red Mana. They were not scared at all. Who is this flat girl?! POP! Oi, loli, I dont have nothing to do with you! Where did the woman from earlier go? Find her! POP! , POP! Perhaps because of my mind, I heard the sound of blood vessels breaking. The girl kill The thugs flew in the air with the dangerous lines. I could barely follow her movement. In less than three seconds, the brown-haired girl jumped and kicked three times on each of the three mens faces. Red Mana was the Mana of strengthening. Perhaps she got extraordinary speed and power by boosting her physical ability with Red Mana, but still she was too fast & too strong. What is it Oh, it looks like there was still one left. My eyes met the brown-haired girl eyes. Ah, this is bad. The girls eyes completely recognized me as an enemy. I reflexively stepped back three times and returned to the entrance. Wait a minute! Im not a friend of these guys If you find yourself in danger, youre just going to throw your friend huh? Whenever I go, I always find Trash! Ill punish you! !!!! Hah!, Said the woman, pulling out her cane and closing the distance with me. The brown-haired girl jumped up and swung her cane in the air. Seriously, its totally different from what I expected! I took out a talisman with, , written on it from my pocket and put it between the index and middle fingers of my right hand. [TN: In romaji it will be Harae or Harai, and the meaning is purification] Dark Sword . DD OPEN CH 10 10. Sealing a living being A dagger came out from the talisman. It was a sword I got from the prison chief guard. [TN: For the one wondering whether its a darksword well, the Kanji in the last ch it was a kanji usually used for a darksword, and in here it mention as a shortsword (dagger)] I threw away the Empty Talisman (There is nothing inside it) from which the dagger was missing and held the dagger. A dagger from the talismanC The brown-haired girl was surprised, but she didnt seem to stop. I caught the vertical slash of the cane with the dagger. Uugh!? The impact was transmitted to the ground from the foot, and a large crack was made on the ground. I managed to overcome the blow thanks to the fact that I covered my whole body with Red Mana. Swung the dagger and pushed back the brown-haired girl. Taking a step or two further from the girl, I observed the cane that she was holding. Black Alchemy Stone at the tip of the wand Is that wand a Magic Item? Attaching a Black Alchemy Stone meant that she could handle Black Mana. Is she a black magician? The Mana of Destruction I have to be vigilant. The girl was not serious at all yet. The previous blow was aimed at the normal people. Now that she found out I was a magician, she would not hold back anymore. So, the next attack should be in her full power. Youre a magician. And you use strange techniques. Which mean, I dont need to hold back! The Red Mana of the brown-haired girl was almost like a cheat. Ridiculous, its abnormal. It far exceeds the amount of my Red Mana. I dont know if shes an amazing person or if Im a just small fry. If I do it properly, I cant win Then Wait. Why dont you give your name? I mean, its essential for a warrior to give their name before the combat, right? Warrior? Sorry but, I dont recognize you as a warrior. Then how about this? If I could land a hit, you would recognize me as a warrior. Hmm! Okay IF you can really do it, though! The brown-haired girl lowered her stance and was approaching while putting her cane on her waist. Is that how you suppose to use the cane? I only had the image of a cane used by swinging it around. So, theres someone who use it even in close quarters combat, huh Interesting A smile spilled naturally. The first battle with a magician, its something that likely happen only in a hero story. I concentrated Red Mana on her palms, upper arms, and shoulders. And put all of my strength into it. I have no chance of winning if its only a battle with weapons. I could only defeat her by cunningly striking the opening gap. I threw my dagger at the approaching brown-haired girl. The girl slowed down and parried the dagger with the cane. At the same time, I clenched my right fist and hit her. Eat this! Will she dodge? or defend? Its not like shes preparing for a counter. The choice of the brown-haired girl who was making the guard stance was, of course, a defense. My fist hit the cane. The brown-haired girl who had successfully defensing my attack, smiled. Unfortunately, its impossible for you to land a hit on me! Are you sure? From the beginning, my aim is that cane. I let my Yellow Mana flow into the cane. MARK A Character Stamp appeared on the cane. The brown-haired girl jumped out, perhaps because she felt something was wrong. As expected, A Black Alchemy Stone was embedded in the cane meant that it had Mana. And I could seal it if, the item had Mana. This stamp is ! Without answering the question, the brown-haired girl closed the distance with one breath and swung her cane. It seemed that she was going to stun me before I did anything. CLOSE BAM! And the shoulders of brown-haired girls fall. Hm!!? The cane that in the girls hand had disappeared, and the power she put into the cane lost its place. Her cane was sealed inside the talisman I have in my left hand. I clenched my right fist and, One more, MARK ! Hit the belly of the brown-haired girl who showed an opening. The fist pierced the brown-haired girls shirt and pierced her bare skin. POP! The sound of Mana being popped could be heard. My fist hurts This girl she has concentrated Red Mana on her abs. There was a Character Stamp on the belly of the brown-haired girl. And she didnt seem to notice. Apparently, my total Mana exceeded her total Mana. If it were only the amount of Red Mana, I would lose, but the total amount of all Mana, I was better. What did you do to my cane? The girl listened with very calm eyes. She was making a stance without any gaps. Well, before that, you had promised me. If I land a hit, you will recognize me as a warrior So, tell me your name. You can count it as an exchange for the whereabouts of the cane. Youre a type that values ??the courtesy of a battle huh well, I dont hate it. The brown-haired girl crossed her arms and opened her mouth. My name is Shura Sullivan. Before you tell me about the cane, tell me your name first. Seal Zetta. Zetta ?? The girl looked astonished for a moment. DD A chance. In that moment, I picked up an empty talisman, held a brush with my right hand and wrote her name on the talisman. The Character Stamp on the brown-haired girls abs had an identification letters written on it, and the letters corresponding to it was written inside the magic circle on the talisman. The talisman I had in my hand and the Character Stamp on her were connected. If I were to write her name on the talisman in this state and the talisman glowed blue it meant that the preparation was complete. DD The talisman glows blue. What an honest girl If she had given me her pseudonym, I would have had to rethink my strategy centered on the Lion Spear, but it seemed I didnt need to do that. This is just a suggestion, but why we stop here? Ill return the cane unconditionally. Dont joke! Its too late to cower now, isnt it? She laughed happily and hit her fists against each other. The cane I can take it later After shattering the bones of your whole body! Oh my god, shes a battle maniac. It didnt seem like the girl would stop. It cant be helped then. Ill have to use you as a guinea pig. After all, its the first time Im sealing a living being. Huh? I raised a talisman with her name and magic circle on it. DD CLOSE What?!!!! A whirlpool was created from the talisman and attacking her to swallow her. Hey, whats this !? Im being sucked in DD Hmm? Something is wrong. Red lightning was occurring in the vortex. Moreover, I could see the blonde girl that I saw in the back alley overlapped with the brown-haired girl. DD is it a failure? But, What will happen if I fail? Is it something that cant be undone??? Sh*t, how can I cancel this?!! DD There is no choice but to destroy the talisman! I cant resist!! The moment I reached out to break the talisman, the brown-haired girl was swallowed by it. And the magic circle written on the tag glowed red. Is it a success? PLOP! Something was fall to the ground right in front of me. When I looked at it, I found a pair of plain white panties for women and a set of clothes worn by brown-haired girl. Clothes? DD Ah! Only objects with Mana can be sealed. Perhaps because the clothes did not have Mana, it was not suckedC Well, that means The girl was naked inside the talisman. If I were to unseal her, I would surely see a naked girlfriend came out from the talisman. It must have been a miscalculation, no, a situation that could have been expected Im scared of my lack of thought. When I noticed, people were gathering near the entrance of the liquor store. Apparently, they heard the sound of the current battle and came out of the liquor store. I was gathering the eyes of the ruffians around me. So, for the time being, I picked up the girls clothes and put them in my bag. The clothes still had a warm feel. And that sensation, created a feeling of guilt in my heart. The gaze of the surroundings completely saw me as a pervert that like to collect womens clothes. Well, I unintentionally stripped the girl naked What should I do now? Old man, it seems that my adventure will be full of difficulties. CH 11 11. Shura & Ash Since I couldnt carry the talisman which the brown-haired girl sealed inside it with me forever, I decided to release her in an inn in the city. After having dinner at the bar on the first floor of the inn, I set about preparing to unseal her. In the center of the room, where there were only beds and closets, I put the talisman I used to seal the girl on the carpet. I also put the clothes she was wearing on the side of the talisman. I was sure she would come out naked Yeah, no doubt about it. As a gentleman, I turned my back on the talisman. And I thought that since the cane still sealed, even if she suddenly came out naked, it wouldnt turn into a fight. Also, I planned to show her hat I had no intention to fight her while she was in a panic and reconcile with her. Originally there was no reason for me and her to fight. Well, I think it wont work as what I expected I prepared myself and chanted the spell. DD OPEN White smoke flowed from my back into my field of vision with a light sound. Then, I heard the sound of bare feet landing. I what the hell happened Well, you see I tried to cut out with my back still turned, You are ! For a moment. In a blink of an eye, she came to attack me. Her legs entwined around my torso and her arms tightened my neck. Gahh! You piece of sh*t?! Say! What did you do to me! Say it now! I couldnt move my neck was strangled. At that moment, I thought, Humans are so fragile, huh My whole body was restrained in an instant. Her skill is good. Ah, no, the problem is more than that. Damn!! I could feel that the things which hit the back of my head was slightly bulging and soft. And the sweat that I felt on my back came from her trained absDD The scent of a healthy girl that came to my nose it was the scent of an evil, a bewitching scent! And I couldnt muster up any strength. For adolescents who had been forced to abstinence for a year it was a hard situation. This is just TOO MUCH!!! Uuuoooooh!!!! I cant get out of this!!! What a skill! Not to mention her physical force, but also the fact that she let me feel her whole body, its as if a Double Lock is being put to restrain me!! Its impossible for me to get out of this! What the hell did you do! Ca-Calm down! Look at your own appearance first! My appearance.. Hkyaa?!! The brown-haired girl released me and took a distance from me. Iam naked? Why??? so just now, I was hugging you naked?! I looked at the girl while coughing. She turned her face red and used her arms to hide her secret part. With tears in her eyes, she was staring at me while baring her teeth. But what I was interested in was her navel. The Character Stamp I had put on that area was disappeared. Even though the Character stamp that I put on objects, weapons and tools did not disappear after I unsealed once. Is it a different story if it is a living thing? Oops Its not the time for that now. I looked away and pointed to her clothes on the ground. Your clothes are there, so wear them Im not going to harm you. Ill also return the cane properly later. Believe me. I just want to talk. I turned my back and insisted that I had no intention to fight. Then, I could hear the girls approaching footsteps. I was wondering if she would do something like before again, but when I could hear the sound of picking up clothes, the footsteps went away. I could hear the rubbing sound of the cloth. After waiting a few minutes, I was hit on my shoulder. Looking back, there was a brown-haired girl dressed. She was pointing to the back door with her thumb. I also have something to ask. Lets talk while eating. All right. The cane is fine after we talk. The girl postponed the cane. Is it the way she appeals that she has no intention to fight? I went to the bar on the first floor of the inn, while regretting having finished dinner. - Question 1, who are you? As soon as she finished the order and arrived at the table, she asked a question. Im a Sealer Ive never heard of it. Well, its a minor. The girl rested her chin in her hand with, Hmm. I see. Im kind of convinced now after all, I was sealed by you. Thats how it is. Then, Question 2 DD Wait. Its not fair to ask a question one-sidedly so, let me ask you a question too. Alright, the girl put her mouth on the mug and changed her attitude. In the back alley, it looked like that the blonde girl had transformed into you. Whats that? The blonde girl you saw is my sister, and shes sleeping inside me. What does it mean? , it also called, The moment my sister and I were born, we carried this curse with our back. And so, two souls and two figures were packed into one vessel. When certain conditions are met, my sister and I will switch. Its a curse thats so annoying! So, there is such a curse, huh The curse that packed two souls into one vessel The curse might be the one that caused the abnormal lightning when I tried to seal her. After all, I wrote only her name on the talisman, but I didnt write her sisters name. Thanks to that, my activity time and my sisters activity time is much less than normal people. Its inconvenient, annoying and abominable. DDI No, we are on a journey to break the curse. Can you break the curse? I heard that you cant break it, thats why its called as a curse. Thats right. There is no record of someone breaking a curse in history Still, Ill do it. Absolutely I could feel a firm will from the brown-haired girls gaze. You areDD Its not you. its Shura, I introduced myself, right? And now its my turn to ask a question. I picked up the salad that was brought in by the waiter. The brown-haired girlDD Shura picked up sliced ??dried meat and used a fork to take it with a bitter face. The food didnt seem to fit her taste. As I said, Im on a journey to break the curse So, I arrived at this city in search of clues. I see I heard that there is someone in this city who knows how to break the curse You, if I didnt hear it wrong you said that your family name is Zetta, right? Thats right. The family name of the person Im looking for is also ZettaThe full name is Barha Zetta Barha Zetta Barha Zetta?!! You did you come here looking for that old man? A-as expected, you know him, right?! Yeah. Barha Zetta is my master. Shura leaned forward and grabbed the collar of my shirt. Where?! Where is him right now!? Hey, calm down Youre the type who cant see your surroundings when your tension rises, huh It seemed Shura was back to her sense, she returned to her seat and coughed. But I see that old man huh? Certainly, if that old man the way to break the curse, he might knoDD No, he doesnt know. Because the cause his death is a curse. There are two sad news First, the old man, Balha Zetta, died a month ago. Wha! Second. The old man probably didnt know how to break the curseBecause the cause his death was a curse If he could break the curse, he would have broken it before he was killed by it. Shuras complexion turned blue. Do you have much hope in the old man? It must have been because Shura thought that after overcoming various hardships, she might finally find a clue, but DDThere is no smoke without fire. Hmm? Your master was eroded by the curse, which may mean that he was looking for a way to break the curse, like I did. Maybe he cant break the curse yet. But he might have some clues. What a positive thinking. Certainly, the possibilities are not zero. That old man knows a lot of things and it feels like that he knows some clues. DDYour master, where is his house?! No, I dont know. Im sorry, but I dont know the old mans private information at all. No, it isnt at all, I guess? The old man has a granddaughter If you ask his granddaughter, you may know the location of the old mans house. Granddaughter? Where is it? I only know that shes in a Magic Academy. Im looking for her too. Shura thrusted the dried meat into her mouth, chewed it twice, and swallowed it, then muttered, If that so Oh, I somehow know what she is thinking right now. Lets hear what she will say, I think she will say it We will follow you too Lets find his granddaughter together! Well, of course itll be like this Ive been thinking about it since I fought her in the back alley. That it would be encouraging if she in on my side. Alright, just what I hoped for Im also looking for someone to travel with me. Shura held out her right hand to me. I see. Its a deal then DD Treat me well, Seal Let me say this first traveling with me is not easy! I understand. Please go easy on me, Shura. I and Shura shook hands. In this way, I made my first companion. - Last night, I and Shura became friends. After eating dinner, we took a separate room and went to bed. We were planning to leave for in Everlasting Spring Town early in the morning. When I heard the sound of knocking on the door of the room, I got up from the bed and headed toward the door while scratching my head. I turned the doorknob and opened the door, thinking that it would be Shura, but Standing there was a blonde girl looking up at me with her sleepy eyes. Morning` Blonde. Green Eyes. Ponytail. [TN: the kanji use for color of the eyes is ̡ which actually read as Ao or blue but in Japanese color called Ao or blue, its actually, Greenish Blue, which mean, it looks green] While showing her palm, she uttered a greeting-like word. For the time being, I matched the pace and showed my palm. M-Morning It was a blonde girl who was picked up by the thugs in the back alley. In other words, Shuras sister. The appearance was different from yesterday. She was dressed up in clothes that suited herself. However, the clothes it didnt match the season. She was wearing black long sleeve tops with something like a fluffy cuff, even though the heat of summer has begun to warm up. The lower half of the body was shorts and exposed her bare feet. It was a fashion that was not suitable for any season. I immediately got ready and left the room. After leaving the inn, I and Shuras sister left for . You, Shuras sister right? Whats your name? Ash Ash Sullivan. Ash. I forgot to ask your older sister yesterday, but what are the conditions for you to switch place with each other? Ash and Shura. For short, Ashura Sisters, their souls were merged by a curse. I heard that the appearance change depending on the conditions, but I did not hear the conditions. I though that since we would fight together from now, if she suddenly changed without any conditions in a battle, the cooperation would be affected. So, it was a pretty important issue. Sunlight. Ash pointed to the sun. When my older sister is exposed to the sun for 30 minutes, she turns into me This morning, my sister was sleeping with the curtain open, so she switched to me. Does the sun mean that if you stay in the sun for another 30 minutes, will you replace your sister? Ash shook her head. On the contrary, if I hide in the shadow or stay away from the sun for 30 minutes, I will turn into my older sister. So, if your older sister is under the sun, she will turn into you, the younger sister. On the contrary, when youre in the shadow, you will turn into your older sister Thats why its called huh As expected, the world is full of mysterious things. A question came to my mind. Human beings, being in the sun and being in the shadows. Which one is longer? About the same? No, Im sure its the latter Well, to put in in a simple way You dont get the sun at night, but you often get shadows in the morning and noon. So, Ash, who quickly turns into her older sister if not in the sun, would only be able to do activities about one-third of the day. Its a troublesome curse Oops, I havent introduced myself yetIm Seal Zetta. I know. I saw it from inside my sister. Hoho, so both of you share the outside scenery? It seemed that the older sister was an active and lively person, but the younger sister was passive and shy. With sleepy eyes, every time Ash spoke, she pulled the cloth on her chest up to her mouth to hide her lips. The expression on her face also barely changed. But, well, the more I look at it, the better she looks in my eyes. Unlike her sister, she has big breasts and a young face, but she is not as childish as her sister. Shes also just tall enough, about my shoulders. Her older sister was only about my chest. Hmmm? Suddenly, I noticed Ash golden hair. Theyre really sisters right? Yesterday a lot of things going on, so I didnt notice it, but isnt their hair color completely different? The older sister is brown, but the younger sister is golden DD maybe one is dyed? or both are dyed? Somehow its noisy. Ash pointed towards the main gate of the city. Looking at it, the Knights were not allowed the merchants and their carriages too pass through. Come on! Today I have to deliver the product to the customers in ! I also have a lot of bodyguard following me. Dont worry! No! Recently, the monsters that appear in the valley are becoming more ferocious. Currently, the Knights are trying to do something to it. I will not allow you to disturb themSo, I cant let you through even with an escort. Sounds annoying. Well, we can force ourselves to pass through here with some trick but it will be difficult to get through the valley without seeing a knight. Do you want to find another route? Okay. Cross the mountains from the west or, leave the city and take a ship from the port town in the south. Either way, its a detour. We will need some preparation to cross the mountain, it costs money. About 20000 Ouro for two people. We have to be prepared for the expense. It also takes times and there are problems with endurance too. If so, a ship is better? There is a distance to the port town, but we could reach there in a day or two. The problem is the fare I opened my bag for money and checked how much I have. How much does it cost to get from the southern port town to ? Given the distance, the market price is 7500 ouro per person. I have 5000. I have 2800. So, its only enough for one person, huh Then There is a way to get two people with one persons fare. Smuggling? Well, thats right. Theres no problem if I seal Ash on a talisman and carry it as luggageRight? The route had been decided. Buy only one days worth of food with the 300 ouro and leave the city right away Do you have any request for what to eat? Seal, you can cook? Yeah, Ive lived alone for a long time. Well! then!! Ash grabbed the hem of my cloak while bouncing. Ash completely changed from the cool character She tightened her eyes tightly and opened her mouth wide. I I! bean sprouts! I want to eat stir-fried bean sprouts! What is this cute creature? The feeling I get now is that theyre cute but, rather cute as an opposite sex, theyre more like cute as pets like dogs and cats. The older sister was like a lion cub, but the younger sister is cute like a squirrel. Bean sprouts, huh Should I buy garlic and soy sauce and fry them all together? Ash nodded at such a speed that an afterimage was created. CH 12 12. Endless World Every city had a barrier. That was the general knowledge. There were various forms of barriers, and although I had never seen them, it seemed that the Imperial City had a glass-like barrier made of magic that surrounded the city. Others were simply surrounded by tough, tall walls or trees that give off odors that monsters didnt like. Even if it was such a man-made wall or a natural wall, the things that its function was to protect the city was called a barrier. The barrier of was a poisonous fog. The fog was scattered around the city. Of course, it was artificially made.it contained poison that works only on monsters and was harmless to humans. It was designed so that if monsters were to enter the fog, they would wander inside it, and die from poison by the time they reach the city. So, as the matter of course, there were monster corpses around , and travelers hated the eerie fog. Cleaning was done once a day, but since cleaning was done at midnight, during the daytime like now, there would be a lot of corpses. In the fog, I and Ash headed south while avoiding the corpses. A signpost stood on the borderline where the fog cleared. Welcome to Distall It was a sign with letters that I never thought of. We stopped in front of the sign. Whats wrong? Nothing, just that since I was born.. Ive never been further than this sign. Id been walking around in the fog for fun before, but I didnt cross the border. One more step and it would be a different world for me. Scared by something unknown I didnt know what will happen after I passed the sign. While denying boredom, I was actually afraid of change. It was a wall that I couldnt overcome. Anxiety and uplifting Two opposing emotions swirled inside me. As I wasnt taking a step, Ash wrapped my right hand in both hands. Its okay nothing to be scared. Ash tried to comfort me as if I was a kid. It was soft hands. But a little cold hand. I got out of the fog while being pulled by Ash. Ah DD The sunlight greeted me. From the pitch-black fog, the dazzling light dominated my field of vision. Just one step It was just one step away, but I could see the vast forest and the sea in the distance spread out. I looked down on nature from above. seemed to have been a city in the highlands I knew it for the first time Perhaps, everyone didnt say it because it was a common knowledge. Woww, This is! I ran involuntarily and went to the top of the cliff. From there, I viewed the beautiful green and blue scenery. Somehow I feel like, it is started. I feel like I can hear the sound of fanfare. I feel that more air is being sent to my lungs than usual. I feel that the sunlight is warmer than usual. That beautiful lake, The flower field where red and blue flowers are in full bloom, A valley with a gorgeous river, A white town on the seaside, And the sea that shines with the reflection of the sunDD DD I can go to all of them. There are countless choices. If this was the past me, I might have stopped at the signpost and got stuck. Im really excited now. Everything I can see is reachable. You did you want me to see this view? Im still dreaming about it from time to time. the old man is alive, and Im traveling around the world as a disciple of the old man. Even now, I still hope that he could put his hand on my shoulder next to me and laugh. Well, its not the time for me to be so sentimental. After all, an adventure must begin with a smile. From now on, we will go down a zigzag path and go through the forest to the port townYou can see the white town on the side of the sea, right? Yeah, is that the Port Town ? We will aim for that. I think it will take a day. Roger, I understandThere is a lake in the forest when we reach there, lets take a break and have a meal. Yeah! I stepped into the slope that connected from the cliff. And, I didnt look back. - When I got off the zigzag path, there was, of course, that. Id seen the corpse a lot before, but it was the first time Id seen it alive. [Gugu DD Gi !!!!] Red-eyed Wolf-shaped Monster. Thats {Fang}. A monster that likes human skin What a bad hobby. Ash held the cane and I picked up a talisman with Lion written on it. Lion SpearDD OPEN A blue spear popped out of the talisman. I took the spear in my right hand, turned my wrist around and spined it, and pointed the spear at the enemy. Seeing me doing all of that, Ash was squinting. I thought this when I was watching from my sister, but That technique is very strange. Is that so? Yeah. Really it has an unpleasant Mana Movement its strange that the technique is not failed. Oi, oi, what a terrible evaluation. There were seven enemies, and they brazenly look at us. Your elder sister is without a doubt an infighter, but what are you good at? Magic attack using Green Mana, the Mana of Creation. Mana of Creation, huh Ah! Then, can you do that? Fireball! I can do itDD Want to see? Yes! I wantI really want to see it! I mean, its a mans romance! All rightIll do my best And I regretted what I said not long after. HmmmDDAsh-san? As declared, Ash raised her cane and created a mass of fire over her head. Poured in more Green Mana and made the mass even bigger. The fireball I imagined was at best about the size of the bag I was carrying. Even if it were big, I thought maybe it would be about the size of a human. However, the lump of flame produced by Ash was big enough to swallow a cabin. Wait, wait, wait! Im not asking for that size! I mean, a wildfire might occur! Also, its over the level for a small fry! Look at the {Fang} over there, Im sure theyre stuck and cant properly stand! Its okay. Ill extinguish the fire immediately with the Water Magic. The ruthless flame burned the monster, {Fang}, to death. - Unlike Shura, Ash seemed to be a Support-type Magician. If Shura was good at physical strengthening with Red Mana, Ash was good at Magic Attacks with Green Mana. The two were well-balanced sisters. I and Ash, even after defeating {Fang}, we encountered monsters several times. I had Ash took the role of attacking with a large firepower, meanwhile I went forward to attack directly with the Lion Spear. The opponent that I failed to finish off was burned with an appropriate size fireball. The monster was much weaker than I thought it would be, and most were fragile enough to be punched through with a fist covered with Red Mana, I didnt even need to use my Magic Items. I was pretty scared at first, but when I think about it now, even those guys, who couldnt handle Mana, at , were able to get rid of monsters, so I was wondering if we, the Magicians, was too strong for those monsters. Oh, by the way, you dont chant when you use magic, huh Chant I mean, in a Hero Storybook when someone use Magics, theyll chant the spells, right? Or maybe youre a great magician? Thats why you can use magic without chanting? Its the other way around. Controlling Magic after you put Mana in the words is a high-level technique. Chanting is a really difficult technique in using Magic Im practicing it, but it still doesnt work. Chanting is a high-level technique? Rather, I thought that to be able to cast Magic without a chant is more advanced. I just dont understand. I see. The opposite, huhHey Ash, can you teach me how to control Green Mana, the Mana of Creation, during the journey? Okay. But that aside, Lets go faster! The sun is setting! After that, we killed out more monsters, and I and Ash reached the lake. It was a green lake. The scent of flowers around calmed the mind. We settled down with the lake in front of us. I didnt notice it because I kept moving, but it seemed that time had passed, and the sun was about to set. Seal! fast, make it fast! Maybe Ash was afraid of the shadows that falling, she rushed me. Oh right, she was careful not to get in the shadow of the tree as much as possible when we were moving Did she hate to be replaced by her sister before eating the bean sprouts? All right Collect dead trees and light them with Magic I have a frying pan with me, so Ill start cooking right away. The menu was stir-fried bean sprouts with garlic and soy sauce. First, I washed the bean sprouts and squeezed them to remove water. On the way, we hunted a wild boar, an edible creature (a creature that does not emit miasma even if it dies), so I proceed to dismantling it too. Seal! Its ready! Roger that. I put the frying pan that I bought at the tool shop right after I was released from prison, on the fire that was made by Ash. First, I put butter on the frying pan and let it melt Then, I put bean sprouts and lastly, the boar meat. When the scent of fragrant butter rose, I seasoned it with garlic and soy sauce. To be honest, I wanted to make two more dish, but I didnt have much time. After tasting it, I put the finished stir-fried bean sprouts on a wooden plate. Yeah, it has a nice scent. The animal odor of wild boar meat was balanced by the scent of herbs added as a secret ingredient when I fried it. Its done. I carried the finished stir-fried bean sprouts in front of Ash. Ash sat on a stone, held a fork with shining eyes. Looks delicious..! Well, the taste is a little stronger than I expected Its okay. The strong taste means that its delicious. Ash procced to take the fried bean sprouts with the fork DDIve a bad feeling... It was just then. The sun set and the shadows dominated the area. The moment Ash took the bean sprouts and brought it to her mouth DD Ash disappeared. The next thing that appeared was a brown-haired girl who moved her mouth in a boring manner. I put my hand on my waist and sighed. Huft. As I thought, it would end like this. Im feeling guilty even though I havent done anything wrong Its really a troublesome curse. Somehow, I could understand why they hate it. Well, do you take over the thing that youve eaten with your sisters? Will Ash be hungry after you switch with her? Well, that area is pretty vague, I guess? I dont take over the injuries, but it seems that I share some of the energy that we got after eating. And both of us aging at the same time. Well, if you dont share the age, even if you had lived for 20 years, both of you will only look like 10 years old right? Does the fact that Shura to look so young like this has a hidden meaning too? Hmm, I think its not good to dig the information too deep. Well, maybe Ill eat too. I turned my foot to the frying pan where the stir-fried bean sprouts remained. At that time, I glanced the clothes that Shura was wearing. The clothes were not the correct size because she inherited the clothes worn by Ash, who was taller than Shura. Black long sleeves with shorts pants. When Ash wore it, it looked like slightly loose clothes, but when Shura wore it, I felt a strong sense of a kid wearing adult clothes. The sleeves were too big, half of her palm was hidden. Is this the truth of why Ash was wearing tight clothes in the back alley? Contrary now, probably next time she switches place with Ash, Ash will take over the clothes that Shura was wearing. Ill say it again. Its really a troublesome curse. I put the stir-fried bean sprouts on the newly prepared wooden plate. With the lake in the background, eating in front of the bonfire while surrounded by the wilderness. It was like This is it, the thing they call an Adventure. I took a plate with stir-fried bean sprouts and walked toward Shura. But then, I heard something crawling on the ground from behind Shura. DDtch! Who? Come out now! Shura laid down a wooden plate and held the cane. The grass swayed. Is it a monster? .Who crawled out of the shade was a man. The man was around thirty-year old and looked so pale like he was about to die. CH 13 13. Sonata Campbell I am hungry The man crawled a few steps in a prone position and then laid his face down on the ground. I and Shura Our face met. Hefainted? It seems so I approach the man with a wooden plate. When I put the wooden plate with the bean sprout on it in front of him, the man ate the bean sprout on the wooden plate without using his hands. It flattened in a matter of minutes. You sure? Your share is gone now Its all rightIm used to being hungry. Im okay without eating anything for about a day. As I said, Shura stabbed a piece of wild boar meat with a fork and presented it in front of me. Well, its only one bite left Shura raised her chin, saying, Open your mouth., so I opened my mouth and ate the wild boar meat. This would be an indirect kiss, right? Maybe she is not the type who care so much about that kind of And Shuras face turned red. Well, if youre going to be embarrassed, you dont have to force yourself to do it Somehow the boar meat was a little sweet and sour. I dont remember seasoning it that way There was a part where Shura thinks of herself as an adult woman who can do anything. But to be honest, that kind of thing made her looked more like a kid. If I were to say that to her, I was sure that she would be furious, so I kept it for myself. Well, well`! Im alive, Im resurrected! Really, you saved me. boy! The man ate the stir-fried bean sprouts and stood up vigorously. Rough beard, unkempt gray hair. I couldnt see his eyes because it was covered with a green fedora. The clothes were a green long coat that looked not fashionable. He was a man with a mysterious atmosphere. Nice to meet you, my name is Sonata Campbell As you can see, Ive run out of food! I was almost reach out to the monsters you know! Hahaha! If you do something like that, youll become a demonDDIm Seal. Im Shura. Seal-kun and Shura-chan You guys are lucky! Because you met a superstar in such a place! Sonata removed the fedora and bowed. Now that I could see his face after he removed his fedora, I could see that he was quite good-looking. You see, Im a singer! A wandering musician, or you could say Im a Bard! Bard? I see, so you never really stay in one place huh I turned to Shura, who sat with a stone as a chair. Do you know about it? Bard, is someone who sing while traveling, as he said Ive seen them several times in my hometown, but its the first time Ive seen it since I traveled. Thanks for the stir-fried bean sprouts Well, maybe I need to sing one song as a gift?! At night when the bonfire burns. Surrounding it with friends while listening to the song. DDWhat a wonderful idea. Well, I hate singing, but I dont hate listening to someone singing. Alright, lets ask him to sing. I want to listen. I also want to hear Well, I also quite like singing too! Really?! Alright, then Ill sing with the lake there as the stage. Lake as the stage? Sonata walked towards the lake calmly. Oo, Oi! Youll fall! Its okay! Even though I look like this, Im a magician DDDDWalking on` the` water is` very easy`! When I was thinking, There is such a magic? Sonata put out his tongue. Something like a Magic Circle was drawn on Sonatas tongue, and the tongue shined with the Magic Circle as the starting point. The light flowed toward Sonatas feet, Sonata he really walked on the water. Wow ! Not yet! After all, Im a great Magician! DDDDOn this lake, Even` something like flame` pillars are` easy` to make! Well, he can walk on the water, Im sure he could do something like that too. Sure enough, Sonata spawned a pillar of fire from within the lake, illuminating the surface of the water. So strange what he just did? I couldnt read the flow of Mana at all After illuminating the area with flame pillars and took a breath once or twice, Sonata opened his mouth wide. Then ladies and gentlemen! Its time for Night Music Festival by Sonata-Campbell! CLAP! CLAP! CLAP! I and Shura applauded Sonata spread his arms and began to sing. DDI didnt remember much from that point onward. What I remembered were That, the childish lyrics that adolescent boys made in the room were lined up. That, there was an unpleasant treble sounding like ores were being put together. That, Shura was holding the sleeve of my clothes with teary eyes. And that, I was sweating from the whole body. When the seemingly endless time was over, and right after the Music Festival was over, I and Shura had collapsed on the spot. Thank you so much for listening! To summarized it briefly, DDSonata-Campbell was an unimaginably tone deaf. - WellD, I sang a song! Im very satisfied!!! I and Shura stared at Sonata while covering our ears. Somehow, Sonatas skin was shiny. Y-you are you really a Bard? Ah, as expected you didnt like it? Well, my sensibility is rather unique`, so of course my music cant be understood by ordinary people. Sonata laughed. What should I do? I really want to hit him at least once Ah, thats right! Ill give this to you guys! Sonata gave a piece of paper to me and Shura. What is this? Its a membership card! of my fan club! Membership card? Then, I read the letters written on a piece of paper. Sonata-Campbell Fan Club Membership Card DDNo. 0001, President: Seal I have a vice president written on it Thats right! Ill appoint you guys as president and vice president of my fan club! Well, well, you guys are really lucDD please dont tear it without saying a word like that! After that, Sonata tried to sing so many times, And that Every Time, I and Shura stopped him with all our might. Sonata gave up his shoulders, saying, Arent you guys being mean to me?, And then turned his back on us with his luggage. Wait Where are you going? I want to meet someone there DDI wish that person is still alive Who is it, huh? So, your friend there is on the verge of death? Now? Stop it Its dangerous to walk in the forest at night. Its okay! Im pretty strong! Hmmm, thats true I think a magician can easily defeat the monsters around here but his words are unconvincing as he almost fainted when we met him. Sure, based on his performance, he seems like a strong Magician, but it is not only monsters that are scary while youre travelling. Sonata waved lightly while saying, See you ~, then right before he entered the forest, he stopped. Ah, I forgot to ask Are you guys planning to go to the Port Town? Yeah, thats right. Is your final destination ? Thats right. If so, dont make a detour Go straight to Even without you telling me, Im going to do that Or perhaps theres some implications behind those words? well Then, lets meet somewhere again! President and Vice President! Ill let you guys hear a new song when we meet next time! I dont want to!!! I and Shura said so at the same time. Then, a man named Sonata Campbell, he disappeared into the darkness of the forest. Since it was late at night, Shura and I took turns sleeping. DDDont make a detour. I wish that I had heard this advice more properly, In the future I would think so. With the old man gone, I soon realized that the world was steadily heading in the wrong direction. CH 14 14. Curse & Blessing When I woke up in the morning, someones shadow was over me. When I tilted my gaze to the side, I saw wrinkles in a short pants. And when I turned my face up, what I saw was Ashs face. Bean Sprouts. Ash raised her eyebrows and looked as if she was pleading. Im sorry. But, the bean sprouts are out of stock. Bean Sprouts! Okay, okay! When we get to the port town, lets eat at some store.. So, stop seeing me with such crying eyes Now, the problem is money. Up until now, we collected the skins of the monsters we defeated, and when we arrive in the town, should I sell them for cash? It will be around 2000 ouro. I and Ash departed from the lake for the Port Town. And as expected, we encountered with a monster on the way. It was a big, horned bear-like monster. I and Ash moved in formation with me as the vanguard and her as the rearguard, and we defeated the monster in easy. The collaboration between us more refined than yesterday. The number of trees blocking the road had begun to decrease. I and Ash went out to the hills and saw a brighter sun than yesterday. I could hear the sound of the sea breeze and the sound of the waves. Those two sounds were probably the melody around that area. A white bird was riding the wind and roaming in the sky. There was a town with white and blue buildings That was the Port Town. Weve arrived Yup This is . When I saw it from the top of the cliff, it felt quite far, but when I actually reached the town, I felt that it was quick. Did I really across that long journey? There is an indescribable feeling that I feel right now so, this is an adventure, huh I might get addicted to this I want to go see the ship, but first GRRRR and the sounds of Ash and my belly intersect. Food! DDRight. C I thought that the city of was really boring. Everyone was always spending their daily lives in the same way. So, I was keenly aware of something when I looked at the streets of . Although was a much smaller town than , it was full of energy. Oo-ii! I brought some freshly fish that I just caught! Ooo, I guess, Tuna is cheap today! Wow`! Its big! A fisherman who put fish in a net and went around the store, and a cook who was looking for fresh fish lined up in the store. A voice of call, a child running around the town. The people in the town were living towards tomorrow. However, I could see there were some people who had a gloomy face in a small part of the town. Excuse me If you find this child, please contact me. One of the persons with a gloomy face, an old woman, gave me a rough paper. It was a flyer. I received the flyer and held it with both hands so that it didnt get turned back by the wind. The flyer was blurry, but a little girls face still could be seen on it. And somehow the picture looked so real. Its a Psychic Photography Technique A technique to draw a picture based on memory. Sounds like a convenient technique. I took my eyes off the flyer and raised my face. Maam, what happened to this child? The old woman turned her eyes down and shed tears. This child is my daughter Actually I havent seen her since a month ago When I tried to listen carefully, I could hear the voices of those who were also looking for their children, wives, and friends. Apparently, kidnapping was a problem in the town now. It must be difficult. Your daughter, if I find her, Ill definitely bring her here. Oh, thank you very much! Thank you! The figure of the mother who bowed deeply was lonely and it was a heartbreaking scene. Kidnapping, huh Just in case, we have to be careful too. Because there are many towns near the sea. OK. Anyway, first of all, food food! Since expensive place would likely have no menu that use Bean Sprouts. The aim was a normal restaurant. I and Ash discovered restaurant that building was rugged but seemed not that bad. Whats the limit? I think its about five minutes. Okay, then Ill go in and order, so come in when the food is served. I entered the restaurant. The candlelight illuminated the store, but there was no sunlight, so when Ash came in, the countdown that would switch her into Shura would begin. Their curse didnt activate in 30 minutes in a row, but in cumulative 30 minutes of their respective terms. Ash was already in the shadow for some time. So, it was almost time to switch with Shura. I asked the owner of the restaurant if they had menu using bean sprouts. Then, the owner offered a dish called, stir-fried bean sprouts in sesame oil. I ordered it and the owners recommended meat pie, then I sit at the table. I sold the monster skin at the item shop I stopped by earlier and got 1560 ouro, so there is no problem with money. Lets hope that the fee for the ship will be as the market price. Its done! Thank you for waiting! BAM! four dishes placed on the table. Two stir-fried bean sprouts and two meat pies were placed. Ooh, the food came?, I need to call AsDD When I tried to stand up, a shadow suddenly came and sat in front of me. Ash glared at the Bean Sprouts with her eyes, grabbed the fork and attacked it as if not to let it escape. Mogu mogu mogu! Musha Musha!!! [TN; in English itll be, Nom nom nom! Munch Munch!!!] With her cheeks bulging like a squirrel, Ash squeezed the bean sprouts inside her mouth. You also trying to eat my stir-fry bean sprouts Well, never mind Eat slowly I reached for the remaining meat pie. First, I split the round meat pie in half. When I did that, the cheese was stretching. I didnt want to spill the cheese, so I lifted a piece of meat pie in a rush and put the pie and the following cheese inside my mouth. {*Melting sound inside the mouth} It was not crunchy. It was melting inside my mouth. The minced meat inside, the meat sauce, and the cheese create a rich taste. This richness Are they using wine? Originally, the taste that seemed to collide with each other was balanced with the good texture. The pie sucked the taste from the filling so well. So good. I have no complaints. Thank you for the meal. Ash joined her hands. Are you sure? There are still meat pies left Its pretty good. Yeah, but its already time DD BANG! Ash shrank. A brown-haired girl, Shura, had taken over her clothes. Uaahh DDGood morning Its late already. Youre sleeping habit is bad The end of her hair was curled up and looked messy. But that made her looked like a tomboy Its cute. Ill fix it laterWell, meat pie. Can I have it? I gently pushed the plate forward. When Shura picked up the meat pie, she bit to it without breaking it in parts. Shura chewed boringly and put the meat pie back on the plate. Hmm? Is it bad? Ah, sorry. Did my face look like that? Its neither good nor bad. I dont plan to hide it, so let me tell you I cant taste. Cant taste? Ah, speaking of which, when she ate the dried meat in that inn she looked like its bad, and there was no reaction when she ate the fried bean sprouts I made Yeah, its a curse. The curse that makes you lose your taste. You you have another curse besides the ? Thats not all. There are three other curses in me, a total of five You see, my hometown is called The Village of Curses and so the parents embed curses in their children to the limit. What a harassment What are the benefits of Curse? You You dont know the relationship between Curse and Blessing? Curse and blessing? A Curse is something like a disease that cant be cured So, a blessing is Yeah, it must be that when you celebrate someone, right? You dont seem to know about it You seeDDA person can receive a blessing at the cost of being CursedReceive the Curse of blindness, you would get the blessing of hearing. Receive a curse that weakens your body against cold objects, you would get blessing of resistance to hot objects, and a lot more DDIn my hometown, when you have children, you will let them receive a curse that does not interfere with the battle as so to receive blessings that are useful for the battle. The aim is to produce strong warriors. The people of my hometown have been doing that kind of crazy custom for hundreds of years. So it means that its possible to become stronger by receiving a curse? Certainly, its fascinating Receive a curse that doesnt matter, and get the blessing you want. DDIf I listened to this before I met her, I might have wanted to jump in. By the way, Im receiving the Blessing of sharpening my sense of smell under the Curse of losing my sense of taste Also, Ive received a curse that makes the Green Mana inside me unusable, but I received the Blessing that strengthen my Red Mana. What kind of blessing did the Yin-Yang Curse come with? DDI dont know the details. This curse is a little special But I have a clue. If you control the time you spend in the sun and shadow cleverly, you can hunt down your enemies in a completely different style, right? So, changing between me and Ash. Isnt this a Blessing? I mean, in a sense, the ability as an individual has been strengthened, right? Shura ate the meat pie without changing her complexion. Shes probably already used to eating tasteless foods. Its a shame this meat pie is insanely delicious. I guess so It smells good I see. She said that on the contrary, the sense of smell is insanely good. But, as expected its hard to just not eat it when she could smell it. Does Ash also have a lot of curses? That child only have a . Her Curse resistance is strong. And so, on the contrary, Shura had a weak curse resistance, so she embedded with a lot of curse. I seeThen, after we solve the taste-sealing curse and the lets come to this store again. At that time, itll be three people. Huh?! Shura was surprised that she stopped chewing. Because its a shame you cant taste this delicious meat pie. But, but you see, I havent solved any of the curses yet, right? I mean, no one in the long history has broken the curse. There is no chance of solving it for now. Even if I can solve it, I dont know how much it will cost to solve one I dont know how hard it will be to break the , so honestly I give up on the other curse Solving one or two is the same. I said so. With a frightened face, Shura settled down in a chair. If theres someone who says, I want to break the curse, you normally laugh at that person? And if you say its not one but two, youll be seen as a weirdo, you know? Thats common sense. You know it right? I dont know how difficult it is to break the curseI dont know such a boring thing like a common sense isDDAnd anyway, you are traveling to break such a boring common sense, right? Its okay, you can be not only the first one to break a curse in history. But also, the second one Well, well, its going to be a good way to kill time. ?! Shura looked away. I tried to make eye contact with Shura, but Shura looked away from my eyes. DD You Youre a weirdo after all youre strange and crazy but I do not hate you. Shura laughed and made a girlish look. Okay. Its a promise, lets definitely come here again Three people, to eat meat pie. Yeah, Well, Ash would be crazy about bean sprouts. I and Shura finished our meal and left the restaurant. Somehow, I felt that one of the walls between Shura and me had broken. Authors Note: By the way, Curses and Blessings are not always balanced. There is no such a good thing like Blessing level 10 at Curse level 1. But, There are curses that are not balanced, such as Blessing level 1 at Curse level 10. The Curse that Barha received was this curse, so he only had a low level of blessing. Its a blessing that makes him just a little lucky. CH 15 15. Unwanted Route After leaving the restaurant, I and Shura split up and searched for a ship bound for . One hour later, we met in the back of the restaurant. I couldnt find a ship that would carry me for no more than how much I had. Now, the rest depends on Shura When I was waiting for Shura in the back alley first it was Ash who came. Well, she may have switched on the way. Thanks for waiting. A man with a scary face will let us in his ship at the 7th port for 7000 ouro. I cant find any, so thanks As planned, I will seal you inside the talisman and carry it as luggage. That way, well only have to pay for one person. To seal me, you have to hit my skin directly right? Ashe squinted her eyebrows, she rolled up her clothes and showed her navel. Please, be kind I dont like, to be in pain. What is this feeling of guilt? If someone who dont know about the situation, theyll definitely misunderstand this situation. Its certainly faster to hit directly, but I can take the time to write the character stamp, and The place to put the letter mark does not have to be the belly! Put your arm out and I will write on your arm. Ash was relieved to hear my words. - Hmmm, its the 7th port right? After sealing Ash, I headed to the 7th port that Ash said. There was also a bag that Ash carried on my back. I followed the signs in order from 1, and when I went to 4, 5, and 6, I saw the number 7. It was a fairly large ship that was parked at Port 7, and the interior was also reasonable. Is this really the ship that Ash said? Obviously, it was not a 7000 ouro class ship. However, when I see the strict-looking man waiting at the ships landing, I was convinced that the ship was the one that Ash was talking about. Is this a ship bound for ? Yes. An unfriendly man observed my body and nodded. And he said, its okay I guess? Somehow, I felt like my value had been decided. How many? Im alone. Its 3000 ouro. Really? Is that all right? Because its such a contract It was less than half the amount Id heard from Ash lucky. I took the coin out of my purse and gave it to the sailor who wore a bandana. But, I never thought that itll only cost me 3000 ouro. If I know this beforehand, I didnt need to seal Ash inside the talisman naked No, its good to save money yeah, this is better. I crossed a sloppy wooden bridge and entered the ship. The ship had a large room for a dance party, but it was almost full, so I moved to the deck. The sea breeze was comfortable. What I could see from the bow of the ship was pure blue and the reflection of the sun. Hmmm, a trip by ship, huh? I wonder if Ill get seasick. Well, well, you look a little nervous. A light male voice was heard from behind. Looking back, a burning bright red long-haired man in a kimono stood. Is this your first trip by ship? About the same age, the physique was one size larger than me. He carried a spear. The spear warped in cloth. This guys face There is no doubt about it. I know this guy. The man who likes to beat down the people at the back alley at , the city where I was. If Im not mistaken, the name is DD Carrs Hmm? Did I say my name? I had never talk with the man, Carrs. But I had seen him before. I was once in a place where this guy was fighting. There were 20 opponents, but he annihilated them unharmed. The opponents were beaten or kicked until they didnt twitch. I was really scared when I saw him knocked down the opponent. Because youre a celebrity of Well, well, youre also famous though? A big idiot who hit the lords son. Ah, that story, so its quite widespread without my knowledge? Since then, that spoiled son seems to have become quiet To tell the truth, I would have punished him if he were to make a little more ruckus. Well, so I did something unneces DDwhat?! DD {FLASH} The spear pressure squeezed the tip of my nose and my breathing tempo was disturbed. In the middle of talking, suddenly the red-haired man took out the spear on his back. I managed to lean back and dodged the spear. As expected, you could dodge that, huh Oi, oi, what on earth are you going to do! I took out the talisman with written on it from my pocket. [TN: Its the one he usually uses, in romaji is, harae or harau which mean, purify] I have a dream I want to see if I can use you to achieve that dream. [TN: the way he says I in here is , which is used for the one whore bossy, or selfish] Doesnt people often say that you are selfish? Ah, Im sorry, my bad. Ive always been bad at holding myself Anyway, You, the other day DD did you fight the brown-haired kid? This guy, Did he see when I fight Shura? I was surprised Your fight was beyond my understanding. So? Do you feel like you cant forgive someone stronger than you? I told you, I want to see if I can use you to achieve my dreams or not. I didnt have time at that time so I couldnt try it, but now I have time. Id like to ask for it. Carrs that I saw a long time ago boasted extraordinary strength. But that was my impression of him two years ago. The blow that he did just now couldnt be compared to Shuras attack. You, can you handle Mana? No, I cant use it. If we were to fight, I was certain that I would win. Well, it cant be helped. Maybe I should use this to kill time Alright. Come. Yeah, thats the spirit! At the same time, he kicked the ground But, at that moment, Ooooi! Stop it! An angry female voice. I and Carrs stopped moving and looked towards the voice. A long skirt and a shirt on top. A girl with long blue hair who seemed to be serious stood there. You guys! What would you do if you fight in a place like this and fell into the sea! The girl put out her index finger. I and Carrs hit each other with the gaze of Do you know her? And immediately realized that neither of us knew her. Hey, young lady, dont you get on the wrong boat? This ship is bound for ? What? ? Im not mistaken! Im also participating in the search for missing persons! Search?! I put the talisman back at my pocket and looked around. All the people on the ship were armed. And the atmosphere it was noisy. Wait, wait! This is a ship bound for isnt it?! Thats the reward, isnt? If you cooperate with the search, the fare that originally costs 10,000 ouro to should be 3000 ouro. What the. That was the truth as why the fare was cheap. I made a mistake ? Its true that Ash is parked at Port 7 Maybe, did you make a mistake at reading the Diagram? Im sure there will be a regular flight to in an hour. Di, di-di-di-diagram! Sh*t! Why the harmful effect of the fact that Ive never come out of must be now? What a painful mistake! This is because of my first time! Still Ash, why she didnt tell me the time too!! Sh*t! I need to get of DD Departure ~~!![TN: in Japanese its, Shukk!!!] The ship started to move at the signal of the captain. I ended up throwing myself into an unwanted route. CH 16 16. Seadust Island Well, this is bad. I completely made a mistake. . Also known as Watery Grave Island. [TN: in raw, мu which read as Umi no Mokuzu Shima, it means the island where you might being drowned at the sea or being swallowed by the sea I cant come up with a better tl-ion than this] The monsters on the island had an odd breeding speed and it occurred in large numbers at regular intervals. Since monsters didnt leave the island, it seemed to be an island that was neither bad nor good, and so it was usually left unattended. However, recently, kidnapping had become popular, and it seemed that they have decided to form a search team saying, Maybe the monsters on are the kidnapper? And, I got on the ship of the search team. Anyway, I held a talisman with Ash sealed inside with my hand and went to the private room of the toilet. The toilet was as simple as a wooden board with holes. It was type where it would go into the sea as it was. Now, I had to tell Ash about the situation. I said OPEN and turned my back. Umm? BAM! White smoke came into view. The presence that I feel behind me, it seems the unsealing have been successful. Have we arrived yet? DDHere is, toilet? Oh, its a toilet on the ship Im sorry, something a little troublesome happens. I explained the situation to Ash. Ash heard it without changing her expression. Well, I think its okay. Sorry I ended up making a detour Its okay, also I cant forgive kidnapping, so I agree with this DDI think my elder sister will get angry. Of course, right. For the time being, Im riding for one persons fare, so please stay inside the talisman until we arrive at the island. All right When we arrive at the island, Ill unseal you in an unobtrusive place. OK. I got it. I sealed Ash inside the talisman again. It was quite long Ah, were you pooping? Dont be vulgar! Asking about what you do in toilet is a violation of etiquette! The serious girls and Carrs were waiting on the deck. Both of them are probably non-magicians. I dont feel the pressure of Mana from them. The same is true for the other guys. I cant see a human being who seems to be a magician in here. Can they really subdue monsters with a unit full of non-magicians like this? Im a bit worried. Ah, The monsters on the way from to were weak, if the monsters at the island also around that level, even a non-magician can defeat them, I guess? So, who are you? I looked at the blue-haired girl and asked her a question. The blue-haired girl shook her gorgeous long hair and proudly introduced herself. Im Ignacio Rosso! A proud knight of the Rosso family! [TN: The girl use ܤ when she says I, which usually used by young boy] The name is like a man. Since she said Proud Is she from an aristocratic family? Im Seal Zetta. Nice to meet you. Im Carrs-Galcyon. Nice to meet you, Igna Dont shorten my name! Then, Igna-chan Dont add weird endings! Just call me Ignacio! Nah, I dont like it. Too long. But, Igna-chan is just as long! Ignacio Rosso Is it a rapier thats on your waist? Its a sword suited for thrusting, Ive seen it in a book, but Ive never seen the real thing. Do both of you have experience in subduing monsters? Oi, oi, how do you think I could come this far? By the time I came to , I had defeated some of them! Did you really defeat the monster with such a delicate body? Even if I look like this, Im stronger than you. Carrs, the head of bullies. Hey, dont say it. Oh, theyre not on good terms. But usually, this kind of guys will stick together after they spend time together. Seal, I have a suggestion. What? Why dont you team up with me and hunt monsters together? You see, my aim is the material you could get from the monsters. I plan to sell ??it and use it to fund my trip. Two people are more efficient than one. Ah, so we sell monster materials to raise funds, huh? Its not bad in idea. But DD No Ive some circumstances. Ah, really? Thats a shame. When I get off the island, Ill get the help of Ash or Shura. The strength they have is more than enough. If I team up with a non-magician, hell just be in the way yeah, theres no need to team up. Trying to form a faction from the start huh? As expected, the leader of bullies. Cant do anything alone. Hoho, you want a fight huh? Watch your back when you get off the island. Ill commit if I show you a chance. Huh?! Ive never seen anyone as vulgar as you! If you can become stronger just by being elegant, you will be happy to be an elegant person. Courtesy and Manners are not useful for anything. Its just sh*t. All humans need is Style and Pride, young lady. Huft, they start to fight again. By the way, I could see something green in the blue landscape. Ah, its an island. Bigger than I expected. Its about a town in size. An Island full of trees. Weve arrived! Now, Get ready to get off! We were dropped onto the sandy shore. The ship was floating behind. The people lined up on the sandy shore looked excellent if you just looked at the appearance. Mostly they were bigger and taller than me. The male-female ratio was 9:1. I could see only 5 or 6 women. And in total it was around 50 people. The captain was a man. He was also the leader of this search team. He looked down at us from the ship and made a loud voice. The search is divided into two parts, east and west! Search from both ends in order and meet in the center! Some people thats in here want to find people, while others want to go to . And I guess there might some guy who is looking for a monster material like him? Looking around, there were merchants with wilted bags. I guess, the monster will be dismantled and sold at . The search team was divided into east and west so that the number of people would be equal. I would go to the east side. Seriously. It became something troublesome like this DD Im sorry If you find this child, please contact me. Recalling the appearance of the old woman in the , I tightened my expression. Sure, its an unexpected development, but well, it cant be helped. This Carrs, will bring the head of the monster the most. In the name of Rosso, I will find the missing person! We waited for the start signal. Then, I will start the search on !!! The fierce men started to move all at once, but everyone, including me, stopped all at once. DDWhat?! Thats There was a roaring sound behind me. Looking back, there was a figure of a ship that raised smoke and sank while being wrapped in flames. At the very beginning, the path of retreat had gone. DD Dont make a detour. Go straight to For some reason, I remembered the words of the tone-deaf Bard, Sonata Campbell. CH 17 17. A Pervert Oi, oi, are you kidding me The burning ship was submerged in seawater and became a useless junk. Is it the work of a monster? Is it a monster that manipulates flames, or something else? What I can say without a doubt is that there is a foreign enemy who can sink that bug ship in an instant. O-our ship How are we going to go home?!! Damn! Dont fuck with meDD! People were upset by the incident. It was then that everyone was fascinated by the ship. Ke-kke! A few shadows passed by my side. And, my pocket became lighter. What?! I chased the shadow And I saw it. Ke-kke! A small purple demon. And its thorny tail was moving around as if it was dancing happily. In the hands of the small demon, the wallet I had in my pocket and DD the talisman. DDAh Most of the stolen talisman were empty pieces of paper with the magic circle written on them, but there was a talisman with written on it. [TN: read as inochi which mean life] The talisman was the one that I used to sealed Ash. The letter was the marks I put on so that I knew what was sealed inside. The small demons were waving the talisman that I used to sealed Ash and scattered toward the forest while laughing so hard. F**king b**tard!! Inside that talisman, Ash isDD Roughly countless small demons entered my field of view. Each demon had luggage. F**king A**hole, give it back! Hey, there is also my wallet in that! F**king demons!! I was not the only one. It seemed that the other guys also had their luggage stolen. Seeing people chasing the demon I suddenly stopped. Each of the demons enters the forest by a different route. Theyre scattering. I cant see the small demon that stole my talisman anymore. Now the others are dispersed to chase the demons. Bombing a ship, while being fascinated by the sinking ship, they proceed to stole. And the small demons that disperses with the stolen thingsC DDthis is bad. Their aim is not just our luggage. But, ourDD the search teams strength! They plan to split us! DDAh, there is a person who got brains. Stop! Dont chase! This is a trap! The screaming voice did not reach. This is bad. Geez, seriously this became something really troublesome. Im worried about Ash, but Ill put off my luggage for the time being. Well, if she came out, Im sure shell kill the monsters as much as she wants. The one I need to worry right now are the non-magicians. I dont think they can compete with a monster that can move this much without any preparation. I guess, theres no other choice than to collect one by one? I followed the big footprints that was in my field of view. The footprints were cut off by a blood clot. When I traced the blood, I saw a red-black mass. A corpse full of bite marks, it was horrifying to see. The corpse of a muscular man. Did you do it? A horse with bright red eyes was standing beside the corpse. Human hands extended from the horses body, and human mouths were attached to the left and right sides of the horses mouth on the cheeks. So ugly. To put it simply, it was creepy. The horse with bright red eyes was moving its three mouths. [a, ai, aiuDD aiue, o] A hoarse voice of man with saliva coming out from its mouth. Youre kidding meright? Just now DDis it a word? DD After they eats hundred people, the monsters can learn the humans words and have the same thoughts as human. And that kind of monsters, I called it I remembered the old mans words. The monster in front of me, was eating people. And, it was not the first time. If it eats more humans, eventually DD I have to kill it here. I took out the talisman that says from the right pocket of my pants and put it between my fingers. [TN: , read as Harae or harau, which means purify] OPEN DD I picked up a dagger that came out from the talisman and pointed the tip of the sword at the horse monster. [W-Wh-Who? W-H-O!] The horse kicked up the ground and approached me. As expected, the horse was quick. However, it still couldnt be compared to Shura. I accumulated some Red Mana on my feet, jumped, used the tree at the right of me as a foothold and I went toward the side of the horse. I tried to kick the horses belly, but it was protected by the human arm that grew out of its body. [T,To,Too bad ] Damn, it DD! The arm that grew from the horses body broke. I kicked the horse without worrying about the arm. I switched the dagger to the other hand and chase down the fallen horse. Carefully, I cut each arm that grew out of its body and now I focused on the horses neck. DDWhat?! A green ball emerged from the ground DDNo, it was from the horse body. The size was about like a snow. And it transformed into a gust. This damn monster, He could use the Mana of Creation DD! I was late to realized that. A Magic attack that I received for the first time. it was a wind magic. I abandon my defense and, while being blown away, I hit the horses neck with a dagger, but it was shallow. My attack didnt cut its life. My back hit against the tree. The damage I received was little, so I got up quickly, but DD Tch And, the horse monster was gone. DD Should I chase it? But, Its footprints remained. I feel that it will become something dangerous if leave it alone. Ke-kke! Ah? I could hear a small footstep from behind. Its the small demon. it has a plain backpack. Is it someones luggage? I couldnt ignore it, and so I tore the three small demons with a dagger. Weak, just shaken lightly and died. I guess it only has a fast leg DD Its difficult to chase that monster from now on. I was only a few seconds, but a big loss of time to chase the horse that could ran fast. it cant be helped then. But its not bad at all. I dont know whose luggage it is, but I got it. If it has food inside, its good, and there also drinks inside, its great. I opened the baggage brought by the small demons and put my hand inside. Hmm? I felt a soft cloth in my hands. I took out the cloth and carefully opened it with both hands. T-t-this, this is DD?! It was black underwear. Womens underwear, it was just strings with almost no fabric. To put it simply, it was something quite extreme. Wow the girl who wears this isnt she a pervert? Ah, aah ! Footsteps behind again. I heard a girls trembling voice. Hmm? This voice, no way DD I went to chase after a demon, but why do you have my underwear? Moreover, to spread it like that The girl was Ignacio Rosso. A serious girl I met on a ship. Huh? This perverted underwear, its yours DD!!!!!? Ah, no, no! I said the wrong words! Well, hmm, this is a nice underwear. I dont think its bad to wear something likethis? Ignacios shoulders trembled. But, with such a serious face, wearing such a perverted underwear Hmm, well? After all, only for those who seems to be quiet at first glance, their you know(libido) is strong. As I was observing the underwear, Ignacios face turned crimson red and stared at me. DDCLANG! And the sound of iron rubbing. Ignacio pulled out the rapier and turned it towards me. Be, beast! Wa,wait a minute Why are you pointing the rapier at me? The wind of the rapiers thrust squeezed my cheeks. Listen to meDDwait?! Stop thrusting it!! Theres no doubt about it! After 10 minutes to persuade Ignacio while dodging her attack, finally she put the rapier back in. TN: The talisman the MC use where , which read as Harae or harau (purify), written on it. I just realized that this is just a mark to know what he sealed inside, and why he put this word? Because it said that the sword could send people to the realm of dead and not become monster. Thats why he uses this word as a mark. CH 18 18. Coffin Im sorry I was upset earlier! Thank you for getting my luggage back! Ignacio thanked me for recovering her luggage. Apparently, when she saw her underwear being spread out, she misunderstood that I was the leader of the small demons. It was a stupid misunderstanding, but I decided to forgive her because the mysterious events that happened to us seemed to panic her. Ignacio, you probably moving in the shore before entering the forest, right? Hmm, what I mean is, you made that move because the small demons also made such a move, right? Y-Yes you know it well, huh. If you didnt move in a roundabout way, you wouldnt be in contact with me who made a detour. I sat down and drew a circle on the ground. Assuming this circle is the island, our current location is here in the southeast. The place where the ship arrived is the south of the island. And, You and the small demons were heading west from the eastern shore through the southeastern part. The place where the little demon was heading is southwest. Yes. Maybe their nest is there too. The route where the small demons were dispersed was also biased to the west. I guess they plan to lure us into their nest and put us in a trap. Ignacios face became pale. Earlier, Ignacio saw a corpse scattered by the horse monster. That must had been in her brain for a while. If I didnt happen to defeat the small demons, Ignacio would keep chasing after the demonsDD she would have been trapped by them and met a miserable end Like that corpse The strength of the opponent is far beyond imagination. The other guys wouldnt be safe No, no way I mean, you dont know for sure! Lets go toward the nest as soon as possible and annihilate the monsters! I agree with hitting the nest as soon as possible. There was a monster that was about to become a Human Demon (). that monster seems to have eaten humans before we came to this island. Perhaps kidnapping the people in the harbor. Im 90% sure, they are the true identity of kidnapper. Then DD! But if you rush in without any measures, youll be the one who get killed. At the very least, I have to know the information and strength of the opponents nest. Would you like to go back to the shore for the time being? There may be someone there. I understand I will follow you. Apparently, you are more level-headed than me. To be honest, the situation right now is the worst. Were completely fall behind. There is only one ally here in the middle of the enemy line. The main player, the Ashura Sisters, is in the enemys hand. The only way to overcome this situation is to get the talisman back. Ash and Shura. With them, the situation will be a little better. Even the horse monster I mentioned earlier could have been killed instantly by Shura, and I can rely on her because she has more experience than I do. Securing survivors Isolating survivors in a safe place Collecting information Reclaiming luggage with usable strength. For the time being, this is the strategy. Seal. How good are you? Hmm? Well, I cant say anything because I dont have much experience in actual battles Is that so? Then hide behind me. In the name of Rosso, I will protect you! Ignacio was so proud of herself. So, you want to protect me, huh Ignacio. Can you control Mana or do something related with it? Mana? I know it exists, but I cant control it. How far can you fight without using Mana? I and Ignacio, we were walking in the forest. I was at the back and Ignacio was at the forefront, while sharpening her sense to react to any noise, both of us were heading south. It felt like Ignacio was used to walking while being alert to the surroundings. Seal, please move one step back. Wolf monster, {Fang} Three {Fang} were approaching at the same time with saliva coming out from its mouth. Well, its time to look at her skill. Just in case, I held and got ready for battle. Both of them approach each other while measuring the distance between them. The first one who made a move was the monster, {Fang}. {Fang} opened its mouth wide and jumped on Ignacio from front. The remaining two, went around on both sides of Ignacio as a decoy. It was an attack from three directions. On the other hand, Ignacio quietly turned the tip of the rapier to the front. (Ann Tush) [TN: from the kanji, the skill means, One step assault] A stunningly beautiful thrust from the rapier on the front, it pierced the throat of {Fang}. From both sides of Ignacio, the claws of the other two {Fang} were approaching. (Parade) [TN: From the kanji, the skill means, Defesive posture] Ignacio deflected the claws silently with the rapiers blade. Both of {Fang} that their attack was lightly diverted and stunned in the air, Inevitable pursuit was released by Ignacio. (Repost) [TN: from the kanji, the skill means, Interception] It was splendid. Seeing that, I instinctively said, Amazing. Ignacio killed three violent {Fang} with minimal movement, and her movement was beautiful. How is it? This is the Soft sword technique that is passed down to the Rosso family. . [TN: From the kanji, it means, A quiet style] I see, it called huh Its a name that Ill definitely forget tomorrow. Defense, Counterattack, Thrust. It is the strongest sword technique that consists of these three elements! Ignacio proudly said so. I felt a little uneasy in her words. DDWell, its a wonderful sword technique. There is no lie in this. But, no matter how great the sword technique is, her physical strength is too low. Sure, Ignacio is better than me in terms of physical strength without imbued with Mana. If its allowed to use Mana, I can land an attack thats stronger than that. For that matter, Ignacio is far from the physical strength of the horse monster that I fought earlier. If Shura had been against Ignacio, she would have yawned and smashed the rapiers thrust easily. There is no problem if it is a monster opponent of small fish. So, her strength is barely meet the minimumDDisnt it? Well, she might havent show her best yet, so its too early to solidify the evaluation. - We arrived at the southern shore where we were dropped off. The wreckage of the ship was floating on the surface of the sea. I and Ignacio looked around, but there was no sign of anybody else. No one is there No, that doesnt seem to be the case. See there. I pointed to the sandy ground. There were human footprints on the sandy shore. The footprints went to the shadow of the rocky area on the right. Since the footprints was rather big, probably it was a mans footprints. I and Ignacio headed for the rocky area. I stood in front, put my hand on the rock, and at the same time I felt cold in my hand. Then, I leaned forward and looked into the shadow. There, was a man who was bending down and observing something. A man with red hair. Urgh Ignacio made a disgusted voice. DDYo, Carrs, what are you doing? Did you find a treasure? Yeah. Would you like to see it? Red-haired manDDCarrs answered so. I walked up near him while twisting my neck. Hiding in the shadow of Carrs was a black object. DDIts a coffin. Its a coffin isnt it? I found it by chance. I wonder if it was washed away by the sea. Besides, I cant find any rust. Somehow, I feel uneasy about this. The coffin was a black coffin. There was no scratch on it. But more than the coffin itself, I was interested to the thing that stuck on the lid of the coffin. This is! A rectangular piece of white paper with a familiar mark. Its a talisman. It was a talisman, and I was sure that it used for sealing. Two talismans were placed on it. Both were split in half. One of it had a circular magic circle that I am familiar with. It was the one used for basic sealing technique. However, the other talisman had a pentagonal magic circle and an unfamiliar character stamp on it. Im sure this is not a technique to seal something directly on the talisman. Interesting, its a sealing technique that I dont know. What happened to the general, was there something you were curious about? Well I observed the talisman with the round letter on the coffin. Reyes Rou Ampleur [TN: in kanji its, 쥤ץ`롯] I read the name written on the talisman. Its definitely traces of someone being sealed. The pentagonal tag is a handwriting that I dont know. However, the other circular magic circle, and the feeling of how this letter was written, it is definitely DD the old man. I try to touch the talisman with the pentagonal magic circle on it. Hmm?! There was a feeling that my Mana was absorbed. I see, I see. Is it such a mechanism? If so, the one who was sealed in this is almost out of mana. But, both of these seals have been completely broken. Which means, something that the old man sealed may be on this island. It is reasonable to think that the seal was broken by the death of the old man. DDActually I havent seen her since a month ago The mother looking for her kidnapped daughter did say so. A month ago One hypothesis came to mind. A month ago, it was the time when the old man passed away. The old man died, and a guy called Reyes Rou Ampleur came out of the coffin. And so, the guy start kidnapping DD hmm, maybe I think too much? Apparently this might be a case for me to solve. DD That 20 points, the thing that left unfinished by you, old manDD Ill do something about it. Well, I dont know the breakdown of that 20 points. But Im sure this is not all that 20 points, this is probably just one of things left unfinished by the old man. It may not be a coincidence that I came to this island. There is an existence here that must be sealed. Who cares about such a coffin. Lets go find another survivor! I dont know where the survivors are, But I found the enemys home base after I followed the small demons. Carrs stood up and cracked his neck. There are places where we can use to hide. Should we go there now? Of course! Lets go! TN: Im not sure with the name, 쥤ץ` yet, its doesnt really have any specific meaning so,Ill leave it as Reyes Rou Ampleur, but to be honest I was thinking either that one, or Reyes Law Ampleur, or Raise Low Ampleur CH 19 19. A Boring Thoughts How is it? On the way to the enemys base, we met a monster. The same kind of Ignacio fought earlier, {Fang}. Carrs stopped me and Ignacio, saying Look at me, and fought it alone. If Ignacio was soft, then Carrs was hard. With a rough but powerful spear handling he overwhelmed the monster, {Fang}. These guys will be extremely strong if they can handle Mana. I hope they can handle it. I can tell from that face. It isnt as good as you, right? Carrs seems to know what I was thinking without me saying anything. As expected, you are the general of this team. I have no objection. Seal is a person who can make accurate decisions. If so, please follow my instructions, problem children. Following Carrs guidance, we walked through the forest, while squeezing through the bushes. The island was hot and slippery. It cant be helped that oily sweat came out There was a tree called . The back side of the leaves of this tree had sap that could be used as an adhesive. We stuck the leaves of the tree to the whole body. After that, we covered our whole body with soil to eliminate the smell of our body. The information on the and how to eliminate the odor of the body were both the wisdom of Carrs. What on earth did you use this knowledge for? I think you shouldnt know about it, Igna-chan We headed to the enemys base in secrecy. On the way, we passed some monsters, but when since we were assimilated into the vegetation, they did not notice us. And so, we could pass the guard easily. While paying attention to our surroundings carefully, we arrived in the shade of a hill near the village. Overlooking the monsters nest and settlement from above. There is one lookout stand in each of the north, south, east and west. Also, there is one big house in the middle and three rows of buildings behind it. There is one hut on the side of the south lookout But, well They made a house normally like that, are they really monsters? Scary, right? it means there is a monster who has enough knowledge to build a house. Alright What to do now, Seal? Should we do a frontal attack? No, we need to think about the number of monsters, but more than that there is one that seems to be dangerous. Central house Stand in front of it like a gatekeeper was a {Troll}. Its height surpasses the large trees that surround it. It has green hair all over its body, so I didnt realize it was a giant until I approached it near enough. Moreover, there is a horse monster that I fought at the foot of the eastern lookout. It seems to be difficult to deal with those two at the same time. Please look! a small demon with a bag in the south hut Bingo. There seems to be our luggage over there The question now is how to get there. As I was planning my strategy, the big door of the central house opened. What is it? Shhh! Something will come A rattling sound echoed. At that moment I understood the situation in an instant. Sh*t When I noticed, my legs were shaking. DDThere is those who should not exist. Is this an intuition as a sealer? Anyway, it feels unpleasant. I want to put that intense odor inside a container and cover it as soon as possible. From the door of a gorgeous house, it emerged on a throne constructed of something like human bones. At the bottom of the throne is something like the bones of a human foot, which moves the throne in a rattling manner. Purple long hair. Red eyes. The left half of the body was a bone. It was a humanoid with two hands and two feet. It was quite tall, about the same as Carrs. However, when I looked at the left half of its body, I knew that it was definitely not a human, and if I were to say, it was close to the bone demon, {Skeleton}. The upper body was covered with a cloak that usually wore by a king, and the lower body was torn long trousers. What is it? Monster isnt it? When the {Fake Skeleton} appeared, the supposedly irrational monsters began to line up around him. A strange feeling of air. Much bigger than him, the {Troll} even put on its knees and bowed its head. The {Fake Skeleton} claps his hands like a human, calmed the monsters, and snorted, The time has finally come!!!! And make the voice that echoed in the air. That damn sealer, Barha Zetta and Saurus Rosso! I was sealed by them, and after ten years, I was finally released from their seal! Each word echoes in my soul! Barha Zetta Saurus Rosso I and Ignacio looked at each other. Barha Zetta, I knew the old man, but I didnt know the one called Saurus. But Ignacio was reacting to that name. Come to think of it, the family name is the same. Are you perhaps a relative? Ill take revenge on them, sealers! Nowadays, there are almost no pawns or Mana due to being sealed for a long time but from here! From here, my supremacy will take steps again! First of all, I will eat 1000 humans and accumulates Mana Then Ill cross the sea! Invade a seaside town!!! In the name of Reyes Rou Ampleur, I the {Corpse Emperor}, will rule over humans!!! {Corpse Emepror} DD Reyes Rou Ampleur Is he, the one that was sealed in the coffin? He speaks normally and is probably a human being. All the irrational monsters are scattered around in fear. Is he, the king of this island? Okay, lets start the memorable 500th meal! A house in the center, from which a sack was brought in front of the corpse by a flock of small demons. The sack was wriggling. Is someone inside rampaging? I, Carrs, and Ignacio were terrified when we saw the thing coming out of the bag. Hmm`! Hmm`!!! DDwhat?! Are you serious?! The string of the sack was untied by a small demon, and a girl with her mouth, hands and feet tied came out from inside. A girl with light green hair I dont remember seeing such a cute girl on the ship, but The girl mouth strap was untied by a demon. DD No, help me ! While shedding tears, the girl was pleading her own life with a runny nose. The corpse raised his index finger. Then a yellow wind blew into the ground, and a humanoid skeleton emerged from the ground. That feeling now I felt like I could see a yellow aura for a moment. DD The Mana of Domination. The skeleton lifted the girls body. Lets go. I know Carrs and Ignacio tried to jump out at the same time. I grabbed their shoulders and stopped them. DD Tchi! What is it, Seal?! What are you thinking! Try to jump out in the middle of such an enemy base, and youll die instantly! Then, do you want to let that girl getting killed? That bone man said he would start eating. Hes going to eat that girl from now on! I know. It cant be helped In this situation, the life that can be saved is limited. Yes, we are not strong enough to fit everything in a circle. The force available now is too low. But! Contrary to the rebellious Ignacio, Carrs fell quietly. Now, you are the strongest in this team. Ill follow your decision, Seal. With eyes that seemed to test me, Carrs said so. DD this is fine. That bastard feels unpleasant. We shouldnt attack him without any strategy. Yeah, this is good this should be a good decision. Help! No!! I dont want to die !!! The pretty face was gradually distorted. The {Corpse Emperor} held a bone sword that grew from the ground. Seal! Ignacio said with pleading face. Someone Someone help meee!!!! Ignore it. Ignore it. Dont listen it. My judgment is not wrong. Im not wrong, Im sure we will be wiped out if we come out now. A muddy feeling of guilt was born in my chest. I havent made the wrong decision. Im sure 99 out of 100 people will support my decision. DD?!! ..Ah!!! It happened by chance. The girls eyes happened to meet my eyes by chance. My eyes met her eyes, the eyes of someone who was desperately asking for help. HELPPPPP MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEeee!!!!!! It was not a voice directed to someone out there. It was a voice directed to to me. F*ck Im sure 99 out of 100 will support my judgment but one will look at me accusingly. If it is that personDD For now, ignoring her is the safe and secure strategy. Hold your breath here, let the girl be killed and lets wait for the next opportunity. DD is it? Hah, Seriously .What a boring idea I hate boredom. A boring story in my story (life note) is Not Needed. DDI should jump out, and go to the direction that will makes my life more interesting, even if its just by a little! DD OPEN, Lion Spear!! CH 20 20. The Triangle of Death The talisman with the word { glowed red and a long blue spear came out from it. [TN: The word read as, shishi, which mean Lion] I took the spear in my right hand and pulled it to the back. DDhm! Growwww!!!! I put Red and Green Mana into the spear and extended it. The handle of the lion spear grew when Green Mana put into it, and the strength would be maintained by putting in Red Mana. The tip of a strongly extended spear pierced the hand holding the bones sword, the right hand of the living body from the side. Red blood came out and a bone sword fell to the ground. Hm? There is an insolent person here The Corpse Emperor glanced at me without changing his expression. SHH... cold air ran on my spine. As expected, he was a monster that couldnt be compared with the other monsters around. I stepped forward from the shade, while keeping an eye on him. Oho, General, I know it, in the end it will be like this, huh?! Seal! Two idiots were looking at me with a happy face. Do you really understand the situation were in right now? Seriously, These guys DDBut what is it somehow, after I stopped hesitating, I feel lighter. Ill throw that girl here. When you caught the girl, wait at the southern shore! After helping the girl, what about you? Ill run away after attracting their attention. I slid down from the high ground. D-do you have some sort of plan?! Ignacio said with a worried voice. But, I laughed at it bitterly. No plan! Ill do some improvise! With Red Mana, I strengthened my legs, and started running at full speed toward the girl who sit down on the ground. A bunch of small fry blocked me. I knocked down the monsters with the Lion Spear and held the girl in my right arm. A ah! Dont talk! Bite your tongue! With the momentum, I half-rotated and threw the girl to the place of Carrs on the hill. Seeing Carrs caught the girl, I changed my concentration on to my survival. DD Therere three monster that I should be careful. A horse monster, about to be a . Lets name it {Orobas} for now. [TN: Orobas, in demonology it said to be a powerful Great Prince of Hell, its shape is a horse] A giant with green hair and if it stands out, its face can be seen from outside the forest, {Troll}. Then, probably the leader of this island, the {Corpse Emperor}. The one, I need to be most vigilant is definitely the bone guy. But how can he just sit down in front of me, on that throne, so carefree like that? Good. I will keep my hands off. Keep struggling, living being. Well, thanks The murderous intent and pressure disappeared. Hes really not going to do anything. Thanks then, now I only need to focus on the two. {Orobas} Hasnt aimed at me yet. And {Troll} Is Oops ! A huge round shadow was reflected on the ground. Looking up, {Troll} raised its leg and was about to trample me. Hey, Thats not funny! Its leg stepped down. Just right when I wanted to run to dodge it, at the same time {Orobas} was accumulating green particles. I was trapped. This is bad. No, wait A good idea came into my mind. I remembered the terrain of this village and took the direction that place. It became windy so suddenly. The green particles created by {Orobas} turned into gusts. The scale was much larger and bigger than when I saw it before. I bounced to the right at the right time. And a gust of wind passed through. its shape changed into a blade and crashed into the hut behind me. Yes It was the hut where the small demon was carrying our luggage. With the power of that wind, all the objects in the hut were torn apart. In other words, the talisman where Ash is being sealed inside should have been destroyed If my luggage is really in that hut. Ashhh!!!! A big pinch!! Surrounded by monsters!! Please! Help me!!!!! I arranged the words that came to my mind. {Troll} Raised its arm. Perhaps my shout attracted its attention. DD WHOOSH! There was a sound of the wind. {Orobas} was creating the next Wind Magic earlier than expected. DamnDD I reflexively solidified my whole body with Red Mana. The wind teared my skin and clothes. The damage was light, so I tried to recover as soon as possible. But then, I noticed that my leg was being held by bone arms. I turned to the {Corpse Emperor}. He put his right hand forward, creating a yellow aura. Like I said, I will keep my hands off.. B**tard ! Calmly getting rid the bone with the spear in my hand. Hmm. It looks like this is it. FWOOSH! WHOOSH! The sound of the air going crazy. When I noticed, a huge green fist was approaching from the front. DD I screwed up. Its too late to try to defense it now. Im too reckless. too rash. Will my life note end here? DD One second, two seconds, three seconds. Three seconds had passed since I gave up. I still had my breath. Hoho? A voice that seemed like the bone guy was impressed. I opened my eyelids slightly. Then I saw the back of a naked girl. Ash is that you? Im not Ash DD Im Shura!!! I got a reply in a frustrated voice. I opened my eyes clearly and looked straight ahead. A petite girl held the huge fist with both hands. While shaking her long brown hair After the seal was broken, did you switch place immediately? You! Ill definitely beat the hell out of you later! Ive many complaints! But first of all, this guy! DDURRAAAA!!! Shura changed the direction of the green fist to the ground. And immediately, she run on that green right arm and accumulate Mana in her fist. The Red Mana that distorts the scenery converged. A right fist that shining in scarlet color, with that fist, she punched and shook the {Troll} face. Dont look down on me, you blockhead!!!! BOOM! A sound similar to the sound of ground rumbling echoed. Shura hit its face. {Troll} couldnt stand the shock and its back fell into the forest. Well, as expected of Shura. If I were a woman, I would have fallen in love with her. Shura lands right in front of me. All of you, advance. A group of monsters came to attack all at once at the command of the corpse. I and Shura took a distance after we killed the front row of the army of demons. Lets run away! Its too many! Alright. Then, hug me now! Shura! I spread my arms. Roger that! DDHuh! ?? What are you talking about?!! Shuras cheeks became red. She stares at me. Come! Ive a plan! B, But! M, my appearance right now.. Im naked .. We dont have time! Hurry up! Shura dived into my chest, saying, Aaah, whatever!! I embraced Shura, pointed the lions spears tip (the bottom part) diagonally toward the ground. Shura! Put Red Mana into this spear! As much as you can! Jezz. I understand!! Shura grabbed my shoulder with her right hand and grabs my spear with her left hand. While holding Shura, I held the handle at the part higher than where Shuras hand was, it was closer to the spear head. Now! I put Green Mana into the spear. I resolved to use up the Green Mana. At the same time, Shura put Red Mana into the spear. The direction to extend was near the ridge, and we who were holding the spear should be pushed up. Unlike the time when I got the lion spear for the first time, since I could concentrate only on Green Mana and Blue Mana, I could put in my Green Mana efficiently. The spear pressed against the ground stretched, and the impact was transmitted throughout the body. Uuoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo! Kyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa?! DD The island looked small. I flew to the sky above the sea on the east side of the island at once. The place where we were before could be seen in the distance. I know its not the time to think this but, what a beautiful view. The blue of nature that surrounds the green ground. The wind feels good too. The spear grew more than I imagined. I wouldnt have been able to do such a trick on my own because of the difficulty of manipulating a lot of different Mana at the same time. Seal! The monster is climbing the spear! There is no problem! Small demons were climbing up the spear. I took out an empty bill. DD CLOSE With the spear being sealed again inside the talisman. The small demons DD I and Shura fall. Uuooooooooooooooooooooo!!!! After all, will I die here??!! The blue sea just in front of you. I strengthened my body with Red Mana and prepared to dive into the sea, but Shura didnt seem to like that idea, so she grabbed my neck and adjusted the landing position in the air. We landed on the sandy beach along the east shore of the island. Shura landed on both legs, and I, whose collar was being pulled, landed on my back. It hurts! Sand smokes filled my field of vision. I flinched with the pain of my back that hit the sandy shore. Why not the sea but here?! Are you stupid?! There are monsters in the sea. And what if your talismans gets wet and cant be used? Oh, thats true. Shura gently touched my back. Are you okay? Does it still hurt? No, its not that much because the sand has become a cushion when we landed. I also protected my body with Mana. I see, thats good DD Then Ill hit you once. Urrgh?! For a moment, I thought I had a hole in my belly. A knuckle of such power hit my abdomen directly. The back pain I got, couldnt be compared to it. I couldnt even flutter. When I noticed, I was naked and surrounded by hordes of monsters. Do you understand the feelings of a girl when she is put in that situation??? Heyy, do you understand my feelings?!! I, Im sorry After bowing, I lent my cloak to Shura. CH 21 21. Strategy Meetings I and Shura are walking through the forest to the south seaside. If we walk along the sandy shore, we couldnt move while hiding. And since in this situation Shura is more suitable than Ash, I decided to head from the forest where she can hide in the shadows After I told Shura what happened so far, Shura says, Its the worst! with a loud voice. Seriously, you really did something unnecessary! Only two people with you, and you want to go against that horde its really the worst! Well, it was certainly the worst until a while ago, thanks to the fact that youre here now, it has become much better. DDHmmph! where are my cane and clothes? Its at the meeting place. While watching out for monsters with Shuras sense, we finally reached the south shore of the island. It took us an hour. Yo, its been a long time. Are you guys okay? As I approach the shade of the rock, Carrs and Ignacio come closer with a smile on their faces. As expected of General! You can survive from that situation! You see, I was wondering if I should go to help just now. Seal, Im really glad that youre safe. Ignacio approaches me. Her legs are shaking, she gently burying her face in my chest and putting her hands on my back. As she keeps tightening her hands, the softness of her femininDD My reaction to it was delayed. I mean, it was so sudden so But, what Ignacio is doing right now is an action that came out of the excitement of a comrade returning from the brink of death, that is usually called, comradeship. I know that, but I couldnt help but get excited because a man of my age is being hugged by a beautiful girl around the same age, I cant help but to grin. Oi From behind, a voice mixed with light murderous intent. Move. Im sure, in terms of meaning, its closer to Get out of my away. Shura lightly stares at me and passes me from the side. DD Oi, Ignacio. Are you not done yet? Ah! DD S-Sorry, Im sorry it was unintentional. Ignacio withdraws. Well, its regrettable, but it cant be helped. Tch!!! A bad big clicking tongue. It came from a brown-haired girl who is in a bad mood. When Carrs sees Shura passing in front of him, he makes a surprised voice. Hmm? Hey, arent you that brown-haired lady?! Haaah? Who are you? This guy here, he seems to have seen the battle we had in the back alley from a distance. Ah, I see. There is something I need from the bag behind you, can you move? Carrs moves away, Oops, Im sorry. When did he arrive? Just a while ago I feel another presence from the shade of the rock next to us. There is a girl who is leaving her back on the rock. Its the girl who was about to be eaten by a monster earlier. That girl Is she okay? Yeah, shes finally calming down. I just asked what happened so far DD Seal. This island, if we left it alone, it might be hard to get it back. Ignacio told me the story about what the girl DD Frederica experienced. - Frederica seems to have been a member of a certain guild. The name of the guild is . Basically, the members of the guild are engaged in activities such as hunting seaside monsters and managing uninhabited islands. One day, a request came to the guild. That was the request to subdue the monsters on this island, . The client was anonymous and suspicious. However, the promised reward is abundant. the guild decided to receive the request. At first, Frederica hadnt participated yet. Frederica with the other second unit went to three days after the first unit disappeared. When Frederica arrived on the island, the ship was burned like us, and everyone fell into the hands of monsters. Where Frederica was taken by the monsters wasDD a food warehouse. It is the building on the three-row in the village. It seems that humans are being kept there. Some were alive, while others were processed after they died. Fredericas guild members, they werent there. Perhaps they had already been eaten. Hunt and eat humans to create an army of . In addition, return the power of the {Corpse Emperor} to its heyday. That seems to be their purpose. Ah, it seems since she is still young and has a higher amount of Mana than others, she was tied up in a central house as first-class food. Three days after Frederica was captured, we arrived at this island. And the situation came to now. Heyy, Frederica-chan. Who was the client of the request? Im sure the client knew about this island. Frederica shook her head to Carrss question. I do not know. But.. Theres no proof, but I think that person is part of the Knights. DDWhat! Tha-thats impossible! Ignacio denies. The Knights are proud messengers of justice! Something like teaming up with a demon they wont do such an outrageous thing! Wait, Igna-chan. First, lets ask her basis. It is no exaggeration to say that the guild is an organization formed in opposition to the Knights So, originally, the guild and the knights couldnt join hands, but the guild master of my guild had an acquaintance with the knights and was occasionally asked by the knights The request from the Knights was mostly high rewarding, and they would like to remain anonymous Everyone in the guild knew that as a tacit understanding. This request was also highly rewarding and that person wanted to remain anonymous B, But then its not 100% sure that the request came from the Knights, right? Maybe the request had nothing do to with the Knights, and was just a high reward with the client wanted to remain anonymous? Thats why, I said theres no proof The Knights are pulling out behind the scenes to kidnap humans in partnership with ? If that is true, it would be dangerous if this information became public. Moreover, it is the members of the guild who are suffering. It wouldnt be strange if the Knights and the Guilds, the two major organizations, might go into war with each other. Oi, oi, somehow, the scale of this event is getting bigger. Anyway, that story, isnt it irrelevant now? Shura who is wearing a shirt and short pants, cut the conversation in a boring manner. An assumption or something like that, do it after its over. Now, its more important to think how to subdue those monsters and release the captured ones, isnt it? Is it not good if we just escape from the island and get the help of the Knights and Guilds? Do you think they will let us escape quietly?! If you use your Mana well, you can cross the sea with anything even if its just a small ship, but thats if we can sneak out without attracting their attention and go out to the sea. So, that one has the bigger risk huh For the time being, lets put that talk aside and discuss how to hunt down the monsters. First, lets review the three major forces of the enemy. Bone man monster, the horse {Orobas}, and the giant {Troll} If we manage to get rid of these three, the rest will be small fry. The most dangerous is that bone guy the {Corpse Emperor}. Obviously, the quality of the Mana he has cant be compared to others. Reyes Rou Ampleur huh I never thought, it is on an island like thisDD Frederica responded when I spoke the name of the {Corpse Emperor}. Do you know the name? The {Corpse Emperor} Reyes Rou Ampleur It is a legendary monster that manipulated corpses with the Mana of Domination. It destroyed a country long time ago, used all the humans of that country, and became the king of a country albeit temporarily. DDSeriously? So, he was such a big deal, that King of Bones. Reyes, is the name written on that talisman, isnt it? Does it have anything to do with that coffin? I talked about sealing technique. But, only the main points. Sealing technique Ignacio crosses her arms. Once upon a time, my uncle showed me a similar technique. His name is Saurus Rosso That is one of the names that the {Corpse Emperor} said in that village. Based on what he said, did Saurus Rosso and old man sealed him? Is that so? My Master said he was the only sealer in the world. My uncle died five years ago in a disaster. So, Seal, if you met your master within five years, I think there is no contradiction in his remarks. Right, the only one in the world doesnt mean the only one in history. It is certain that the old man had a master and junior disciple. Perhaps the junior disciple is thatDD If that story is true, it could be an immortal or a monster that could reborn again, right? I hear that the {Corpse Emperor} is a monster that could reborn again and again a monster that regenerates no matter how many times it is killed. That mean its higher than immortals. Unlike immortals who just dont die but dont regenerate their bodies, this one cant die and could regenerate by themselvesDDWe cant really do anything to it then. Only you can defeat it, Seal. Well, I guess so. Originally, the sealing technique was made to handle such a creature. Thats right. Ill seal that b**tard. He probably lost his Mana after many years being sealed. If its now, I might be able to do something. I act tough. But, to be honest, I dont feel like I can beat it. No, wait if I could hit it once, its possible. The old man said that Sealing Technique is a magic that can beat anyone if the conditions are met. Im curious about the two talismans on that coffin. One to seal the corpse and the other is probablyDD Then, we will do something about the horse and, the giant. Lets attract it so that Seal could fight the {Corpse Emperor}! You and Red hair stay hereDDboth of you will only get in my way. Shura simply said something I couldnt say. You, tell them clearly! Shura points to me. Im sorry, there is no excuse for this. Anyway, its not like a person who cant use Mana can compete with something like that! You cant even land a scratch! B, ButDD! Ill try to keep up with you. I dont mind if I die. Its impossible not to participate in such a fun battle. Shura has accumulated Red Mana in her fist. DDAh, shes going to stun them. I stretch my right arm in front of Shura. Wait, Shura. Leave it to me. Ill turn these guys into a useful force. How? Well, just look forward to it. I look at Frederica. Frederica. Since youre in a guild, are you a Magician? Can you fight? Y, Yes! I, I can fight! AlrightDDGive me 30 minutes. Ill learn a new Sealing Technique in that time. CH 22 22. A New Sealing Technique A talisman with a pentagonal character stamp on it. When I touch that talisman, my Mana gets disturbed and absorbed. DDMana Sealing. The conditions required for sealing something are knowing the other partys name, putting a character stamp on the other party, and the other partys Mana is lower than yours. However, these conditions are necessary to seal a creature as a whole or an object. Then, what if I divide the target into smaller pieces? Something like the soul? Or only the body? Or the Mana? If the target is narrowed down, the conditions required for sealing may be reduced accordingly, right? But my Mana is unconditionally disturbed and absorbed. Perhaps there are no requirements to seal the Mana. If I were to mention one, perhaps the other person must touch the pentagonal character stamp. Ah, also, only those that do not have Mana can be marked. So, dominate and seal the targets Mana What is different from normal sealing is the ratio of Mana that is being put in. Sealing Technique is a technique that is activated by putting Yellow Mana on the opponent. However, in reality, there is Mana that can be put in other than Yellow Mana. Its Blue Mana, the Mana of Operation. The Mana of operation is the Mana that manipulates Mana. And this Mana Sealing manipulates (absorbs) the opponents Mana and seals it with Yellow Mana. I guess, the theory would be something like this. If so, I need to increase the ratio of Blue Mana compared to normal sealing. Perhaps, the ratio should be half and half? I draw a pentagonal character stamp on the stones nearby with a brush. Then I pour the Yellow Mana from my right hand and Blue Mana from my left hand. The first time, I failed. The mark disappeared because its not correct. Next, I adjusted the ratio to 6 : 4 for blue and yellow. The second time I failed. Next, blue and yellow are 4 : 6. Third time, success. The character stamp glowed red. I touch it as a test, but only a small amount of Mana is being absorbed. If only this much, its not useful in battle. Is the image I usually used when circulating Mana bad? I always imagine that the other persons whole body is being tied up with a thread of Mana, but maybe it is not necessary to be the whole body? A new image huh, hmm A hollow thread of Mana that flows from the character stamp. The tip of the thread should look like a needle. When the opponent is pierced with the needle, the opponents Mana is sucked and will flow inside the hollow thread into the character stamp. DDAlright, lets go with this image. I write a pentagonal character stamp on the stone and concentrate. Thread DD Needle DD Absorb DD Seal The character stamp glowed red. I touch it as a test, and my Mana gets sucked at a speed that is not comparable to the previous one. A great success. It took me only 15 minutes for this. Ignacio, Carrs. Lend me your weapon. Ignacio and Carrs, who were watching the sea, with a confused look entrusted me their weapons a rapier and a long spear. I returned the rapier and the blade of the long spear with a pentagonal character stamp. The rapiers blade was slender, so I failed a couple of times. Ignacio and Carrs tilt their heads at the inscription on their weapons. General. What is this? Its a character stamp that seals Mana. When it is pressed against the opponent, the Mana will be extracted from the opponent and sealed in the weapon. Even your normal attack that would normally be repelled with Mana, as long as that character stamp is attached to it, the opponents Mana will be scraped, and they will still receive damage. Even you who cant use Mana can hurt them. W, wow, thats amazing ! Hooo`! This is amazing! Then hey, young lady, can we also participate? Shura and Frederica, who were on the lookout, return to the shade of the rock. Well, if so, I can count you as a force. Red, Blue and Green hair, you guys move in a trio. Three of you will be counted as one force. Me, the Ashura sisters, Carrs, Ignacio, and Frederica. There are actually three Magicians and two Non-Magicians. As for the Non-Magicians, they have weapons with a pentagonal character stamp With this, I guess weve finally reached a position that is not bad to called as a platoon. Alright, we somehow managed to prepare When I tried to raise my hips, Right at that moment, BOOM! The earth shook. An earthquake? DDBut, the suns light was cut off. The rocky place where we are No, the entire sandy shore, it is covered in the shadow of a humanoid figure. I look up and become speechless. A green giant with its arms and legs stretched out. Oi, oi, oiii?! A hard to dodge attack. But, we didnt get crushed by the giant. DDBecause a small body kicked the giants belly. I told you not to look down on me!! {Troll} falls back to the ground and the forest is being crushed We go out from the shade of the rock. Shura lands on the rock. Her small back looks extremely reliable. Leave this to me. You must kill or seal that bone guy! Naturally, Ill do my best DDlets go! Ok! I understand! Yes! Talismans containing a lion spear and Dozens of pebbles with pentagonal character stamp. And two trump cards. I carry only what I need and put the rest in a drawstring bag and leave it in the shade of a rock. When we jumped out, Shura made a fist with her right hand and covered it with Red Mana. - While avoiding {Troll} we aim for the settlement. Some small fry are in the way, trying to attack us. I keep moving forward while killing them with my bare hands. When we made a big detour around the forest, we came to a place with a flower field. A place where flowers of various colors bloom. That was there. A monster that grows human arms from its whole body DD{Orobas} [O, Ohhh. Its, been a while ] Like a gatekeeper, he tried to stop us. When I put a talisman between my fingers, Carrs stopped me. General, keep going. These guys, well deal with them. It would be better for all of us to work together to defeat this guy and then go to settlement together. When I say so, Frederica denies it. No, it is dangerous to leave the {Corpse Emperor} unchecked. Whether you defeat this monster or the giant you mentioned earlier, if the {Corpse Emperor} comes, the corpse might be reused, and the situation may return to the beginning. I see. If someone doesnt stop him, the others will be brought back to life huhAlright. I put the talisman back in my pants pocket. Goodbye, general! When this battle is over, well have a campfire on the island! You are not nervous at all huh Well, its nothing bad! Carrs and Ignacio pull out their weapons. I leave them and start running. He can use wind magic! Be careful! I pass through the flower field and head for the settlement. {Orobas} did not even look at me. It just let me go. All I have to do now is go straight. Its about 20 minutes of running to the settlement. The {Corpse Emperor}, Reyes Rou Ampleur.. The old man sealed him, But, he was probably resurrected due to the old mans death. In its heyday, the {Corpse Emperor} was a monster that could finally be sealed with two sealers DD At times like this, it is normal for humans to be frightened, trembled, and shrunk. But what happened? Ever since I jumped out to help Frederica DD I couldnt stop this noise in my chest. It keeps beating wildly. There is a part of me that is enjoying this situation and this development. CH 23 23. Shura vs Troll Goraaa!!! [DDDDDDDD umph!!!!!] The forest was flattened due to the collapse of {Troll}. The fist of a giant and the fist of a petite girl collided. Powerful fists covered with Red Mana exploded with each other, causing bright red sparks to scatter in the sky. The girl offset all the slamming with punches and kicks. Daaaryaaaaaaaaaa!!!! The girl, Shura, ran to the {Troll} while raising dust, jumped and made a flying kick to its leg. But, {Troll} gathered Red Mana to its legs to offset her attack, and as a counter, it swung up its right leg to blow Shura off. DDAs expected Shura gained one conviction. She corrected her posture in the air and landed with both legs. If youre just a normal {Troll}, you cant control Mana so skillfuly like that. Hey, how long are you going to pretend you cant speak? DD Human Demon {Troll} Scratched his cheek. [Youre sharp. To notice that Im a Human Demon.] A neutral high-pitched voice. Faced with {Troll}s calm demeanor that didnt match its appearance, Shura found it creepy. Im happy. That youre the type who uses physical attack. Its been a while since I could hit others head-on like this! [Im happy too. After all, its fun to collide fists with fists.] While saying so, {Troll} created a ball of earth at the tip of his mouth. The Mana of Creation. F**king liar.! Shura pulled out the cane from her back and dashed forward at full speed. The earth bullet was released. While dodging it, Shura passed under {Troll} through the gap between its legs, jumped up and hit its back with the cane. DDNo response. {Troll} grew a spear of soil from the ground and extended it toward Shura who was floating in the air. Shura kicked the tip of the spear to destroy it and used the side of the spear as a foothold to go down. And she landed on the ground. At that moment, {Troll} stomped with its right foot. Shura crossed her arms to catch the attack. {Troll} whole weight was put into that foot. Shura clenched her teeth, released Red Mana and repelled its legs. She then took a distance while it was out of balance. That is Shura noticed that the green hair that had grown on {Troll}s right foot was gone. Its hair had disappeared, and its bare skin was exposed. Certainly, before the battle, Shura wasnt attacking that part. Once again, {Troll} used earth magic to make bullets from the soil. While dodging it, Shura observed the part where the hair was gone. DDThe amount of body hair was gradually decreasing. So thats it. Your body hair, you use it as a substitute for . I see. . It was a bottled liquid sold in the market. If you drink it, you can make up for the lost Mana. There are various ingredients for , and the effect differs depending on the ingredient. One of the materials is, {Troll}s green body hair. [ ? This? Do you call it that way?] Are you for real so, all hair on your body is a lump of ManaDD Shura put her cane on her back and put her hand on her waist. It cant be helped ! A strange air started emanating from Shura. At that moment, {Troll} started to fear the creature much smaller than itself. {Troll} stepped back two steps. Ill pluck off all that hair. Shura put on herSub-source ColorsDD White Mana. Coloring, WhiteDDRegeneration Technique, Snow Lamp. Wearing white armor, Shura kicked the ground. The kicked ground rose up. {Troll} couldnt follow Shuras movements with its eyes, and when it noticed, its cheek had been hit. [WhatDD?!] If you dont put more Mana, youll die? Shuras high-speed attacks with increased speed. She ran around the whole body of {Troll} while attacking it in the order, The back of the head neck back waist back of the knee heel. After being hit in the heel, {Troll} slipped, and fell onto its back. All the hair on its lower body disappeared. Shuras movement was much faster and stronger. Snow Lamp. Shura was a White Magician. Shura used that Regeneration Technique on herself and prepared for the impact of the attack that would damage her own body. She moved with everything she had. Jumping to the point of breaking her own legs. Even making a fist that might breaks her own arms. Immediately after the pain, the parts that was broken regenerated. Naturally, considering the damage to her own body, she reduced the Red Mana that was worn on the whole body to the limit at the moment of attack, and concentrated on one point. The downside was that the technique drained the White Mana, so there was a time limit and DD an unavoidable pain. This, is !!! Pain filled Shuras thoughts. Still, she held her fist. Shura planned to give another attack, so she aimed to land on the fallen {Troll}. [I came up with a good idea. I should wear armor too ] DDm?! Just before Shura hit the forehead, a helmet from soil equipped on {Troll}s head. It was clay soil, so the impact of Shuras attack was scattered. Tch! Shura kicked the soil and as if dancing in the air, she retreated to a position where she could see the whole body of {Troll}. {Troll} created an armor with Green Mana and covered its whole body with it. [It doesnt hurt anymore] Are you going to imitate me? Its not enough to stop my attack! Shura disappeared, she made an elbow attack in {Troll}s belly. But there was no reaction. Since {Troll} wore armor, its movement was slowed down. In exchange for defense. {Troll} abandoned its speed. I won. Shura was convinced. However, that conviction was soon changed by the growth of thorns from the attacked soil mass. Soil blade?! An automatic counterattack system was set at the moment of being attacked, that moved the soil around the attacked area with a Blue Mana, gathered it, grew thorns, and counterattacked. Since {Troll} didnt to gather the soil from scratch, the speed of that counterattack was beyond the level at which Shura could react. Shura was attacked by a thorn on her flank. However, the wounds recovered instantly with White Mana. She landed right in front of {Troll}. [Repeating this is a pain. It doesnt completely prevent your attack. It consumes a lot of Mana but,] {Troll} knew that Shuras White Mana, was about to run out. Im the one who will run out of Mana first, is it? [Thats right. Why dont we slow down the pace once? At this rate, you will lose] Shura sneered at {Troll}s suggestion and put out her tongue. BehDD I dont want to. Shura wore white mana over her whole body and charged forward. Her right fist exploded on {Troll}s belly. Thorns made from soil bounced off at the same time. Shura didnt stop even if the thorns pierced her shoulder or thighs and kept hitting repeatedly. [Stop your meaningless] Uuuuuuuuuuuuu Oooooooooooooo!!!! Hit, kick, hit, kick. Each time, the counterattacks of the thorns hurt her body. The place that Shura protected was the brain and heart. Other than that, she didnt care, after all it would heal soon. (It hurts DD hurts, hurts, hurts, hurts, huuurrrrttts!!!!) Even so, Shura still continued to attack. All of it was for one chance DD {Troll} was fighting back by collecting the soil around the attacked part, but the time for {Troll} to lose its armor would come if she kept attacking the same area continuously. She bet on that one chance. That was why Shura didnt pause. She was aiming for a momentary gap [So persistent !] The armor started peeling off. {Troll}s hair disappeared, and the chance that Shura was aiming for came. Its bosom had no more soil obstruction. [Hmm?!!] Here it is, Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!! Shura tried to accumulate all of her Mana on one point but, Its a, lie right? Why now DD! The white armor became dust. DD The limit of her Mana had come. {Troll} slapped Shura who had stopped in the air. Her back struck against a large tree outside the flattened area and she was spitting up blood. The wound would not heal anymore. [Huh huft! It was dangerous. It was unexpected for you to last this long. But I could see the result. Your Mana is exhausted as I expected. I still have a little Mana left. This battle, is my DD] Its me who losesDDBut its Our Win! My Mana is only as much as dust now. Yours is almost gone. But theres one more person left with full mana. Shura pointed to the shining sun. [Bluffing, is an unsightly act] Five seconds left. {Troll} swung its fist down Shura made a big leap with the last little Red Mana on her feet and felt the heat of the sun directly on her neck. [Stop struggling.]. {Troll} glared at Shura. DD Its the Time limit. At that moment, the brown-haired Shura disappeared. [What?!] Next up was a girl with golden hair. The girl pulled out her cane and made the black jewels at the end shine. [The appearance has changed ? DD Well, it doesnt matter!!!] {Troll} pulled his left arm back, preparing to attack. The blonde magician didnt show any impatience and indifferently looked down at {Troll}. DD Fireball A mass of crimson was formed behind the blonde magician, Ash. The mass of flame, it was bigger than {Troll}s fist. But, that was not the end. Black Mana was coming out from the cane. Coloring, Black DD Black Flame Magic Technique, Roiro Homura [TN: The kanji use for Black in here is actually Black for lacquering, and the kanji for roiro is the Black lacquer, so the technique if were to roughly put it in English, Jet-Black Flame] The mass of flame covered in Black Mana. {Troll} who had launched its hand, tried to withdraw it in front of a foreign Mana, but it was too late. [What?! That Mana is DD] You bullied my sister I wont forgive you!!! {Troll}s fist collided with the black ball which looked like a black-colored sun from {Troll}s eyes. [UuuDDuuuuaaaaaaarrrrrrrgggghhh!!!!] The part that touched the Black Mana immediately becomes dust. Roiro Homura released by Ash was a three-color Fire Magic Technique that combined three different Mana. Its power far exceeds the power of normal two-color Fire Magic Technique. Still, if there was Mana left in {Troll}, it might make an armor to defend against it or avoid it. But {Troll} already couldnt afford to block or dodge it. {Troll} was too exhausted in the battle with Shura. [In a place like this, I! {Corpse Emperor}-sama, please my corpse DD!!!] DD It was absolutely inevitable. The Black Flame ruthlessly burned {Troll} from the chest up. Ash fell from the sky into the ground and her hips hit the ground hard. Numbing pain ran all over her body. Uhu my sisters an idiot. I, am not good at handling Red Mana I couldnt land passively if dropped from such a height Ash shed tears while rubbing her hips. Ash couldnt move from the spot for a while due to back pain. {Troll} DD Defeated. CH 24 24. Carrs & Ignacio & Frederica vs Orobas The difference in power between them was not likeDDants and elephants. It was not that bad. The difference between those who could use Mana and those who could not The difference between Carrs and Ignacio, and {Orobas} was not so hopeless. If {Orobas} was a cavalryman who straddled a horse, wore armor all over his body, and had a weapon, then Carrs and Ignacio would be naked humans. You can kill him by dragging him off the horse and strangling him DDThe weak side would think so. But if a cavalry and a naked human actually fight, in a matter of seconds the naked human would be pierced, torn, or kicked by the horse and died. After all, the difference in ability between the two was absolute. In the field full of flowers, Where beautiful flowers were in full bloom, Carrs and Ignacio stood there. In front of them was {Orobas} with arms that grew from the whole body. Ignacio with her rapier and Carrs with his spear, both of them attacked {Orobas}s face. {Orobas} strengthened its face with Red Mana. But, the inscription on the spear sucked in the Red Mana and let the attack pass through it, and damaging the face. By the stab, {Orobas}s cheek skin peeled a little. It was an attack with my full strength, you know? Hah! Even if there are no scratches, the Mana was sucked! Lets keep this pace! Just five minutes had passed since the battle began between Carrs, Ignacio, Frederica, and {Orobas}. DD But, all of them were about to reach their limits. Carrss left hand was injured by Wind Magic, and now he was holding a spear with his right hand. Ignacio was front kicked on her right leg, and the bone was cracked. Frederica didnt have any external injuries, but her breath was rough, and her Mana was about to run out. [Y, you, all, DDw-w-w-we, weak, akk!] Green particles floating around {Orobas}s body. Both of you, step back! Carrs and Ignacio stepped back to left and right side of Frederica. Same with {Orobas}, green particles also floating around Frederica. {Orobas} turned the green particles into a gust, and Frederica turned the green particles into a water sword. [Di , DieDD!] Aqua Shooter D!! BANG! the Magic offset each other. Carrs and Ignacio launch an attack after seeing it. Ignacios thrust was blocked by one of the arms on {Orobas}s body and another arm hit Ignacios belly. Carrs sneaked through the arms defenses from the side and thrusted his spear to {Orobas}s body but {Orobas} put more Red Mana into its body. The spear was repelled. Urrgh?! Bastard! Two vanguards and one rearguard. While Frederica preparing for Magic, and Carrs and Ignacio went up to a close-range battle. But, Frederica and {Orobas} Magic Creation Speed was almost the same, so their Magic offsetting each other. Carrs and Ignacio at the same time were beaten by the arms that grows from {Ortobas}s body and retreated to Fredericas side. Hah! If it keeps like this, we will lose! Carrs laughed. Seeing, the situation where all of them were gradually being cornered. Carrs was convinced that if they kept repeating the same move again and again, they would reach their limit for sure. How could you be so carefree in this situation Ignacios hands were shaking. Although Ignacio cannot handle Mana, she was a master in handling swords and martial arts. Inevitably, the outcome of the battle, she could imagine it. What came to her mind was their appearance being murdered brutally. Carrs squinted at Ignacios quivering hands. Igna-chan, I guess we have no choice but to gamble. this guy is Once again, green particles floating around {Orobas}s body. And, around Fredericas body too. She was preparing magic to offset. However, suddenly Carrs stood in front of Frederica. Carrs-san?! What are you doing! Frederica, target that guy directly DD The next Magic attack from him, Ill receive it. Are you stupid?! If you do thaDD My body may be torn apart. However, it is just Maybe. Then, there are some possibilities Ill stay alive! Carrs ran forward. {Orobas} released blade of the wind. Carrs tried to catch it with the belly of the spear, but the blade of the wind slipped through the defense of the spear and hit Carrss neck directly. DDһFor a moment, Carrs had the illusion that he had been decapitated. But, the sensation below the neck disappeared. Carrs looked down and laughed at his bodies that still intact. Blood was oozing from his whole body. Well, its not a big deal ! When his senses returned, Carrs had knelled on the ground. Carrs easily swallows the pain where normally an ordinary person would scream. Why can you laugh? Youre dying right now, arent you? Ignacio said with a shaky voice. She was trembling fear. Hihihi, its fun! I even saw the other world for a moment. Carrs slammed Ignacios shaking shoulder. Lets enjoy to the fullest, Igna-chan. This kind of fight. Its rare you know? YOU.. Carrs stood up and held his spear. Ignacio followed Carrs back with her eyes. Then she, closed her eyelids and held her rapier up facing the sky. And, Her body stopped shaking. DDYour stance is bad now, but it seems that you resolved already. So, Ill resolved myself, in the name of Rosso. Frederica released green particles. Im ready! Both of you, get ready! A water sword was released. {Orobas} mobilized all the arms of its whole body and received the water sword. The water sword destroyed the arms, but it did not reach {Orobas}s body. However, the arms that protected {Orobas}s body were gone. Ignacio and Carrs walked in step and slashed from the left and right. Carrs used his spear. Ignacio unleashes a refined rapier thrust. Both attacks hit {Orobas}s body, but only left scratches. Still, {Orobas} Mana had been reduced gradually thanks to the assistance of the Seals Sealing Technique. Both of them kept attacking recklessly. Slash, Hit, hit, keep hitting even though it was barely damaging {Orobas}. [It, Hu, hurts?!] Blood splattered. The Mana of strengthening was absorbed by the sealing technique, and the rapier scraped the skin. Seeing the chance, Carrs tried to land another attack but at the same time {Orobas} was accumulating green particles again. Step step back! Ignacio! Carrs! Frederica shouted. However, Carrs and Ignacio, the two warriors, knew that if they missed the chance, there would be no next. Two flashes. Spear and rapier teared {Orobas}s skin. However, at the same time, a certain thing reached its limit. Tch! DDDD?!! Nothing happened with their bodies. However, the weapons reached its limit first. {Orobas} concentrated Red Mana on the place where the spear and rapier landed. The rapier and spear shattered completely. The inscription also gone. There were no weapons in their hands. DD(If so, with fist!) The two came to the same thought at the same time, with Carrs holding his right fist and Ignacio holding her left fist. But {Orobas} was not that stupid to miss the chance it got. DDAnd so, the strong gust blew them away. C Carrs and Ignacio was blown away to the left and right by the gust. Rolling in the flower field, both of them fainted. The remaining Frederica was rattling and shaking her teeth while accumulating her Mana. No! No way! [Hi, hihiii! T, The, the end. Yo, yourDD lo, lose.] Frederica fell on her butt. Despair filled her head. She felt death was approaching her slowly. Every time she heard the sound of flower getting trampled, it felt like a hole in her heart getting bigger. Even so, she still accumulating her leftover mana little by little. Frederica was sure than she could make the next blow faster than {Orobas}. However, only one more Magic attack wouldnt be enough to kill {Orobas}. Frederica lost hope, turned her face down and closed her eyes. DDIts over. Frederica was at the edge of despair. But, she suddenly heard another sound of flowers getting stompedDDit was human footsteps. . . Bloody and hollow eyes. Carrs and Ignacio stood up and made a stance. Frederica opened her eyelids and rejoiced when she saw them. Both of you! Im glad thatDD? The two.. There were no weapons in their hands. Yet they made the usual stance where Carrs held a spear and Ignacio held a rapier. They naturally perform the movements that the body remembered, and aimed at {Orobas}s back. {Orobas} was unaware. But even if {Orobas} noticed them, it was useless. Because neither of them had a weapon. (Theyre not consciousDD) Frederica almost lost hope again, but she looked at them and rethought again. Neither Carrs nor Ignacio was conscious. But surely an intention to kill {Orobas} could be seen in their eyes. DDThe leftover Mana Frederica had. She decided how to use it. The Sword of Water, Be the Courage for the Young Princess. The Spear of Ice, Be the Hope for the WarriorDD Frederica remembered the chant of a technique that she learned from her guild friends. DDHyouSuiRaSou!!!!!! [TN: the kanji, ˮװ, roughly it means, Equip Spiral Ice and Water] A swirling water rapier was formed in Ignacios hand, and a swirling ice spear was formed in Carrs hand. Finally, {Orobas} noticed the presence behind it. The demon-like murderous intentions behind It was as if the assassins who had prepared to took the live of their target. [Yo, you, b,b,bothDD!] At the same time {Orobas} turned back, Carrs and Ignacio stepped on the ground. {Orobas} grew new arms from its whole body. But the two kept going forward without stopping. DD But, a black drop .came out in the verge of death. TheSub-source ColorsMana that was sleeping inside Carrs and Ignacio came out, and those colors. lit at the tip of the ice spear and water rapier. It was the Mana turned the things it touched into dust. The two thrusts from water sword and Ice spear, turned the arms which grew from {Orobas} whole body, into dust, pierced its skin, flesh, and bones. [I, !!?] The jet-black thrust penetrated {Orobas}s head and chest. Frederica took a few seconds to understand what happened in front of her. Its Black Mana the Mana of Destruction!! Normally, handling Mana were learned in the order, Three Main-source Colors Four Sub-source Colors There was no rule that it must be that way, it was just a matter of difficulty. Manipulating the Sub-source ColorsMana was much more difficult than the Three Main-source Colors . In particular, the difficulty level of Black Mana was high due to its ferocious nature. It was not something that Non-Magicians can handle. However, the two broke that common sense. The Mana that was sleeping within them corresponding to their emotion who want to destroy and kill the enemy. And unconsciously drawn out at the edge of death. Frederica knew that Carrs and Ignacio were both unmistakable geniuses, or else something like this would not happen. Wow these two, they will become remarkable figure if they learn Magic! It was a water rapier that pierced {Orobas}s head. It was an ice spear that pierced {Orobas}s heart. {Orobas} collapsed on the spot with a miasma and died. Did it die? DD we won!!! Frederica ran to Carrs and Ignacio. But before she reached them, they fell on their head. Carrs! Ignacio! What should I do, what should I do! Frederica remembered herFour Sub-source Colors White ManaDDThe Mana of Regeneration. Im not good at handling it, but I need to do it now! Frederica illuminated the two with White Mana. {Orobas} DDDD Defeated CH 25 25. Prediction A monsters settlement. I hide in the shadow of a tree while slowly hiding my footsteps. DDThere are no signs of monsters around. Except for the one who sits on the bone throne in the center of the settlement. As expected, the lack of pawns and no strong pawns are problems. They take too much time for small fish like them A half-body, half-bone man lowers his eyelids and rest his chin on his hand. Foolish. Come out now. Ive already noticed your sign. Oops, it seems my surprise attack fail. I get out of the shadow and set foot in the settlement. The with bones still sits down and doesnt even look at me. I approach the throne from behind. Let me ask you one thing. Why do you guys eat people? Its a stupid question. Its no different from you who eat pigs and cows. Im just hunting and eating people. {Corpse Emperor} speaks with a sarcastic tone. Understand? Listen. Now you are chasing and hunting us monsters, but eventually the position will be reversed. Because we, the , have been resurrected. In the near future, you will forget how to wear clothes and speak words, lose your dignity and everything, and return to the wild like a rabbit running around the field. Im just anticipating that future. [TN: , means Demon Emperor, Im still conflicted which name should I use, for now its MATEI] DD Demon Emperors, huh This is the first word I hear. Are those monsters is as dangerous as the name Emperor imply? Originally, our era would have come many years ago. DD If only those Sealer didnt exist! The voice of the corpse is colored with anger. But this I, came to one conclusion! The seal of that coffin couldnt be broken by the monsters on this island! So, why was the coffin unsealed and I was released?! Because those Sealer died, didnt they?!! If that was the case, no one could stop Our supremacy anymore! DD In a world without a Sealer, no one can hold me, who could reborn again!! and again!!! Hah!! High laughter shakes the entire village. Every time he laughs, my skin hurts as if a knife scratched me. Seriously, what a pressure, I cant help but feel the difference between us. DDStill, I dont feel like losing. As I hold my fist and try in to close the distance, the thorny wall of the human bone blocked me. Stay away. The throne flips. And, our eyes meet in the same line. It looks like youre really looking down at humans Of course. To us, you guys are just food. The {Corpse Emperor} raises his chin and shows his nostrils. I see, its a face that thinks he would never lose to me, a human. DDBring it on. Ill make you speechless. The {Corpse Emperor}-dono. Since you look bored, why dont you let me DD make a prediction? [TN: -dono , is one of honorifics used in japan, especially in samurai era, it means, a kind to Milord] Hoho? Tell me. I thrust my hand into my pocket and raise my chin. This battle, the one who makes the first move, it Must be me. A light faintly dwells in the eyes of the {Corpse Emperor}. Fu DDfuhahahahahahahahahaha! Arent you saying something interesting! DD Remember this, ant. There is no first move or second move. Its my turn from beginning to end! You never have a turn! After laughing happily, the {Corpse Emperor} puts his right hand forward. As the hand moved, the skeletons that grew from the ground focused on me. I will predict you too DD Ten seconds later. You will die shortly after you kneel to the ground. The skeletons are attacking me all at once. I take out the talisman from my right pocket and let the items inside come out. OPEN, DD Lion Spear! From the talisman, a long spear comes out, the spear is still in the same condition as when I previously escaped from the settlement with Shura. The spear goes into the {Corpse Emperor}s chest. What?! DD Hmmm?!!! Shortly after breathing, the spear pierces the {Corpse Emperor}s chest and his back stick to the throne. The spear is long enough for it to reaches the sea. The {Corpse Emperor} spews red blood from his mouth. I Sealed it when it still stretched a while ago. Gu, urrgh !!? The spear soon returns to its original length. The corpse makes his eyes bright red and glares at me while holding his chest down. I use the spear to break the skeletons that has stopped moving. Then, point the tip of the shortened spear at the monster in front of me. The corpse looked at my talisman and says, No way ! with a trembling voice. Well, its ten seconds already. Hmm? isnt it strange? Im still breathing {Corpse Emperor}-dono. CH 26 26. Indescribable Anger When the {Corpse Emperor} removed his hand from his chest, the hole in his chest was gone. So, this is a rumored rebornDD Are person who could reborn huh I see, so hes really immortal. This guy What should I do if I cant seal him No wayDDNo way No way No way!!!! You are aaaaaaahhh!!!!!! The angry sound echoes on my eardrum. Dont be scared, Seal! You cant pull back here! Dont take a step, dont move your eyebrows, and keep endure his anger Dont break your leeway! You need to keep your impression as the unfathomable guy. Ah, I was late in introducing myself. Im Seal, a Sealer. From 100 to 0 at once. The {Corpse Emperor} sank the blood that had risen to his head all at once to his feet. On the throne, he put his chins in his hand again. His eyes are quietly staring at me. I see, a Sealer huh fufu, fuahahahahahahah!!!! He sounds happy. This guy I cant read his emotions. I wonder whyHah! Even if I feel fear and anger, I also feel intense joy that shakes my fingers. Aaah, so nostalgic Sealers, I hated them, but the fight with them was really fun. Even if this I, hate them, at the same tame I want to meet them. The one who bring anxiety and suspense to me Those people! The {Corpse Emperor} raises his hand to heaven and clenches his fist. At the same time, crawling skeletons come to me from every direction. The skeletons trying to surround me with its limbs. I sway the lion spear, which has returned to its original size, in a circular motion. The skeletons are not that strong and so using the spears I crushes and sink them to the ground. This feeling it may be similar to love Well, sorry to interrupt your confession, but Ive already done with the bones! While swinging the spear, I charge the {Corpse Emperor}. The {Corpse Emperor} laughs a little while saying What a fool. I, the {Corpse Emperor}, the king who controls the corpse! Even if you defeat it once, those under my control will not disappear! The skeletons that should have been defeated start to revive again As long as my Mana is not exhausted, it will be resurrected infinitely! That means the corpse under my control has no life span!!! DD arent you lying? I pinch the talisman with the word between the index and middle fingers of my right hand. [TN: the word mean purification] Lion Spear, CLOSE. DD OPEN, ! I equip in my right hand. I light Lutta with Blue Mana. Then, the blue alchemy stone embedded in glows, creating a cool light blue aura That sword is DD! I use to crush the skeletons face. Concentrate the Red Mana on my soles of the feet, jump to cut the short distance and cut through the skeletons one by one. The skeleton collapses from the hip joint, turning the bone into black dust which flying to the sky. Whats wrong, they dont seem to be resurrected are they already in bad condition? Is it a sword that sent the soul straight to the realm of dead?! Dont get carried away! Sealer!!! I step on with enough force to crack the ground. But the distance is still 20 steps and 30 steps, were still far from each other. My aim for now it to leave a mark on him. I need to land a direct attack with my fist. I wont let you get closer! DD Woah?! Suddenly, the ground under my feet rose. Countless bones that overlap each other like a tower from the bottom of the ground. A skeleton tower tries to wrap me from below. DD OPEN! The lion spear come out once again and I equip it on my left hand. Turn the stone tip diagonally downward. I extend the lion spear, push the spear to the ground, and use the expansion and contraction of the spear to jump back. I could see a tower of bones at where I was. As for The Corpse Emperor, he makes bones connected like a ring as if to enclose himself. I will not let A Sealer come near me! You stay beyond this cirlce! After that, finally, the {Corpse Emperor} stands up. Sealer, Listen this carefully. The corpse you fought up until now was level 0. I just manipulated the bones. But the next one will be different! The {Corpse Emperor} raises both hands. Bones that stretch from the ground, flesh and skin are covered those bones. 10 20 23 bodies? Well, I dont think Lion Spear will be useful here. CLOSE The corpse that appeared in front of me is different from earlier. It has cracks all over its body. Definitely its a naked human being. This is level 1. The power to reproduce the body the same as when it still alive. Is there such a thing? This is called self-renewal ability, and this repair ability is clearly beyond the range that can be achieved by the Mana of control. DDDD !!!!! I open my eyes wide. Not because Im being surprised at the {Corpse Emperor}s ability. Im looking at the 23 humans who appeared in front of me, to be exact, the smallest of them. DD Its a girl. A young girl. Her face I had seen it before. DD Excuse me If you find this child, please contact me. Suddenly, I remember the old woman who was looking for her daughter at the port of Crow. I remember the flyer she gave me. I remember the girl face on the flyer Amongst 23 corpses created by the {Corpse Emperor}, one of them is the missing girl. [ Moo-om] The corpse makes a voice. [Help me, help me please..] [No.. I dont want to die ] [My child, my child is waiting for me] I can hear a monotone voice. It sounds emotionless. Im sorry. There are times when it says some nonsense because the brain is also reproduced. Its unpleasant right? Human who begs for their own life is really ugly. dont you think so? The corpse puts his index finger of his right hand forward. The living corpses start moving at the same time. Im silent while wielding . .!? Every time I swing my sword, my chest hurt. A distorted voice in pain, a voice asking for help, a voice thanking for killing themDDvarious voices echoes from my ears to my heart. DDIt must be difficult. Your daughter, if I find her, Ill definitely bring her here. I remember what I said the other day. As I remember, I cut the girls head. Mom Where are yoC Finally, the girl grabs the hem of my pants as if she holds her mothers hand, and collapses. Sealer, whats wrong? Your face becomes dark, you know? Ah! Perhaps, your friend is amongst them?! Well, well! Im really sorry, I dont have any bad intention. Its just an entertainment. I thought, you would enjoy it Its a hope. For them who lost their loved one, and couldnt get any work done properly, They devote themselves to the probability. They serve God in honesty. Its the purpose of those people. The survival of these corpses DD is their hope. Its their only hope that they keep clinging into, to keep living and seeing tomorrow, after losing their loved ones. DD{Corpse Emperor}, Reyes Rou Ampleur He is trampling their hopes with his feet, spit on the sanctity of the dead. This feeling that springs up from the bottom of my heart, how should I express this feeling? I move my dagger to the other hand. Then, put my current feelings into words. Finally. I finally really want to kill You Bastard!! Good. Keep your spirit like that, Sealer!!!! Lets kill each other. Like how humans and monsters supposed to be..! CH 27 27. Trump card One aim is to hit him and put a character stamp! Maybe his Mana is higher than me. No, its too late to consider that now. There is only one winner. If that doesnt work, I will just give up and die. But of course, hes also wary of my approach. He may know the requirement of the sealing technique to some extent. Whenever I approached, he tried to push me back with a large-scale attack. When I moved 10 steps closer he made another 10 steps back. But not bad. I consume far less Mana. I just try to get closer, but he returns with an apparently over-attack. Ill never let you get closer! Absolutely, only you! Frightened eyes. Apparently, he scared of sealing technique. Maybe he got a trauma. Are you okay? I mean, you used a lot of Mana. I cover my legs with Red Mana and launch an attack with , but he pushes me back with lot amounts of bones. When Im being pushed back by the waves of bones, the {Corpse Emperor} created new white-bone dragons and red-blooded dragons. Hah! Keep struggling Sealer!!! Thank you for the large-scale attack! A mixture of white and red dragons approaches me. Defense is out of the question. So, I put strength into my legs to avoid it. What?! But, skeleton arms that crawl out of the ground grabbed my feet. Im sorry! I have no other choice than to receive the attack of a red and white dragon head-on. Even if I keep my feet on the ground, its meaningless, so its better if I release the strength on my feet and receive the impact. DDKeep your consciousness together, Seal! Its over if you faint. I know its a lot of damage. Be prepared for the pain, Seal! You have to endure..! And, the most painful attack in my life until now hits me. Bone debris bites into the skin, and a torrent of blood reduces Mana. Two dragons drag me around. Urg..?! A shock runs on my back. Apparently, my back hits the watch tower. The bone and blood dragons have scattered away. nnghDD urgh?! I spit out the blood that has accumulated in my mouth. Yeah Ive been feeling it for a long time, but This {Corpse Emperor} obviously not at the level I can deal normally right now. Hes special. Mana, experience, abundance of skills everything is exceptional. Ill not let you rest! Sealer! Next is level 2. Not only the body, but also the skill when the corpse still alive would be reproduced!!! Living corpses are created again. 8 bodies in total. Its not that many as before but I still need to keep alert. The living corpses used the Mana of Creation to create a lump of water at one point. DD Seaside Rulers . Probably the former members. Frederica said that her guild members mainly use water magic. The lump of water swelled and reached the amount of water that comparable like a river. If it hit me directly, I will definitely die! MooDDvee !!!! I cant move. Am I running out of blood? Oh, this is bad. I cant put any strength to my body. If so, never mind then. DDAlright, I dont need to rely on blood anymore. The Mana of Domination is circulating in the body. Ill move my body with Yellow Mana. My body DD movee ! Aaaaahhhh!!!! A whirlpool of water is shot at me. I move my body with the Mana of Domination and avoid get hit head-on. But I still get hit in my right shoulder, blown away, and pushed into the third rows of buildings in the settlement. Im being pushed until the building at the eastern end. Break through the wooden wall and fly to the wall opposite the door. Arrgh! Getting hit on the back of my head, my consciousness is fading. I shake my head to shake off the darkness that comes into view. Tap my cheeks twice to keep my consciousness. Where is this Corpses were lined up on the floor of the house. Is it a food store ! Its not just normal corpses. It doesnt smell bad. The gloss of the skin is not dull. There are no cracks too. It must have been being keep fresh. As Frederica said, it seems to be processed. DD But, there are no living humans. I guess, for the monsters, the corpses in this building just like a food stock Gross Somehow, I feel a tremendous amount of Mana pressured the corpse. Is the Mana stored in the corpse in some way? Suddenly, the worst situation comes to my mind. .. But, at the same time. One measure to deal with this situation comes to my mind. - I walk out of the building. The {Corpse Emperor} is waiting behind eight living corpses. Hoho, youre still alive? The {Corpse Emperor} looks nervous. Hes out of breath. And, when he sees me alive, he become pale. I was in that house for about a minute now. During that time, there was no pursuit. The reason is simple, because he couldnt afford it. If you do so many big attacks, your limit will come faster. You dont have that much magic left anymore, dont you? The {Corpse Emperor} sits on the throne and stares at me. Its because you use your technique in the same way as in your heyday. You Bastard, your Mana should have reduced to zero once with that seal DD And, the Mana you gained by eating 500 people, where most of them were non-magicians, it must be less than you had thought. But, to be honest, its really horrifying. In his heyday, when his Mana is almost could be said unlimited.. The quality and quantity of the corpse under his control must have been much worse than it is now. Which means, old man and the guy called Saurus, who defeated this guy in his heyday were really crazy. Ten years ago, I could blow someone like you away with just by pointing my little finger! Well, you are strong. Perhaps you dont have to be afraid to fight someone like meDDBut no matter what kind of monster you are, if the conditions are met, you will be sealed. After all, I am a Sealer. How could you still feel like winning?! Defeat my pawns, all of these magicians?? You dont have the abilities to do that!! What would you do if I said I have? What? I put my finger in my pocket. Just at what is written, its my trump card. I take out a talisman with written on it. [TN: it means Death] It is the only Magic Item that I received from my master. The crazy ring left by the old man DD OPENDD ! CH 28 28. Cunning From the talisman, a ring comes out. A ring with a Red Alchemy Stone that was given to me by an old man. I put the ring on my right index finger, put in Red Mana, and the ring glows red. The ability of can greatly enhance ones physical ability in exchange for Red Mana without using any Blue Mana. However, as a restriction, this ring cannot be removed until The Red Mana inside my body dried, and so, my Red Mana will endlessly continue to be squeezed. Once the ring fitted, Red Mana rises so much until it visible clearly. The skull-shaped steam that gushed out of the ring wrapped me around. Four red and black lines extended from the ring, and a line is drawn to the right shoulder. It stretches like a tattoo and gradually shrinks. This line shows the remaining amount of my Red Mana. In other words, if all of this line disappears, the remaining amount of my Red Mana will be zero. Judging from the length of the line, the time limit is. 2 minutes. What.. what happened! What is that Mana?! The {Corpse Emperor} says with a surprised voice. I kick the ground and disappear. BAM! I make a hole on the chest of the corpses standing on the front, a muscleman, with my right fist. A splash of blood splat to the feet of the corpse. Prepare yourself, King of corpses. Ill bring an end to this fight soon. Shut up Dont joke with me!!! The {Corpse Emperor} dismantles the throne and use the bone to attack me. I destroy the flying bones with my fist. As it is, I accelerate in a straight line toward the {Corpse Emperor}. What?! However, my rush was stopped by the corpses who strengthened their bodies with the Mana of Strengthening. But one step, I finally could make a step ahead of the bone ring he made. Reach! Magician!! Do something!!! The {Corpse Emperor} move his arm. Now only two of the corpses holding me are left and the others are pulled all at once. I quickly crush the faces of the two people. But, [ The Sword of Water, Be the Courage for the Younger Princess. Oh, The Spear of Ice, Be the Hope for the WarriorDD] A magic with chant! A woman who had been pulled to the back of the {Corpse Emperor} is chanting. Certainly, based on what Ash told me, chanting before releasing a Magic means that person has a high skill. It will be bad to just take it without prevention, but the distance between us is far! I cant stop it in time! [DDHyousuirasou !!!!!!] There are 5 corpses left. 3 men and 2 women. The woman who chanted the Magic and another woman are equipped with a water sword. And the three men were equipped with ice spears. Everyone breathes in, points their weapons at me, and throws it here. DDI dont have much time! If I take it easy, my Red Mana will be eaten by the God of Death (Osiris) for nothing! Stop him! I destroy all ice spears flying from three directions with the dagger in my hand. I dodged the thrust of the sword of water and seeing the opening, I kick the belly of a female magician. 4 left. At that point, the {Corpse Emperor} turns his back on me and starts running. Are you running away?!DDWhere is your pride as a king?!!! Escape is not a shame! Kneeling is not a shame! The only pride of the king is to keep reign!!! Still, run away huh to where? His toes are pointing to the place where I was blown away. If I eat that, My Mana will recover! The place he plans to go is the food storDD Bastard! He plans to recover his Mana by eating the human corpses. Dont think that Ill just stay silent!!! I kick the ground with my strengthened body and try to approach him. However, four living corpses appears in front of me like a wall. DD Lion Spear !!! I unseal the Lion Spear. Grab it in my right hand. Hold the spear and thrust it continuously. It pierces the head, neck and heart accurately and so I break through the meat wall. Following behind the corpse, I put in Green Mana to stretch the lion spear, but the spear does not stretch. It seems that Ive no more Green Mana DD the Mana of Creation. Why now! Well, well! Let me praise you for cornering me this far! Sealer!!! The {Corpse Emperor} touches the ground and puts in the Mana as much as he can. Shishiranran !!!!!! [TN: if I were to put it in English maybe, Bone Storm] A tornado of bones occurs between me and the {Corpse Emperor}. Tch! DDShould I jump in? DDNo, if I take any more damage than thisDD Arent I an idiot?! Whats the point of thinking too much now!!! I jump into the tornado. The blade of the bone hit my whole body. However, Red Mana completely protected my body. It only scratches me. I pass through the tornado and stand in front of the building. DDIm too late. The overflowing Mana is emitted from the building. Fufu. Fuhahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!! The {Corpse Emperor} with fresh blood on his mouth comes out of the building. His belly is bloated. The swollen belly stretches sideways and sits loosely on the ground. The half part of his body, which is bone, also somewhat swollen. I can see a black bag through the gap between the bones, is that his stomach?! His belly is about 20 times larger than it was originally. Perhaps he ate all the corpses that stored in the building. Its ugly, but dont worry the digestion will ends soon. Aaah, I can feel it, come on! A torrent of Mana!!! A wave of Mana shakes the village. This is bad. Ill definitely die if I get closer now DD If only, if only I have more time! Are you in despair? Sealer He looks relaxed and walks towards me, dragging his drooping belly. Do you understand now? This amount of Mana The corpse in that place was modified to keep absorbing Mana. I was planning to eat it after it ripened. From the ground, horse-shaped bones and giant-shaped bones..{Orobas} and {Troll} are constructed. I let the other corpses carry their corpses. This way I can recover their corpses without having to go directly! Blood, Mana, flesh, and skin slowly covering the bones. The two bodies I saw before. Even though it has some cracks in the whole body stands in front of me. Now, three threats are lining up. Go back to the beginning, huh A gust, a giant fist and a tornado full of bones. Three types of attacks come to meDD The ring lost its light. Well, is it impossible after all? I dont have enough time. I fall on one knee and about to give up, but, Hmm? A spear of ice and a sword of water rushed out of the shadow of the tree, aiming behind the corpse. Sorry to keep you waiting, General! Lets finish this! Carrs and Ignacio. You guys Apparently, the corpse carried not only {Orobas} and {Troll}. Some small fry huh The surprise attack of the two is easily caught by the {Corpse Emperor}. However, A Water Magic is shot at the {Corpse Emperor} from a hill at the moment when the corpses is being distracted. Aqua Shooter !! A blow of water magic hits the {Corpse Emperor}s head directly. But DD You call this Magic? Not even worth my attention. It doesnt hurt him at all. A bunch of mobs! Youre not on a level to challenge me!!! {Troll}s fist hits Carrs. {Orobas}s Wind Magic blows Ignacio away. Bone spines that crawl out of the hill hit Fredericas entire body. Carrs! Ignacio! Frederica!!! In a matter of seconds, Carrs is being blown to the roof of the hut in the center of the three lined up building, Ignacio is being blown into the forest, and Frederica fall on her knees on a hill. Everyone faint. But when the {Corpse Emperor} almost smile, he becomes alert. A black flash shone in the forest behind him. DDColoring, Black. Roiroinadama A black lightning bolt erased the {Corpse Emperor}s face, half of it. Smoke rises from the face toward the sky. Hooo? But he is someone who could regenerate again, and so it regenerated right away. Ash, is that you?! Well, at this level, I guess you can call it Magic. The {Corpse Emperor} snaps his finger, and a bone dragon rose behind him. The bone dragon attacks the forest behind the {Corpse Emperor} and returns with a girl in its mouth. The girl, Ash, falls from the air to the ground in front of the {Corpse Emperor}. Urgh?! Being hit at the back of her head, Ash lost her consciousness. DDDD !!? I stop my foot that almost moving by itself to her. Wait, I need to calm down. Looking in the eyes of the {Corpse Emperor} thats not the eye of someone who want to kill. You DD you have another one inside. The {Corpse Emperor} tears Ashs clothes and exposes her navel. He laughs as he observes the exposed belly of Ash. Hah! The Curse of Ra- huh?! There are three curses by the God in this world, but the one from Ra- is rareIll not take your life until you get to theGray Zone. The Corpse grabs Ashs neck and threw her behind him. Well, with this, everything is settled. But it seems that everybody is still breathing DD Ill kill all of you except that little girl. But! first of all, You. Sealer The {Corpse Emperor} walks between the corpse of {Orobas} and {Troll}, approaching me. Raises his right hand to create a bone sickle. Its a long sickle. A sickle that can drop my neck while keeping a distance. His bloated belly has deflated and now returned to his previous slender state. It was a good exercise. Thanks to that, the digestion is over. Finally, huh? It was so long. Whats wrong? Why dont you say some nonsense like those idiots? Well, then, theres only one thing I want to say I raise the corner of my mouth. Remember this well, You Fucking DemonDD If you eat humans, your stomach will get upset! Mmm? The {Corpse Emperor} looks down at his right hand. What? My Mana is disturbed??! The corpse of {Ororbas} and {Troll} collapses. The bone sickle turns into dust. I look up and laugh. The {Corpse Emperor} looks at me and muttering, No way... The worst situation that came to my mind in that food store was He eats that corpses, and he regains his Mana. Thats why I put it in the corpse. If he ever swallowed it. A poison pebbles engraved with pentagonal characters, will disturbs his Mana and suck it. It took some time for that pebble I mean fifteen pebbles to erode his Mana, but it seems that it was activated safely. No, no way! Something like this isDD Thats not the end, oh {Corpse Emperor}. What do you think will happen when your Mana is sealed and the vessel dissolves in your gastric juice? BAM!! There is a hole in the belly of the corpse. A pebble whose Mana is sealed, it dissolves with his gastric juice and the Mana that was absorbed and being sealed will be released. And the Mana that once being absorbed is not something that is under his control anymore. It becomes under my control, But I cant do anything from here, so the Mana that has lost its place will go out of control and burst. Argh! Seal,erDD! Did you put a seal on the corpse ?! the humans of the same family?! Even though its a corpse, how could you use it as a trap?!! You heartless!!! Shut up! I dont want to be told by You! I throw away my weapon and hold my fist. All I have to do punch him. Surely my Mana will soon disappear! But!!!! A huge tornado wraps him around. Fire, Water and Ice. The sorrow of all creation!! Show yourself under the King, Prostate and prepare to be punished!!!!DD Prison Gate, No. 7! Punish Gate !!!! A Magic with a chant! The {Corpse Emperor} mobilizes all the remaining Mana and reveals a huge bone. In the center of it, fire, water, and ice are being mixed. A huge whirlpool is floating above him. Seriously, its time to give up, You Bastard!!! Well, in the end, its my win! Even if there is no Mana left and my body is destroyed! I could just reborn again!!! A bunch of bones crawls on the ground, urging me to go to the whirlpool. There is no more way for me to avoid it. And, its absolutely impossible to block it. ?! The whirlpool filled my field of vision. CH 29 29. Prisoners Rebellion A lump of bone hit the ground and produced a huge amount of smoke. The {Corpse Emperor} saw the scene and was convinced of his victory. I won. I won! Finally, I killed the sealer!!! He made a victory pose and turned his back on the smoke. Look Look! This is my DD At that moment, the {Corpse Emperor} noticed something. Some footsteps were creeping behind him. When he turned back, he saw the figure of a naked man who jumped out from the smoke. (Seal POV)C A bunch of bones approaching. I pick up the pebble I prepared in advance. DD My second trump card. A Magic Circle and my name is written on it. I threw a pebble at a bunch of bones. At the same time, I hit my own body with my right fist and put a character stamp on myself. DD CLOSE ! My body is sucked into the thrown pebbles. This is called, Self-sealing. The old man said to me that self-sealing is a high-level Sealing Technique. But he didnt say its difficult to seal. He said its difficult to unseal after Self-Sealing. Perhaps I cant release it on my own once I sealed myself. I heard from Shura that when she was being sealed, she didnt remember anything. When she was being sealed, she was unconscious. If thats the case I cant release myself. Well, when my skill becomes better in the future, I might be able to release on my own, but I cant do it now. But, the only way to break the seal is not only that. If the vessel destroyed, the content will be released. Im sure the pebbles will be crushed with his attack and Ill be able to release myself. Anyway, Im being sucked by the pebble and sealed inside. DD When I regained consciousness, I was in the smoke. There is a time that for about 0.8 seconds until the pebble is destroyed and the contents comes out. I think thats just enough time for his attack to finished. And now, as expected, Im naked Anyway, I pick up a piece of bone and draw a Magic Circle with my own blood. And I carve his name on it. I won. I won! Finally, I killed the sealer!!! I can hear a fools voice. I kick the ground barefoot and jump out of the smoke. Look Look! This is my DD He notices me and looks back. My Red Mana has already run out. But at this distanceDD DDMy fist reaches. Marked My left fist hit his right cheek. The character stamp emerges. The piece of bone in my hand glows blue. DDIt was long. These ten steps were really long The {Corpse Emperor}, Reyes Rou Ampleur Sealerrrrrrrrrrrr!!!!!!! Ill give You Fucking Demon, a lifetime imprisonment DD CLOSE . A vortex emanates from a piece of bone and swallows him. Once it is established, it cannot be resisted. Dont fuck with me! Ill never, forgive you! Sealerrrrr!!!! The {Corpse Emperor} could not resist and finally sealed in a piece of bone. Huuhh, Im really tired I grab a piece of bone that glowing red and lay my body on the ground. Old man, as someone who is still inexperienced I did a good job, right? The threats are gone, and peace comes to . This is the end of the battle with the {Corpse Emperor} Reyes Rou Ampleur. C The battle is over. For the time being, I put on the pants worn by the {Corpse Emperor} and head towards the most seriously injured Carrs. ButDD Wha-?! My knees fall off. Oh right, I forgot. Im also at the limit. I put the bone that I used to seal him in my pocket. The situation is still quite bad. I dont feel like I can move from here. Isnt it the end if even one monster comes here? The lion spear, , and are scattered on the ground. At the time of self-sealing, all of it was left behind by me, and the vessel broke and popped out. Its quite troublesome after self-sealing, huh? .huh?! Are you for real! I see a shadow. A shadow of a creature with wings. Looking up, a dragon come down from the sky. A black dragon with pure white eyes and a distorted aura. I can instantly know that its not an ally. The Mana released from its whole body was higher than that of the {Corpse Emperor}. The dragon comes down right in front of me, creating wind pressure with its wings. Oi, OiI come to pick up the {Corpse Emperor}, but what happened to that bastard? A black dragon. However, the truly dangerous one is on its back. It jumps off the back of the dragon. While holding the black mountain hat on his head. A tall man with long white hair. He is wearing a long black coat. He had something in the shape of a cylinder on his waist that I had never seen before. The man looks at me. I recognize his face. DDDD So, this is what people feel when theyre at a loss for words? The mans face has wrinkles, and at a glance, it looks calm. DDBoy, whats your name? Its a face that I knew. DD Youre getting better at massaging, huh. Its a face that shouldnt be there. Because, I know, surely a month agoDD! Old man?! Haah? Who the fuck are You? CH 30 30. Golden light His hair color, facial features, and height are the same. But only the color of the eyes is different. Its not a blue eye and a silver eye, but purple in both eyes. And, hes just a little younger? Wait, as expected, this guy, isnt he that Old Man? Old Man? Who do you mean by Old Man? DD Ah, maybe youre mistaken me for my big brother? Elder brother? No way You are, Old ManDDBalha Zettas bro ! AinDDI mean. Barha Zetta is my big brother. He is Old Mans younger brother. Hes very similar. Similar, but the air emitting from him is totally different. Its a rough and distorted air. A dirty air, like a rat lurking in the back alley. By the way, my big brother and I have the worst relationship. Just because you know my big brother doesnt mean youre on my side. Rather, youre my enemy. After all, I am, a . Old Mans younger brother is a ?! DDA human who eats monsters and takes in miasma! Ah, speaking of which, when Old Man was talking about , he had a bitter face. Is that because his younger brother is a ? Now I have a question, boy. Whats your relationship with my big brother? Old Mans younger brother take the silver cylindrical object and made a clicking sound. This thing is called a gun. When I put my strength into the trigger, a lump of Mana will come out from this hole. In the situation, its like I have a knife at your throat right now. Gun. He turns the holed part of the so-called weapon toward me. I am Should I be honest? No, its highly likely that he hates Sealers like the {Corpse Emperor}. If he find out that Im a sealer, I can be killed right away. But, what should I say then I cant even think of a good lie. Acquaintances? Friend? Family? I feel that the result does not change even if lie. I am a disciple of Barha Zetta Hearing my answer, he puts down the weapon called a gun and smiles, Seriously. His smile is warm and gentle like Old Mans smile. His disciple?! Hihihi! Interesting!!! Never did I thought he would have a disciple! Well, well, the world keeps revolving and no one can guess what might happen to you in the future, hah!!! A in front of me holds his belly and laughs like a human. Unlike DD the {Corpse Emperor}, no one cant tell that the person in front of me is a unless he says it himself. Then! Are you a Sealer?! No way! Dont tell me Did you seal the {Corpse Emepor}, that bastard?! He comes to my side. Im vigilant, but I dont have enough strength left to even hold my fist. The approaching s right hand, Im afraid of what he will do, but then he strokes my head. Arent you amazing?!! I dont think you could seal that bastard at this age! Although that bastard is quite weak, that guy is one of the pinnacles of the demons DD But, hmm. He touches my chest. Youre so thin are you eating properly? Seriously, young people these days eat only vegetables. Listen this well, you must eat meat and vegetables in a well-balanced manner, okay? Bastard dont touch me! I swing my right arm. He steps back a little and puts his hand on his waist. Alright, let me give you a reward! He thrusts his right hand into the pocket of his long pants and takes out a round object wrapped in a bag. And he extends his right hand in front of me. Its a candy. Its called a Water Caramel that I got from an ice-bound region. its insanely sweet but insanely bitter. I recommend it. I silently receive the candy with my right hand. Well, Ill throw it away later. However, this guy is planning something for sure. Still, I feel uncomfortable be because he looks like that Old Man. Now, should we go with the main subject? So, I can kill you now. I can also kill all of Your friends. What do you think you should offer to prevent it? Bastard, hes testing me. I know there is only one option. DD In exchange for the vessels with the {Corpse Emperor}s body, we have our safety guaranteed. Thats right. From my pocket, I pick up a piece of bone DD the thing that I used to seal the {Corpse Emperor} and show it to him. The {Corpse Emperor} is sealed here. Now let us go. DD Minus 1 point for you. He receives the bone from me and laughs. You see, its a bad idea to show what you have first in a negotiation. First, you need to ensure your own conditions. This is absolute. What would you do if I tried to kill you after I received this? Bastard ! Dont worry. Im kind, so I wont kill everyone. But, be careful when we meet again. He turns his back to me and walks toward the black dragon. I feel relieved and stroke my chest. It seems that he decided to overlook us. Its a bit of a pain to let go of the {Corpse Emperor} that I had been so hard to seal, but now, my top priority is to get him out of this island. Minus 1 more point Hey, novice sealer. You often heard that you will never the lessons you get without pain, right? He stops. What do you mean? Im going to hurt you for this one deduction. He turns only his face toward me, with a vile smile DD a monster-like smile. Ill kill one of your friends. Hmm maybe that blonde woman lying down over there? DDDD!?!? Oi, OI ! At this point, I finally realized one thing. That the man in front of me is unquestionably a demon. Hahhahhah! As expected, Im kind. With this, you will never forget this days failure Stop, stop! He passes the black dragon and heads toward Ash, who is lying on the ground. I gather all the power in my body. I managed to get up. But, I feel dizzy. I cant move even one step. Still, still DD Stop, stop, You Bastard! Im doing this for you, you know. Dont stare at me, youll hurt my feeling, you know. I cant reach him. On the contrary, he keeps moving away. The power that I just mustered up is gone from my right knee. Still, I try to reach out even though only one of my leg that can move. DD I see..Then, after we solve the taste-sealing curse and the lets come to this store again. At that time, itll be three people. I promised her. That Ill break her curse and we will eat a meat pie together. Dont fuck with me! Her life worth a lot more than your boring lessons..! Dont DD My feet slip and I lie my face down on the ground. While licking the ground, I raise my face and stare at the in front of me. Move He holds his weapon and turns it to the sleeping Ash. DD At the same time, I feel like something broke in my head. Dont make another step from thereDD Dont Moveeeeeeeeee!!!!!! Suddenly, a golden light burst in my sight. Authors note: A human who keeps eating monster will become this A monster who keeps eating human will become this A stronger version of and , extremely powerful. [TN: other than Ill also use the terms , its the same just one in Japanese and one in English] For , therere two types. If -> , their title will be Weapon Name + Emperor. If -> , their title will be Some word that have any relation with monster + Emperor. CH 31 31. The Cause of Calamity A golden light emerges from the ground. The light condenses in the form of a chain, it stretches toward the demon. The number of chains is 4. Each of it, approach the from different angle. DDDD!? What?! The four chains pierce the from behind. There are no scratches on the s body. However, since he is being chained, he cant move, not even one step. this is What is that golden chain? It extends from the ground where Im lying down. Did I put it out? I dont know, I dont know but, as long as I can stop that Bastard, I dont care! I raise my right knee and get up. Then point the index finger of my right hand at the , while trembling and squeezing all the strength I have left. This is anORDER. You Bastard, dont you even dare to move, not even one finger! OioiOioioioioioioioi!!! What just happened, I really cant move at all! The power that I suddenly can feel. Its like a miracle, if I were late even a few second Ash would be killed already. However, manipulating unknown power is not an easy task. There is a little Blue Mana left on my body, its been released rapidly since the light came out, as if theres a hole in the pouch for my Mana. Urgh?! SNAP! the chains were destroyed. It doesnt feel like it was destroyed by the , It looks like it has been destroyed by itself. It seems that the Blue Mana left on my body has run out and can no longer maintain its shape. If the Blue Mana runs out, Magician will be useless. This time, every Mana I have is exhausted. The , Old Mans younger brother, cracks his neck and points his toes at me. His face, even though he is laughing, he looks a bit nervous. I can see a drop of sweat spill from his forehead after all. Boy, You, what did In the middle of his talk, he suddenly looks up at the sky. O, the playful wind, carry the thunder and make a cage I heard the voice of a man I had heard somewhere from the sky. Raich Sekkan [TN: literal meaning is, Thunder Pillars of Punishment, If I were to name it in English, Thunder Cage] The sound of a cutting wind Something is falling from above. I move my neck muscles and manage to look at the skyC A bard I met at that day is falling with a myriad of thunder spears. Hahah! This is bad!!! The jumps on the black dragon. The black dragon moves backward at a speed that is not noticeable to the eyes and knocks down the trees. Innumerable pillars of thunder are created in the place where the black dragon and the were. A man in a worn-out long coat stands in the center of the pillars of thunder. Rough beard, unkempt gray hair. Yeah, no doubt.. Sonata, Campbell Sonata turns his back to me and sends only his eyes. Yo`, President. Are you okay? I came to help. Who is the President Sorry President. The reunion recital will be postponed. The riding the black dragon, And Sonata Campbell faces each other. DDThe air is different from before. A tingling and tense air. I can feel that they will never miss the movement of each other even if its just one finger. Hoho. So you are the one they called, Sonata Campbell one of the Natural enemies huh? YOU and ALDOPHOS too, why you both like to disturb us, the Its our job to harass you guys. Well, were the same then? Dealing with You right now is a little bit troublesome. Ill back down for now. My purpose was fulfilled after all. The makes the dragon fly into the sky. Novice sealer! Im sorry, but I cant give my true name to you, a Sealer! You could call me, {Gun Emperor}, remember it okay?! Lets drink tea when we meet next timeDDsee ya! The black dragon flies high in the sky. Sonata gazes at the black dragon and calls me President without looking at me. You know, If I take it seriously, I could make a Thunder Dragon that could swallow that big Dragon. DDIs it true? Yeah. Believe me! Sonata turns his straight gaze at me for a moment. I believe in Sonatas eyes. Considering the tricks he did so far, Im sure he can do it too. Well, if its you, Im sure you can do it. DDAlright, Lets do this! Sonatas tongue glows, Green colorDD the Mana of Creation spring up from it. Come out Thunder Dragon!!! The Green Mana turned into blue thunder all at once, imitating the appearance of a dragon. Wow! That black dragonDD no, even the {Troll} that was under {Corpse Emperor} can be swallowed by it. its so big. The thunder dragon follows the black dragon. Its speed is that of thunder, and in a blink of an eye it caught the black dragon and {Gun Emperor}. DDBLINK! The thunder dragon scattered without exploding. A weapon called a gun possessed by the {Gun Emperor}, emitting smoke from its tip. That man probably erased the thunder dragon by some means. Sonata and {Gun Emperor} finally look at each other again. Ill kill you when I meet you next time. Perhaps they both are thinking about that. I mean, they have that kind of eye after all. Once I confirmed that the enemy had left, I relax my body. President? My field of vision become dark. It seems that something has run out due to the arrival of Sonata. Perhaps its a thread of tension? Ah, not good. My consciousnessDD On the back of the black dragon and the sea near it . A black dragon was flying over it. An old man was on its back. Oi, wake up, {Corpse Emperor} bastard. The Old ManDD {Gun Emperor} squeezed a piece of bone. Then, a naked man whose half body was skeleton appeared from the bone. The king of the corpse, the {Corpse Emperor}. Where is this?! The {Corpse Emperor} looked around and saw the {Gun Emperor} who was standing beside him. {Gun Emperor}! Did you release me?! Well yeah, be grateful. I came all the way to this place to pick you up. There must have been a Sealer who sealed me! Dont tell me, you killed him?! The {Gun Emperor} bent his eyebrows, Hmm? {Gun Emperor} thought that {Corpse Emperor} would say the exact opposite word, I think I killed him properly. or something like that. I will kill him! I will definitely kill him! Dont touch him!!! Hahhahhah! That attitude of yours, I dont hate it. Im not going to lay a hand on him. Its not the time to kill him yet. When the time come, sure it will be interesting. Hmm, you know it well. That Sealer has a lot of potential. Im going to have a long relationship with him. Your Corpse Manipulation Technique cannot make the corpses exceed their ability when they were still alive. So, its a waste to kill him now and use him as your pawn. The {Corpse Emperor} rushed to make a bone throne and sat naked. As expected, when there is a sense of tension in the battle. Im excited. Im really excited! Fighting him will never get boring! Even though hes weak, he try his best, and use a wide variety of attacks and traps while holding his breath! That kind of struggling cant be done by a corpse. Only living people can do it. Even though you lost, youre not afraid of him at all. I havent lost! I calculated that you would come and release me! This time, its a draw! You, are really interesting! Youre the incarnation of positive thinking. The {Corpse Emperor}s expression returned to normal, and he put his chin in his hands. So why did you help me? Even though theres no bond between all of . From now on, I hope for us to act as a group. You see, times keep changing. Answer the question. Im collecting all of the over the world right now. I think there are roughly ten. And my goal is Ten Demons of Calamity. You have the perfect ability and skill as one of them. Hmmph! What is your real purpose? If its a boring wish, I wont join hands! Well, just look forwards to it. Oh right, I also prepared a present (corpse) for you. Who? Its not a , but Im going to have him work as a part of the calamity. A disaster that happened five years ago, The Collapse of Nisilipi. The person who got caught up in that disaster, I managed to recover the dead mans corpse The {Gun Emperor} laughed, Hihihi! Who? Hes the blonde guy that you had known very well. Hes the same as Barha, Adolphos, and Sonata. The man who was counted as Natural Enemies. DD?! No way! Thats right, its as the one you think right now. Its not too far for us, the , to ruler over the worldDDhihihi! The black dragon accelerated in a blink of an eye and flied hundreds of kilometers. Crossed the blue sea and crossed the sky of the red sea. The cause of calamity were gathering. The story about The Collapse of Nisilipi will be in the side story (14 chapters). The side story would also serve as a backstory of one important character. I plan to translate it after act 1 is over, or after arc 2 is over. Also, here is the detail of Shura and Ash character design. CH 32 32. Dream When I woke up, the sun was setting and sky was dark. A little chilly wind strokes my cheeks. On my back, theres a pile of straw, its soft. The cloak is hanging instead of the mattress. My clothes have been changed into the spare ones I had in my bag. Theres the sound of a bonfire, also the voices of friends. Shura, Carrs, Ignacio, Frederica, and Sonata. Based on the smell of the tress, Its still on Seadust Island. Wait, the ground is rough Oh, is this the sandy beach area? I guess, its where the ship landed. I raise my upper body and scratch my unkempt hair. Are you awake? Sonata Campbell brought me soup in a wooden plate. I receive the wooden plate. In the white soup, nuts and fruits found on this island are floating. You see, there is a turtle that grows coconut from its shell in here. This soup was made by boiling the coconut juice. I scoop the white liquid with a spoon and bring it to my mouth. Its a little sweet, and I can feel strength regaining in my body right after I drank. Also, the fruits are delicious. Sonata sat on a chair on the rock beside me. Did you know that this island is dangerous? The {Corpse Emperor}DDthe coffin that sealed It was under the control of the Knights, but it was stolen. I managed to hunt down the thief, but at the last minute it was thrown into the sea. After capturing the thief, I searched the sea but couldnt find it. In conclusion, it might drift to some island, and this island was one of the candidate areas. Well, although theres corpse inside of it, the actual total weight is the equivalent of just one casket without anything sealed inside. Its not strange that the coffin easily washed away by the ocean current. Why did you go when the coffin supposedly managed by the Knights? Because I am the captain of the KnightsDDAh! Its one rank below the knight commander, and other than me, there are only two more captains. Knights huh, thats so unlike you. What happened to the bard? My main job is a bard! My second job is the Knights! Normally, its opposite though I drink the last bit of the soup and its gone. So, why did the Knight Captain go to <>? Well, I can guess the reason, but I went to to find out the location of the coffin. You see, the candidates for the drifting area of ??the coffin were over 10, so I need to move around too. And you wanted to rely on the old man huh? Well, I thought that the person who sealed it might know the location of the item he sealed. At that time, if I had heard from you that he had died when I met you, I would have been able to sort the situation better. Huft, Failure Failure How did you get here? By a ship. I heard that a search team recklessly departed. So I hurriedly chased. And when I came, I saw the black dragon came down, so I rushed while thinking I was correct. Sonata points along the coast. There was a small ship floating there. The helmsman is waiting in that ship. Ill take you guys with me tomorrow. The destination is Mother Punk. The next day huh, its one day was behind schedule. Well, its not like were in short of time. The shadow of the moon is floating on the horizon. Carrs and Ignacio are arguing with each other around the bonfire. Shura and Frederica watch over it while being amazed. What a pleasant atmosphere Thats the scenery you protected. But that calamityDD the {Corpse Emperor}, he got away. Its enough to repel. You may not know, but that {Corpse Emperor} is a really evil creature. To the level at which the country will do everything in its power to subdue it. Even though its in weakened state, its amazing that youre able to repel that. Somehow, I knew it That hes far more vicious than I could imagine. Thats why I regret missing it. You are really a good unexpected variable. Youre praising me too much. Im not that good, Im just lucky this time. Seriously, I hate being over-praised rather than being seen as a lowly being, so please stop it. My body seems to have healed. I touch my body. My mana has not been fully recovered, but the wound seems to have healed. I should go. This kind of time is precious for you. I stand up and walk towards my companion. Oh! General! You awake now?! Seal! Im glad that youre safe! It seems I worried you guys Im glad that all of you safe too. Carrs and Ignacio look happy while grabbing my chest. Shura turned away sticking out her lips, Hmmph. Frederica bowed saying, Thank you for your hard work. I sit down on the driftwood that Frederica uses instead of a chair. Carrs and Ignacio are on the other side of the bonfire, and Frederica is on the left, one step away from me. On the right side is Shura sitting on the sand. Alright! Now that weve all got together, lets compare our dreams here right now! Carrs proposed so and stood up. Hah, whats wrong with you? Lets announce our dreams one after another and compete to see who has the biggest dream. To be the one who proposed the idea, you must have a big dream, right? Of course! My dream is to be the Guild Chief! Eventually, the guilds will be an organization that surpasses the Knights! Guild Chief Simply put, is it the top position in the guild? And after I launched my guild, I want you to join me. Well, apart from Frederica, who is already in another guild. Igna-chan is also welcome. No, thank you! I dont want too Please put me on the reserve list for the time being Oi oi oi, you guys so cold. Well, I dont know much about guilds. I dont even know how great being in the top of it means. But with so much confidence in proclaiming that my dream is the best, the Guild Chief must be awesome. Frederica, a member of a guild, has a face saying, Are you serious? Unfortunately, my dream is bigger than you, Kiddo General. Hoo, are you going to compete with me for real? Igna-chan Of course! My dream is to be a Knight Commander! The top of the Empires Knights! Knight Commander huh Its an amazing goal. Even me could understand how amazing it is. The total number of knights should be a lot. There were dozens of people even in the . The top cannot be light. Even Frederica, who probably knows the common sense of the world, has the face saying Are you serious? for the second time. I see. Well, its natural that Igna-chan and I were incompatible. Im sure the Knights and Guilds relationship are like water and oil. The two who are aiming for the top of each side might be incompatible from the root. Both are ridiculous dreams. Ignacio squinted at Shuras sighing remarks. Does Shura have any dreams? I dont know if it can be count as a dream, but if I were to mention it, its to get rid of my Curse. To solve her Curse huh Im sure its a big dream. When I see the reaction Carrs, Ignacio and Frederica. Everyone has the face saying. Are you for real? Yep, without a doubt. Its a big dream There is a guy who has already become a Guild Chief and a Knight Commander. But theres no one who has ever solve someone curse. H-how about you two? Frederica, what are your dream? Carrs shifted the talk to Frederica. Probably because he thought that his dream cant be compared to Shuras. I guess, reconstruction of my guild for the time being? We lost too much in this incident As far as I know, eight people were dead. Besides, I will have to look for the mastermind behind this matter, and is Frederica in the most troublesome situation? What about you, Seal?, Shura asks. Shura has a light curiosity in her eyes. The others are also look curious. Are you so interested? What is my dream? Dream huh Lets think about it. Going around the world A first-class magician Delivering a letter Nope DD DDYou are still incompetent. Therefore, Ill give only half the name. Yeah, thats right, for the time being I want to be Barha Zetta When I said that, everyone had poker faces. What do you mean? I mean, to be a full-fledged Sealer I dont know how to be recognized as a full-fledged Sealer. However, I understand one of the conditions for becoming a full-fledged Sealer. Thats Life notes. Ill have to have the experience a lot of things enough to fill that one book. Isnt it out of my reach? No, Im sure I will be there someday. Its only been a few days since I left the prison, but now I can see this kind of scenery. The sea at night looks so mystical, and the flames that illuminate the beach feels warm. For the first time in my life, I made four friends around the same age as me. No, if I add ash, itll be five persons. Carrs and Ignacio, sleepy Shura, and Frederica who laughing quietly. DDI could never get tired of this scenery. What a bunch of strange and ridiculous peoples. Frederica says. Knight Commander, Guild Chief, and solving curse none of this is a normal dream. Yeah, theyre a bunch of ridiculous guys, but you wont get bored with them. Fufufu, thats right Haaa, its a nice atmosphere. Seal-san, Thank you very much. What would have happened if you hadnt helped Frederica is really like a young lady. She has an aura that telling people to stay away from her. But, Her body looks so fluffy and has a strange warm feeling as if she hugged me. Is this what you call as, motherhood? The sea at night is so magical, and it somehow creates an air that makes you feel like it. My dream is to be the best singer in the world! DDThe pleasant feeling that start to pile up on me instantly destroyed by some old man. Old man, dont intervene in young people talking about dreams. Oi, oi, Im still 28! Im still, in a range of young people! Anyway, isnt your dream to be the Knight Commander? I mean, youre just one rank below already. Knight Captain?! Ignacio screamed. Ignacio rushes to the front of Sonata, puts her heels together, and puts her hand on her chest. A, are you really the Knight Captain?! Yeah, thats right. Though, my main job is a bard. Im Ignacio Rosso! I havent joined the Knights yet, but when I join the Knights, I will dedicate myself to the citizens DD Ah, its okay to be not so formal. So, youre Igna-chan Ill remember your name. When you get to the Capital City, give my name. Im a popular person, so you should be given preferential treatment. Yes! Thank you very much! Wow, the tension is transmitted until here. Will Ignacio become a subordinate of Sonata from now on? I felt that it theyre absolutely incompatible in a sense. But, as expected, Ignacio didnt say Dont interrupt me! to her future superiors. Alright! Its time for the main event! Let me sing a song!!!! Urgh! I and Shura repeat the same voices. Oh! Its time to party! Yeah! I-I definitely want to hear your song! Sounds good. I also like singing DDwhats wrong? Seal-san, Shura-san Frederica stopped me and Shura from trying to leave. No we are a little busy, right? Y-yeah. we have something to talk about the future we need to go first. I and Shura leave the coast before the sonata begins to sing a song. Shortly after, a scream was heard from a distance. CH 33 33. The spoils of battle I and Shura stand side by side on the shore. Seeing the vast sea in front of us. In the end, therere really no merit going here Ive only seen the Mana Sealing Talisman. Other than that, there is not much harvest. I think thats not the case? If you think you could make a good relationship with the future Knight Commander and the Guild Chief, you got more than you think. Oho, it didnt seem like a bad experience for Shura. She seemed to be in a good mood. I was quite surprised. I thought she would say, Right, its really useless! or at least got a little angry. One more thing. This. Its a loot Shura took out two beads from her inflated pocket. It was red and green alchemy stone. The red bead was taken from Trolls corpse, and the green one was taken from Orobass corpse. Ill give you both of them. Hmm? Are you sure? You guys defeated them. Everyone made this decision. Youre the one who fought the strongest guy. Im not interested in anything other than white alchemy stones. I receive two alchemy stones from Shura. So, alchemy stones can be obtained from monsters huh. And if you give this to an alchemist, it can be made into Magic Item. Yeah. One of the Twenty-two Cities ruled by the EmperorDD , there must be an alchemist there. I see a new weapon huh? I should not think too much about it. Maybe a shield or sword? Bow also not bad either. Youre not that strong, right? Shura, turned her back on me, and with her hands on her back she asked me in a mysterious voice. Whats with you? Suddenly say something terrible But you give a strange sense of security. I mean, somehow I feel like you could be relied on Thats my line. Im really counting on you and your sister. You really saved me when I was attacked by that horde of monsters. Unexpectedly, we may be a good duo. Its not a duo, its a trio, right? There is also Ash. Shura sighed. Hmm? Did I say something strange? Well Good night, Seal. For some reason, Shura returns to the beach. What a strange girl. After viewing the sea for a little bit longer, I leave. - When I woke up early in the morning, I could feel the sun had burned my skin. Its hot I got up before burning my skin even more. I stretch my back and look out over the sandy beach. I see that the other guys are sleeping wherever they like. Cars, Ignacio, and Frederica looks like they fainted more than sleeping. Then, I notice that there is one less person. That man. The one in tattered clothes. Hes not there. Well, if its him, Im sure he was awake all the time, saying, Leave the lookout to me` after defeating those three with his song. Hmm? A letter with the words To Seal was placed on a rock on the sandy beach right there. I step on the hot sand, pick up the letter and check the contents. [Im sorry, I have something urgent to do, Ill leave first, kay. I need to use the ship, so make your own ship.] Huh!? [Ill handle the aftermath of this incident, so you should continue your journey without worrying about it. Oh yeah, if you have any problems at , you could rely on the knight called Pearl. He is also a Knight Captain, and he is very reliable! Then, when we meet next time, Ill sing a special song foDD ] I read only until that far and tear the letter. Pearl.. DDI envy you. Do your best, boy. If Im not mistaken, one of the four people who visited that Old Man in the prison had such a name. Is it the same person? Im sure he was dressed like a knight. Wait, more than that, the ship! That bastardDDIf you have something urgent to do, you should at least take us with you! Then drop us in somewhere near the city! Ill punch him next time we meet. I make such decisions and wake up the others. CH 34 34. The encounter in the Spring Town A person is busily tying logs with strings and push it to the sea. Yes, that person is Shura. When she sees it floating she proudly says, Its a ship! No, its impossible. How far do you think we are, from here to the ? Ive a plan! Ill keep strengthening the ship with Red Mana, and youll keep rowing all the way. And Frederica will manipulate the water stream to accelerate the ship! DDYes, its perfect, a perfect plan! Hearing Shuras plan, Frederica says Ermm, the Knights will come to this island someday, right? Until then, why dont we just sit still? I cant stand just standing still for too long. While swelling her cheeks like a child, Shura shakes her head. Carrs and Ignacio nod to Shuras opinion. Me too! Me too! Oi, stop acting like kids Well, I dont like doing nothing for too long either. Shuras plan is not that bad. Worst case itll sink in the sea, but even if that were to happens, we could do something with Fredericas magic. That I dont have magic that can save everyone How about two people? Carrs and Ignacio, if you can manage to do something with them, I and Shura can strengthen our bodies with Red Mana and swim somewhere to the nearby land. Ermm I think if its just three people, including myself, Ill be able to do something about it. I pick up the drawstring bag that I left on the ground. I just remember about the important thing that I had left in the drawstring bag. Wait, its not good if the letter from that Old Man gets wet! Ah! What if I put coating on it? I can use my magic to make something like an armor that repels water for a certain period of time. If you have any valuables items that you dont want to get wet, please take them out. Hearing so, I have my talismans and the letter coated. Frederica, what a useful magician! As expected of someone belong to Seaside Rulers, shes very strong in the sea. Shura at the front, right behind her is Carrs, Im at the middle, right behind me is Ignacio, and lastly, Frederica at the end. With this arrangement we got on a shipDDor rather a raft. Everyone got on! Ready! Full engine! Go! Okay! With Fredericas magic the raft begins to accelerate. Splashes coming out behind the raft. It creates a speed that surpassed even a normal ship at once. Splashing water droplets wet everyone faces, turning hot wind into cold wind. Wooohoo!! This is amazing! The monsters in the sea couldnt react and just saw us off. Woaaahhh!? Hahahahaha! Interesting! Kyaaaaaaa!!! Carrs and Ignacio screamed. Next! Accelerator! Full Speed! I strengthen the oar and my body with Red Mana. Aye! I move my shoulders and raise a bigger splash to accelerate. Fast, too fast. If this is the case, well arrive at in no time. The most important person in this operation is Shura. This fragile raft needs her Red Mana. At this speed, a raft like this would have sink in no time. Yes, this plan will fail if Shura were to disappear. DDAnd not long after, I notice the sun. Shura I found a serious flaw in this operation. What a coincidence. Me too. Shura replaced Ash before making the raft. So, the time she spent in the sun from making the raft until now There isnt much time left? DDCarrs! Cover Shura Now! Oi, oi, General, what the hell! Just do it! Fast! Cover Her! I dont really get it, but leave it to me! Carrs spread his arms to cover Shura. Alright, with Carrs covering herDD W-What are you doing! Shura kicks right on Carrs face. Carrs flew in the air and landed between me and Ignacio. Noooo! Anything is fine, just cover Shura with somethDD BOOOM!! White smokes are coming out from Shura. The brown-haired girl disappears and a blonde girl appears. Ash, she waves at me while wearing clothes that doesnt fit her. Morning` Morni No, its not the time for that! Frederica, stop the magic!!! Frederica doesnt understand the situation. And she stills using her magic. The ship that lost the support could not withstand the acceleration as a matter of course, it breaks in no time. But, because of the speed, were being thrown into the vast sky. Woaaaahhhh!!? Aaaaaaaaahhhh!!!? Kyaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!? Fortunately, Carrs and Ignacio are flying in the sky near Frederica. Ash is floating on the water using wind magic. I concentrate on my own survival. I strengthen my body with Red Mana. A slap-like pain ran on my back. Damn! The flow is strong!!! I cant do anything with physical strength alone in the strong streams. In a desperate situation, high waves were approaching Ooo this is really bad DD In an instant, blue and black dominated my field of vision. Waaah!? After being swept away by the waves, I swam with all my strength and managed to get to the shore. When I was swallowed by the waves and raised my face, no one was around. So, Im alone now. I raise my both hands and grab the soil. I put my strength on both arms and raise my upper body to the land. A salty taste still remained in my mouth. My clothes are wet and heavy. Shit I cant see my bag anywhere. Did I lost it when I were washed away? I need to look for itDD nah, its impossible. I dont even know where the raft sank. Im sure my talismans and the letters are still in that bag Lets hope someone I know is picking it up. I raise my whole body from the sea, and kneel. I can see the harbor in the distance. It doesnt seem like this is the place to land. Where where is thDD? I look up. The sky is not there. To be exact, the sky is blocked. Covering the sky isDD pink color. Looking ahead, I can see a city. And there is a huge big tree in the center of the city, A cherry blossom tree. The branches and flowers of the tree are spreading out like a roof. My instinct tells me that this is the place. The Everlasting Spring Town, ! The dirt road soon stops at a cobblestone paved road. A dog-faced warrior, a pig-faced merchant, a woman with a horse in the lower body and a boy with horns. A wide variety of races are bustling the city. Its my first time seeing a Beastman. Haha, it looks like Im in a fairy tale world. The peoples nearby are looking at me with a frightened face. Well, if theres someone who sits on the ground and laughs in the water, of course Ill have that kind of face too. They saw me for a while and then left as if they didnt want to get involved in something troublesome. Only one only one person stepped in front of me. You are you okay? A white long hair. Light blue eyes. A white dress with no pattern and a straw hat. Its a common outfit that I feel like Ive seen it somewhere. A girl with a dignified beauty is standing in front of me. That beauty, even I who couldnt draw a picture, still want to somehow keep it on the canvas before its gone from my memory that transient beauty You are.. For some reason- I can feel a nostalgic atmosphere from her CH 35 35. The Town circling a Cherry Blossom Tree. Mother Punk Being swept away by the sea, I arrived at the Everlasting Spring Town. There, I met a girl who had a clear skin and shimmering, gorgeous long silver hair. Is she as tall as Ash? Maybe a little taller? Suddenly, a fluffy scent of detergent pierces my nose even though she is standing a few steps away. I lost my word for a moment. I, was stunned by her beauty. Im being swallowed by the atmosphere. What is this feeling? I think I felt it once before. Youre soaked The silver-haired girl bends her body a little and looks at me, whore still lying on the ground. The girl Illustration Did you just go swimming in the sea with clothes like that? Of course, no. The ship I was on, it sank. Ive swam all the way here Actually, its a raft. Eh!? It must be hard on you what about the other peoples on board with you? are they okay? Well, I think so. Maybe. I see. Do you have a change of clothes? I drop my shoulders and shake my head. Well then, wanna, come to my place? I also have mens clothes. .. No? The girl looks into my face with a slightly uneasy look. How should I put it hmm, is it okay to bring a stranger to your home? Hmm Im the only one in my house right now, so its okay! There is plenty of space! Usually, isnt it more dangerous? And I cant leave anyone in trouble alone. My grandfather often said, If anyone is in trouble, you should try to help. Still, be a little cautious please. This is the first time I see a girl who is so defenseless in her first meeting with a stranger. Perhaps theres something behind her actions? What if I follow her, but shes actually a thief? And when I reached her house, her friends will ambush and attack me? Ehehe If shes really setting up a honey trap, she probably be wearing a bit more erotic clothes. Well, its bad for me who doesnt know about this town in any way, to wander around alone. So Ill accept your kindness then. I decided to follow the silver-haired girl to her house. C Right now, among five peoples I passed by, one people is a beastman. The number of normal human increases toward the center of the town. Its an unfamiliar sight Beastmans Its my first time seeing them. I see, did you come from the countryside? I dont think beastmans is such unusual beings. Well, its somewhat an exclusive town rather than a countryside. This town, , has trees and rivers all over the place. This seems to be a measure to prevent the cherry blossom tree in the center from dying. The silver-haired girl told me that the river carries water to the cherry blossoms and the trees suck up the water in the ground to regulate the amount of water. You see, the one that protects this town, is the cherry blossom tree in the center of the town. Thats why the town is built to protect that cherry blossom tree. So, its playing as the role of a barrier The name of the cherry blossom tree is, Asphodels. Its called as the Immortal Tree. [TN: It seems that the name is from Asphodels Flower, which is also said as an everlasting flower] Something round looks like a yellow cotton? is falling all the time I catch the yellow cotton with my right hand. The cotton quickly melted and disappeared. What is this cotton? Its pollen. In fact, the one acting as the barrier is that pollen and not the tree itself. Its like an Amulet. When it touches the monsters, their skins will melt like, SSSHHH! Ehehe. The silver-haired girl squirms her hands. So, the skin will melt huh? Even though its only affecting a monster, its kind of grotesque So, this is a town where people who allergic to pollen cant live. Thats not true, rather its the opposite. If you dissolve this pollen in Asphodels sap and drink it, you will be resistant to pollen and able to suppress the allergy for a year. With her hands folded behind her, she takes a full turn. If you put this pollen and that tree sap in a bottle, you can sell it to another town at a high price. Im actually doing that. Well, it has a side effect. Sure you might get some resistance for a year, but liquid will come out from the pores of your whole body for one whole day. Ill refrain from drinking it Chatting with the girl Illustration Anyway, this is such a unique feeling. The scenery is quiet and calm, but the shops and the peoples make it looks lively. Its comfortable its a rhythm I dont hate. I feel that the air is good too, probably because of the trees. This town revolves around a cherry blossom tree in a circle. There are stairs in the town. In other words, the more you go to the cherry blossoms, the more you go up the stairs. The cherry blossoms tree is so high that even seeing the last staircase from the lowest staircase could hurt your neck. I go up about 100 staircases toward the cherry blossoms and go around that layer. Unlike the lowest part, its really quiet. The houses are lined up. Perhaps the types of buildings are different depending how near its to the center. If the lowest part is a shopping district is this a residential area? By the way, what kind of business do you have in this town? Or maybe, your original destination is a different place? Ah, this place is my destination. And Im looking for a person in here. Who? Who is it? I know most of the people in this town, so I might be able to help. Whats the persons Name? Actually, I dont remember the name, Ive a letter with the name written on it in my bag, and I lost the bag when the ship sank. Seriously. I received the letter without confirming the name of his granddaughters name I thought that I could just confirm the name when I reached here. What a blunder. The only clues I have is that the person, is a student at the Magic Academy. Thats about it. A student of the Academy!? If only you know the name, I would be able to help I used to go to the Imperial Towns Magic Academy, and now Im studying at the Magic Academy in here You, are you a Magician? You too, right? How do you know? Because youre covering your body with a small amount of Red Mana. Well, Magicians unconsciously protects their body with a least amount of Mana. Oh, now that you mention it Im doing it completely unconscious. Anyway, its just around the corner. Wooden houses are lined up. Most of them decorated with natural objects such as flowers, trees and seashells. I can barely see any decoration made from metal. Were here The silver-haired girl stopped in front of a rustic house, a house with a wreath on the door. Freiheit is written on the nameplate. This, is my house. Its a two-story house. The silver-haired girl pulls the door open. I couldnt see the process of unlocking. Which mean its unlocked. Isnt she too careless? Ill bring you a towel now, so please wait! Alright. Thank you. The girl closed the door. I turn my back to it and sit on the ground. What should I do I put my chin in my hand. Somehow, I feel like looking up at the sky. The suns rays pass through the gaps between the flowers into the town. Its so calm I want to sleep as it is. There were so many things happened from the beginning of the adventure, maybe I should go at a slow pace from nowDD Whats wrong? Whyre you spacing out like that? Waaaa!? A soft voice came from the back of my ear, it surprised me to the point I jumped away. The girl laughed like a little devil and gave me a white towel. This town, its so calm here right`? You see, I, love this town. Thats why I often come to play. The silver-haired girl sits in front of the door and looks out over the town. I sit next to her, wiping my body with the towel. So, your real house is not this? Yeah. This is a holiday home. Grandpa built it Every year, at this time of year, I come here with my grandpa DD The girl looks somehow lonely while smiling. Then, is your grandfather gonna come to this town? This year Im alone this year. Grandpa, he is busy right now. The girl quickly regains her bright face and stands up. Lets go inside. Ill cook you some food. Youre going to cook for me? I feel like Im on the could nine. Of course, its my handmade after all! I wipe my clothes and body so that no water would drop, and go inside the house. Then, the girl gives me a mens shirt and trousers, so I go to change my clothes at the entrance and head to the living room after that. CH 36 36. Layla The girl guides me to a round dining table with two wooden chairs around it. I sit on one of the chairs. On the right, theres a sofa and a window right next to it. Beyond the window, theres a veranda overgrown with flowers and trees. On the left, theres a kitchen and the back of the girl who cheerfully moves the cooking utensils. Hm?hm?hm? With just a move of the girls finger and the frying pan is floating, the ladle is moving, and the plate is standing by in the air. She pointed her index finger up and fire is ignited right below the frying pan. Is she moving it with Wind Magic? Its amazing. I cant control my Mana as good as her Can all magicians do this much? Perhaps its just me who dont know this? Right before I open my mouth, the girl turns to me. Layla Freiheit Hmm? Its my nameCAh, Wait! Dont say your name! I want to guess it! The girl puts her index finger on her upper lip and observes my face, Hmm I dont think you can guess someones name just by observing the face. It must be Leon! Nope Allen!! Totally wrong The girl puts her right hand on her hip, Hmm Even though the girl is busy thinking about my name, the cooking utensils still moving to make the dishes. It seems she can unconsciously do difficult task like cooking. Its really amazing. Shes using Blue and Green Mana at the same time for quite a long time. Im sure its something that not every people can do. Give me a hint! It starts with Se. Sean! The girl keeps trying to guess my name, but none of them are correct even after I gave hints that were almost like answers. After a while Seal! It must be Seal! Finally, its over Correct. My full name is Seal Zetta. CRASH!! I heard a sound of a plate cracking. It seems that the plate that Layla was manipulating with Magic fell to the ground and broke. I stand up, go into the kitchen and look into Laylas face. Hey! Are you okay? There Layla is shaking her body and laughing, No way. Whats wrong? You look pale. Ah, its nothing. Seal-kun. Please wait for a bit longer, the food will be ready soon. Somehow, the girl looks upset, but for some reason she also looks confused. Yep, one wrong move, and she would explode. After waiting for a few minutes, the dishes fly in the air and line up on the table. In total, its five dishes. A curry with green vegetables. A soup with purple corn. A seafood pie. A salad. A jelly with red and blue fruits that I have never seen. Everything looks good. Just by looking it, makes me feel hungry. The girl sits across the table and spreads her hands. Enjoy? I pick the wooden spoon and put my hands together. Alright then, Itadakimasu. First, I scoop up the curry and bring it to my mouth. HMM DDI see. It seems, Im in a difficult situation now. It tastes like crap. Although its curry, its sticky and the strong taste doesnt mix well with the veggies. So, humans can stay calm even when they eat really bad food huh. Anyway, its not to the level where Ill shout, So bad!, or something like that. Looking at the front, Layla is looking at me with a face saying, How is it? Its delicious, right? No, its too early to give up. Other than curry, it may be delicious. I bring my spoon to the soup. Its a clear soup, so it must not be deeply seasoned. Yeah, this shouldnt be bad. I put it on my mouth and frown. Did you use mud or dirt? It tastes so bad. Two out of five are like this means that the others also DDWell, as a man, I cant say, its bad, now right? Its okay, Ive drank muddy water before. With my hands, I can turn this muddy water into a superb soup with just one seasoning! I reach for the seasoning in the center of the tableDD .. I look at Layla. Shes is looking at me with anxiety. And when our eyes meet, she smiles. Im sorry. Dont worry about me When someone eat my food, they always sprinkle a lot of seasonings. I-It s okay! You see, I made it a fairly strong taste this time, but its okay, you can add more Do you think I can just use it after being told something like that?!!! I withdraw my extended hand. Then, its plan b Ill put the food in my mouth and spit it out in the bathroom. Its really inhumane, but it cant be helped. ToiDD Once more, Layla is looking at me with anxiety, just because I tried to say Toilet. This is the same pattern as before DD BE A MAN! my pride just shouted at me. Alright, there is no choice but to chew as minimum as possible and pour in water afterward. I grab a spoon and bring it to the curry. I calculate how many times I need to chew just based on the feeling after the foods touch my spoon. DDRed vegetables.. chewing it three times is enough. DDGreen vegetables.. twice. DDBubble wrap rice.. once. DDPotato.. four times. Alright, a bit more! Wha! My heart sinks. Despair has come When I scoop the bottom of the curry, something white is stretching out. DDMochi. DDIts mochi. DD-Curry and mochi!!!? How many times do I need to chew? This can lead to a life-threatening situation if Im not careful. If I chew too less, it will get stuck in my throat and I may die. If I chew too many times, Ill die because of the taste. its a dead end either way. .. I brace myself and take a step to hell - After I finished eating, my stomach didnt feel heavy at all. On the contrary, I think my physical condition has improved. It seems the nutritional balance of those foods was good. But, my mental health. A lot of unfamiliar tastes still remain in my mouth Seriously, I want to praise her. How can she make all the dishes have different kind of unfamiliar taste? Its a lie I really did it! It was my first time seeing someone finished the foods I cooked! Looking at the plate I emptied, Layla looks so happy. I see her smile as I lie down on the table. Well, I guess its worth the effort? Well, I guess, its about time to go. I cant bother you more than this. I will return the clothes tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. You dont have to return the clothes. In the first place, I was thinking of throwing them away. Anyway, do you have a place to go? More or less DD If you have any problems at , you could rely on the knight called Pearl Pearl is probably that middle-aged knight who visited the Old Mans prison. Should I find that person? It would be great if I can find Shura and others on the way. Layla. Do you know a knight named, Pearl? Eh You mean uncle Pearl? It looks like you know him. Yeah! Hes my grandpas acquaintance. He pampered me since I was a child. But I think he havent returned from the Imperial City yet Ah, if Im not mistaken, he said he would be back tomorrow. Tomorrow huh Well, its okay to stay in the field without eating for about a day. Oh yeah, I used to live like that. Dont say, you plan to sleep outside today? .. Fufufu, what an easy-to-understand reaction. If you like, why dont you stay at my house today? From below, she gazes at me. Its a pure question, but why does Layla take care of me so much? Hmm, Well. If Ive to give a reason You look like the person I loved Once again I can feel loneliness behind Laylas smile. Whats that? A new pick-up line? You can think so. Then, Ill be gladly persuaded. Please, lent me one of the rooms today. I bow my head lightly. Okay.. Ah! Dont even think about crawling to my room at night! This is just me trying to help you with good intention. Its not like I, like Seal-kun or anything like that! I raise my head There, Layla is hiding her chest with both hands and staring at me. Where did you learn such words as crawling at night?.. Im so strong, you know. Im going to beat you up if you dare to. Seeing my frightened face, Layla laughs at me. Layla looks like a delicate girl who you can only found in a painting. One drop of a paint and the painting will be ruined DD Yes, shes that delicate. Hey, Seal-kun Before we meet Uncle Pearl tomorrow Hmm? What is it? Lets, have a date. Ill show you around this city. Im sure Layla is conscious about her looks. Definitely. She knows how to make gestures and facial expressions that can easily capture the hearts of men. Her cheeks are slightly crimson. The corner of her lips is pointing up. Her light blue eyes are staring into the back of my eyes. My heart is about to beat fast Dangerous, thiss dangerous Shes the type Ive never met. An enchantress A bewitching girl CH 37 37. Hateful Person Layla guides me to the back room on the second floor. There are two other rooms on the second floor, which is Laylas bedroom and toilet. A plate is hanging in the door of the room Layla guided me to, and its written Ain. There are few things in the room. One fluffy bed, one closet, one desk and one chair. There is a window on the side of the bed. I can see a streetlight from the window. It seems the sun had already set. Yeah, I better not go out anymore today. I look at the outside view from the window. The streets stretch toward the cherry blossom trees I see, the guy who built the house here has a good sense. You can see such a beautiful cherry blossom tree before going to bed. Isnt that great? Hmm? Something fluffy has fallen in the gap between the bed and the wall. I go to pick up the fluffy object. Its a doll. A plush bear. Its tattered its dusty and some of the cottons are missing. But, even if the condition is good, it looks quite ugly. Insanely thick eyebrows, hateful round eyes, and a three-shaped mouth is this what they call as ugly-cute? KNOCK!! KNOCK!! Come in The doorknob is turned and a silver long-haired girl get into the room. Its that a nightwear? Its thinner than the dress she was wearing before. Its translucent and the thighs to the bellow is bare. How is it? Is there anything you are dissatisfied with this room? No, not at all. Far from being dissatisfied, I am very satisfied. I see, thats good By the way, whats in your hand? Layla leans her head to the side and looks into my back. Ah, this? I bring the plush bear in my hand to a position where it can be seen by Layla. DDDD !? Its a really ugly bear. Some of its cottons are missing. Did you forget to throw it awaDDWhat the?!! The plush bear disappeared from my hand in an instant. Layla took it from me. Shes holding it with her face down. Sorry, this theres a reason behind this. I see My bad, did I just say something insensitive? Thats not the case. Its true that this plush bear is ugly, dirty, and not cute at all Then why do you hold it so importantly like that? Its a gift from someone an important person to you? .. Laylas expression is dark and cold. Seeing that, I know that in fact her expression now is her true face. Hey, Seal-kun. Do you have Someone you hate till die ? Layla suddenly turns her black eyes toward me. Scary What is this pressure! My instinct is screaming Escape now!. I dont have, but why? I see I have. This stuffed animal was given by that person. Then why do you still keep that kind of thing? Well, I wonder why I dont even know myself. And Layla laughs, Hihihi. Im sure, its a forced laugh. Then, Layla switches the story in a strange direction. The pigeon that I sent to Uncle Pearls house is back. It seems hell be back at the Knights Office in here around noon tomorrow. The pressure has disappeared. At the same time, Laylas face changes back to a comfortable look. Dont you say that Pearl is not in his house? So, who wrote the reply? He has a wife and a daughter. Its his wife who wrote the reply. Her name is Akane-san, Shes very good at cooking. Shes my cooking master. Her master huh? Is she really good at cooking? I mean, Laylas cooking is Well, tomorrow, should we go around in the morning, then go to the branch office in the afternoon to meet Pear? Thats right~. I bet you cant sleep later because youre looking forward to it, right? Its just a date with you. Dont worry, Ill sleep properly. Its not my first time to go on a date with someone. I drop my shoulders to emphasis that its not a big deal. Layla pouts her cheeks and leaves the room, while looking at me. After confirming that Layla is gone, I put my hand on my waist and squeeze my body. A date huh A date with a girl of that level. I guess its true that sometimes a good thing will happen in your life its good to be alive. This is bad Im starting to get a little nervous. I mean, my experience with girls so far were pretty terrible. Once, there was only one time when it reached to a date. She was one of the most beautiful women I ever saw in , I intended to escort her to the fullest Seal, you always looks so bored all the time. But she disappeared. I think I was having fun at that time. I wasnt bored. So why did she say such a thing? In the end, she left for somewhere the next day. DI need to stop thinking about this Yeah, Ill enjoy tomorrow! Yes, Layla is special. I have to say that Laylas appearance is the cutest Ive ever seeDDno, Theres Ash and that female knight, Niamh. Ah, theres also Ignacio. Regardless of their personality, those three people were also cute. Shura is too short for me, so shes out. Hmmm its hard to decide whos the most beautiful amongst the girls Ive ever met. But, there is no doubt that Layla is at the top level! Damn, I dont feel like sleeping now! This damn tension! stareeee` Suddenly, I felt a gaze on my back. I look back nervously. There, the door is still opened about three fingers and light blue eyes are looking into the room. Its a bit unlike me but my cheeks tuns a bit red. Since when ? From the point you said, A date huh. No way!? Listen to me, its not like what you think! The more upset I am, the wider Laylas smile is. Fufufu, Im also, looking forward to tomorrow. Vir-gi-n-bo-y? Layla says with a little devilish smile. CLICK! The door closed. At the same time, my pride as a man has collapsed. Seriously, from where did you learn such words I feel like a fool, but it somehow helps me to fall asleep quickly. CH 38 38. A girl with my bag Its the day for the Date. I want to go to the bathroom, so I leave the room. Outside my room, I see a set of my clothes in front of the door. Layla probably washed it for me. But just one day? Ah, it might be possible if she Magic. After returning from the bathroom, I change into my usual clothes and go out into the hallway. YAWN Haaaah I put my hand on the fence and look under the stairs. There, Layla is preparing the ingredients for breakfast. DDShit! I hurriedly go down the stairs and grab Laylas shoulder right before she pulled out the knife. Hyaa!? Seal-kun, whats wrong? La, Layla! As a thank-you for letting me stay in your place and the meal yesterday, Ill make the breakfast! Its okay you know I love cooking! So, Please leave it to me! Well, okay then? Ill leave it to you. I also want to eat your cooking, Seal-kun. I somehow managed to stop her. Anyway, I check the ingredients she has prepared. The trunk of Sweets Wood. Rainbow cabbage, a cabbage that changes color depending on the layer. The taste also different depending on the color. Vinegar made from shadow berries, a fruit that grows underground. Milk oil squeezed from olive cow that produces milk with a high oil concentration. Round red fruits. Cherry leaves. Plain bread. Short-grain rice. Wild boar chicken s meats. A fish bone that I have never seen. What were you going to make? Its omelet rice. . Wheres the egg - I boil sweets wood trunks, fruits and cherry leaves to make jam. Cut off the ears of the bread and sandwich the jam to make it sweet. And, fry the ears of bread in milk oil. I fry the wild boar chicken meat together with the rainbow cabbage and season it with shadow berry vinegar. I cook the rice normally. The fish bones? Nope. I dont know what I can use it for So, three dishes, is it a little too much for breakfast? Well Its done. I carry the plate to the table, where Layla is waiting. Layla holds a fork, stabs the meat stir fry and brings it to her mouth. I gulp as to ready myself that perhaps Layla may say, Its bad. I tasted it properly and it tasted good for me. Im quite confidence with my tongue But DDShes so proud when she served me that devastating dishes, its not strange if its just her having a peculiar taste. Yeah, its delicious! Vinegar made from shadow berries has a refreshing taste, it goes well with the meat of wild boar chicken, which tends to get stuffy. The taste of rainbow cabbage changes depending on the color, and you prepared all with different seasonings! Salt on the red leaves, sugar on the blue, and sesame oil on the green. All of it is correct If she has such an accurate tongue. Why her cooking tasted like that? After finishing the meal and getting ready to go out, we leave the house. Layla is wearing white clothes with more exposure. The shoulders are out and the chest part is open. Her skirt is short. The feminine part is properly put out, yet it looks elegant. The morning in is a little dark, probably it because the leaves of the cherry blossoms tree are blocking the sunlight. Where should we go first. Yeah, as expected, to the hot air balloon! Are we goona ride it and looking down at the cherry blossoms from above? Ding Dong! Correct! Its at the bottom, lets go! Ah! OiDD-! Layla pulls my arm, and together we head down the stairs. After paying the fee, we get on the hot air balloon. A dog-beastman, who is a Magician, uses magic to set fire and control the balloon. From far above, I can see the huge cherry tree. I couldnt help but to let out, WoahD. Its pink. Something yellow scattered from the pink leaves like a snowDDa mystical landscape. Above it is a sea of ??clouds. Looking north from , theres a valley. There are forests around it, and in the center of it, theres a tower that is tall enough to penetrate the clouds. What is it!? I lean out from the balloon and look up at the tower while feeling the gentle breeze. That valley, it doesnt have a name, but everyone calls it, Dragon Castle.. They said that sometimes a dragon comes out from there. Dragon Gun Emperor, the younger brother of the Old Man I met on . He was riding a black dragon I dont want to think that level of monster is wandering around there. The tower in the center is called, Volketurm. It seems that a hermit lives at the top! Hermit? Thats right. There lives a hermit called Monster Eater. Ive never seen it. The name is, AdoDD I forgot. DD Anyway, that hermit lives by eating dragons and slime. Rather than a hermit, isnt it ? I dont think human can live in that place. Hmmm, Seriously, you really have no dreams huh, Seal-kun. Well, but I wanna try to climbing it once Im sure the view from that top must be amazing. Seriously? Its higher than the clouds, you know? Yeah. Its going to be a good way to kill time. Looking east from the valley, theres a volcano. A city can be seen faintly in the back. A volcano and a valley, what a mess up place. That volcano is called Mt. Grueri and you can get a lot of ore there. And what you can see faintly in the back is the Imperial City, The Imperial City huh What route should I use to get to the Imperial City? Usually, people use the road between the volcano and the valley. I want to go to the Imperial City someday. Since its the place with a lot of people, his granddaughter may be there. Well, I need to gather a lot of information first. Wait If I ask that knight, Pearl, I may know where the Old Mans house is and the whereabout of his granddaughter. After this, lets eat cherry blossom ice cream! Then`, Ah! As expected, we cant miss the cherry blossom viewing before that, we need to buy a lunch box somewhereDD Layla grabs the hem of my shirt. I wonder what is this feeling Its as if Im with my girlfriend? No. my daughter? No, its still a little different. Perhaps, my granddaughter? I feel like she sees me not as the opposite sex. We get off the hot air balloon and go to the ice cream shop. I dont any money so, I ask Layla to buy me the ice cream. Its a pink-colored ice cream. I also have Layla paid for the balloon fee Im feel sorry as a man I have to return this somehow in the future. We go around the town, while licking the ice cream. Lets go there, Seal-kun! Come! Its here! Its so much fun Im really happy. I feel like Ive forgotten a lot of stuff, but for now, lets enjoy this. Seal, where do you want to go next? I bring the ice cone into my mouth and clap my hands a few times to remove the leftover. Hmm right. Would you like to sit on the bench somewhere? Lets take a break As were walking along the main road, DD Oops! Something hit my stomach. It feels like a human head. Looking down, a little brown-haired girl is burying her face in my belly. Im sorry. Are you okay? I grab the girls shoulder and separate her from my stomach. DD Ah The brown-haired girl has a face that Ive seen somewhere. She is carrying two bags, one of which look exactly like my drawstring bag. The girl squeezes the string bag and frowns at me and Layla alternately. CH 39 39. Duel Ive done it. This is the worst way to meet again. The girl holding my drawstring bag is Shura That means she was looking for me. Or else she wouldve left my bag somewhere else, like inside an inn where she stay but shes holding it while walking outside Shura is tightening her right fist. Shura and the bag Illustration Ive been looking for you since yesterday without sleeping. Not only me but, Carrs, Ignacio, Frederica too. I, see me too, I was lookiDD And yet, here you are, dating with a stranger girl. It looked fun Humm? Humm? Whyre you not saying anything? Shura looks very angry. Her face is laughing, but Im sure shes angry. Whats wrong? Layla comes forward and meets Shura. Hah? whoDD, When Layla sees Shuras face, her eyes shines and she go to hug her, KyaDD!. Hmmmp!!? Shuras face is buried in Laylas chest. Yay! This girl is so cyuutel! Who? Seal-kun! Introduce her to me! Now! Shura tries to resist by moving her legs left and right. But, Layla keeps hugging Shura not to let her escape. Urgh! This girl what theDD!?? Shura cant go away from Layla. Even if Shura was reacting late and at disadvantage, but that Shura, who has a lot of Red Mana, cant get out?! Um Layla, can you let her go? She cant continue her talk Ah, Im sorry. I totally like cute beings, so I cant help it Layla releases Shura. Shura coughs and sighs, Whatever Its getting harder to blame you. This, your bag. Shura gives me my drawstring bag back. You picked it up. Thanks, youre really a lifesaver. Say that to Ash. That girl picked it up with her Magic. Oh, by the way, I cant see anyone other than you Everyone is looking for you in another place. With all their might! Yeah, its my bad, I was wrong. Okay? Hmmph! Ill join you soon. Ah, wait. Let me check something before that. I pick up the drawstring bag and make sure the talismans are safe. The bag shouldve been wet since it was not covered with Fredericas Magic I guess Ash or Frederica had dried it yesterday. I pick up the talismans with {, and written on it, check each one for scratches, and put it back in the bag. [TN: The item inside each talisman, { = his spear, = his dagger and = his ring] It seems the sealed things are safe DDDD!!? I feel like something similar to murderous intent is emitted nearby. DD! I immediately move away from the woman on my right as my instinct tells me to do so. And Shura makes a similar move. We stand side by side and face the girl who is the source of the murderous intent. A silver-haired girl, Layla, is staring at me with her eyes not laughing at all. Lay, La DD? This girl! Shura disappears from my side. She spins in the air while in a roundhouse kick motion towards Layla. Shura! Wait! Take this! Shuras kick go to Layla like a red flash. What!? But, its stopped by Laylas right arm. ..! Laylas expression is distorted. She doesnt look like damaged at all. That Shuras kick with one armDD Tch! Shura lands in front of me. It seems like she wants to jump once again, so I hurriedly press her shoulder. Calm down, idiot! This girl is not an enemy! Shura stops moving. Layla lowers her right arm and stares straight at me. Hey, Seal-kun. You, perhaps have you heard the word, Sealer? What is it Why my body trembles This girl, she looks dangerousDD Its not only Ive heard it, Im a Sealer. Yep, shes dangerous. Who taught you? Layla says with an intonation of an interrogator. I dont know why she asked but I answer honestly. An old man called, Balha Zetta. In an instant, Layla makes a disgusted face. She opens my eyes and turns off the light from her eyes. She shakes her shoulders, clenches her fists, and stares at my face from below. Ah, I see. With the intention of creating a light topic, I take out the envelope in the bag to change the topic. I want to change this atmosphere. Look, I said yesterday, theres someone Im looking for. And now, I can tell you the name I look at the front of the envelope and see the name written on it Im speechless DD [Layla Freiheit] You DD I naturally relax my cheeks. So youre the granddaughter of that Old Man! Why am I this insensitive I smelled something nostalgic from her. And now after I look closely at her face, I can see the image of that Old Man. Yeah, thats right. Im the granddaughter of Barha Zetta. Why didnt I notice it until now? Her hair color and eyes look just like that Old Man. Your grandfather, he wrote a letter to you in prison He wrote it carefully while worrying about what to write Im glad Im able to deliver it.! Letter? Yeah, this letter. Take it! I give the envelope to Layla. She picks it up and. DD She tears it in two. For a moment, I couldnt understand what just had happened. Oi DD Then Layla picks up the letter, tears it again, divides it into four parts, and repeat it again andDD Stop DD Even though my opponent is a girl, I grab her arm with all my might. STOP IT!!!! The air burst. The passersby stop. Shura, who doesnt understand the situation, is looking at me and Laylas faces alternately. You you! Do you know how long does he need to writeDD! I said to you that I have someone I hate to death, right? DDHey, Seal-kun. Do you have Someone you hate till die ? Seal-kun. The person I hated the mostDDis my Grandpa. Laylas words are cold and yet sorrow. Layla looks at me with cold eyes. And at the same time, I cant forgive the existence of a Sealer. The letter which Layla torn into pieces fells from her hand. Because that person did a human experiment because he killed the wife of the Knight Commander My dream of becoming a knight was torn apart. And I was kicked out of the Imperial City of Magic Academy That person that person broke everything. Seeing Laylas lightless eyes, I sense her dark and closed heart for the first time. Do you really think he did crimes! Yeah. He never made an excuse. No matter what I asked, he didnt answer it I feel like I understand why that Old Man was worried about what to write in the letter so much. A letter given to a granddaughter in this stateDD Seal-kun. Today, I treated you a lot right. Will you repay the debt? .. Duel with me. DDSeal ZETTA Seal Zetta She sees me as a disciple of that person. Five days later, duel with me at the beginning of the month, the Tenzaka month. And if I win never call yourself a Sealer and his disciple ever again. Layla says in a light tone, But I can feel anger from it. If I win, dont say that trash name ever again, for eternity. I pick up the pieces of letters scattered on the ground, remove the dirt and put all the pieces in my right hand. Okay, Ill do it. Duel If I lose, Ill stop being a Sealer. Seal!!? DDIm angry. Really angry. Sure she must have had something happened in the past. There must have been an unreasonable past. There must have been a difficult situation. But still, this letter, the letter written by that Old Man, I couldnt forgive her for tearing it like this. I cant-DD DDHuh, Im sorry. I just remember that my granddaughter is about the same age as you I cantDD DDWhat kind of sentences that can make young girls happy? I cant forgive you. Instead, if I winDD I put out my fist holding the letter. Ill have you read this letter! Layla looks straight at me and shakes her lips. I, told you before. That You, look like the one I really loved. DDI take it back. You are much like someone I really hate. Authors Notes: ~ The moon in this world ~ Old way -> New way July -> Tenzaka There are some people who still say the month in the old way, there are also people like Layla who say the month with the new way [TN: (Tenzaka), which can be translated as Heaven Inverse or Heavens Rebellion. I choose to use the Japanese word, because I cant find any good alternatives in English.] CH 40 40. Separation A place where yellow snow falls. There, I met her. Layla Freiheit My Master, Barha-Zetta Shes his granddaughter She hates him deeply. Deep enough to even hate his disciple. The place is the first bottom part of , the Ancient Arena .. as for the time GONG!! the sound of a bell, heavy enough to reach the whole area. It signals the end of the day. The same time as now. When this bell rings, okay? Yeah, thats fine. Dont run away. Seal-kun Layla descends the stairs. Wait I stop Layla. I need to tell you this Your Grandfather is dead. About a month ago Layla keeps going down the stairs without another word. I open my fist holding the letter. It remains crumpled in my hand. Show me that letter for a moment. Shura spreads her hands over my right hand. White Mana flows from Shuras hand. DDIts the Mana of Regeneration. The letters quickly stick together and turn back to its original condition. Ooo! So, your is white! Yes. As long as I know the original shape, I can do this much. So, what are you going to do? What am I going to do? I must win. You shouldnt underestimate her too much. That girl is pretty strong. When I was hugged a while ago, I felt a different Mana. Its dangerous. I agree. The skillful handling of Green Mana that she shown me when cooking. The Red Mana that can catch Shuras kick with one arm. The Mana of Creation and the Mana of Strengthening. A versatile type that can used both of it skillfully. And also, the fact that shes the granddaughter of that Old Man She cant be weak. Put yourself together! I still have to ask that girl where Barha-Zettas house is! I cant ask if you dont win! You should go listen now, if youre the one who ask shell tell youDDor maybe not? Shell get angry just by mentioning that name Shura, rest assured. I have an idea of ??someone who seems to know the location of his house other than her. R-really? Yeah. Lets go to where the Knights are. There must be Old Mans acquaintance there. Wait a moment. There is a place we need to go before that. Where? Oh right those three people. - Carrs, Ignacio, Frederica. After all of us gathered, we descend to the bottom of the and go out of the city through a small gate. Outside is an expanding field. There are several roads where the vegetation has been cut clearly. Carrs, Ignacio and Frederica stand face to face with me and Shura. I see.. The three looked a bit bothered when I told them I couldnt leave the city for at least five days. General, Im sorry, but as expected, five-day is a bit tough. I want to go to the Guild Town as soon as possible. Im sorry. I have to go back to the guild too I also want to join the Knights in the Imperial City, not in . Im not a hurry, but cant just stay in here for a long time Well then, it cant be helped. Time to say goodbye. Shura, what are you going to do? Of course, Ill remain. Anyway, first of all, I have to meet someone you know. So, two to three huh? I wish I could travel with these guys to the Imperial City. Well! Even if we go to our own way here, I feel like well meet again. Hmmph! Im reluctant to agree with what this kid general said, but I feel like Ill meet you again too. DDSeal, Shura-chan, I hope for both of your well beings. If the fate let us meet again, please take care of me again at that time. Oh, and please give my best regards to Ash-san The three left and set out for the Imperial City. I and Shura wave our hands to see them off and go inside once again. Ah`, Im lonely. Suddenly Im feeling lonely Humm? Whyre you so depressed like that?!! Im still there, you know! Anyway, lets go. To the where the Knights are. CH 41 41. Seal & Shura vs Dragons Gate According to passersby, the Knights office is to the east of bottom part. So, I and Shura go around the bottom layer to the east. Not long after, I see a stone gate with a dragon medal on it. There are wooden fences on the left and right. .Two Three-story building? I can see the branch office through the gap between the fences. Its made of wood and there are some flower beds too. It doesnt really look like a Knights office. It must be measured by the person who created this branch. Thats to make it easier to visit. But, its ruined by the intimidating gate and its gatekeeper. There are two gatekeepers. One is a man with a headband carrying a spear on his back. The other is a man with an all-back hairstyle and bad-person like eyes carrying an elongated hammer on his back. I tell the two knights that I have come to see Pearl. Then the two knights squint and look down at me. Dont be stupid! Its outrageous to come to see Captain Pearl without reservation! I dont think Captain Pearl is an acquaintance of a dirty-looking kid like you. Know your place! Go back to where you belong. Should I seal these guys Should we beat them up? Hey, should we? Shura is squeaking her fingers, waiting for my Go signal. On the contrary than Shura who is craving for blood, Im calm. Nah. Lets retreat first. And go back again laterDD Hmm? What are you quarreling about? A bitter voice echoed from the end of the gate. Thick and heavy equipment, also a dragon cloak. A middle-aged man knight with an arranged hairstyle. Yep, without a doubt, its him, Pearl, one of the four visitors I met in Distalls prison. Ah, thats our Captain. This boy said that hes your acquaintance Pearl sees me, and he immediately breaks his stiff knightly look. You!? Pearl looks surprised. Im glad, it seems he remembered me too. Hmmm Pearl takes a breather and thinks with his face down. Ah! Pearl raises his face and opens his mouth a little. Moule, Magai Yes sir! The two gatekeepers put their heels together. Moule and Magai, seems to be their names. Pearl points just in between me and Shura and shouts out loud. Those two are brothers and sisters who ran away after making a disturbance in ! Catch them instantly!!! Huh? Haah? The faces of the two gatekeepers change. The man with a headband picks up the spear, and the man who look like a bad person grabs the hammer with both hands. Oi oi old man. What kind of a joke is this? Seal and Shura in front of the knight office Illustration Running away is not good! BOY! That eye Somehow, I could read his aim. Bastard, he just wants to test my abilities. Bastard, fine come! I put my bag on the ground and put a talisman with the word { between my fingers on my right hand. [TN: its his spear] When I gaze to the lower left, I see Shura looks kind of pissed while staring at Pearl. Onii-chan, do you have any plans? [TN: Brother] Ill take care the one with spear. Ill leave the one with the hammer to you. Thats it. Or do you need other strategy? Oh My Imouto [TN: Younger sister] I dont That old man with beard Ill definitely hit him once!! The one who makes the first move is the man with spear. He jumps straight at me. I dodge the spear by stepping back with a little. The movement he made just now it seems youre not a guy who only know how to run! The man is staring at me while holding his spear Lion Spear, OPEN I take the spear out of the talisman. The man takes another step and stare at my spear with a sparkling yes. Summoning technique!? Arent you cheating?!! A good spearmanship. But, I know spearmanship more than you. Compared to Carrs, hes more powerful and faster even though, I didnt sense any use of Red Mana. But his spearmanship is worse than Carrs. Hmmp! The man kicks the ground and approaches me. Since his Spearmasnhip is worse than Cars and speed is slower than Shura, its easy to catch his attack. Before Im in his spear range, Ill shut him down. Grow With the Green Mana, I stretch the Lion Spear. I move it in horizontal direction. The stretched handle of the lion spear, which was not filled with Red Mana, bend and struck the spearmans cheek with the handle. SLAP!! A light hitting sound is heard. The man loses his focus. I return the Lion Spear to its original length, point the ridge at the man and pierce him. This time, I use both Green and Red Mana. The strongly stretched Lion Spear goes into his belly, and slams the man against the fence on the side of the gate, Kuurg!? Game set. Huft, what a waste of time. At the same time, another man flies in the sky and falls in front of the gate. Its the other gatekeeper who uses a hammer. Shura slaps her hand and raises her chin, saying Easy. Then, I and Shura stand side by side and look at Pearl. Next is.. You! Pearl looks at us as if were nothing much. I and Shura are sick of his expression and kick the ground at the same time. Even if we start moving at the same time, of course its Shura that reaches Pearl first. Ill make your body cant move ever again! Red Mana strong enough to distort the background. Shura prepares her serious right punch. Ill be troubled if it happened. ..! A full power punch from Shura But, its stopped on the palm of Pearls left hand without making a noise. You see, I have a wife and a child! Pearl holds his right fist. The huge amount of Red Mana instantly condensed and gathered in his fist. Damn! Shura moves to a defensive stance. Pearls right fist, which is moving at an unstoppable speed. However even at such speed, Shura still able to bounces off his fist, kicks the ground and takes a distance. Huh! Not bad! Youve a great reaction speed! This! Damn Bearded old man!! Shura lands next to me. Hes a melee. Its dangerous to get closer. I know. I will change to Ash in five minutes. That girl who can fight from far is more advantageous against him. So, I need to stall until then With Shuras mobility, its not impossible to just attack and run. Im sorry! Please dont get so angry! I just wanted to test your abilities. Pearl has two swords on his waist. One is a sword with a Green Alchemy Stone embedded in the handguard, and the other is a sword with a Red Alchemy Stone embedded in the handguard. Pearl pulls out a sword with a Green Alchemy Stone embedded in it. But, are you okay? You stopped there. Its still in my range, you know? Hmm? Pearl swings his sword. Zanpu [TN: Wind Slash] I and Shura are five or six steps away from the sword. In spite of that DD! How..! I and Shura get hit by Pearls attack. To be exact, we are hit by something transparent released from Pearls sword. While floating in the air, I stare at the true identity of the slash. Its wind! Perhaps, the blade of wind is generated by pouring in the Green Mana. Urgh! I and Shura fell to the ground. While looking down at us, Pearl reaches out his hand with a carefree smile. I never thought its easy for you to beat my subordinate! Im wrong! Youve grown stronger since when I met you in prison! !! Seriously you remembered me, after all. troublesome test! ?? I grab Pearls hand, but he pulls my hand and hugs me right away. Well done for reaching this city! The rugged armor bites into my skin. DDSo cheerful! I mean, It huuurrtt!!? Armor Your Armor!! It hurts! Oooooo! Im glad to see you again, boy!!!!! Shura leaks a small voice, Urck. Argh! Your Armor! Its painful!! Old man, get away from me! I push Pearl with both hands. Pearl crosses his arms and laugh, GAHAHA! Well then, come, enter my castle! Welcome! Young sealer and his companion! CH 42 42. Unforgivable After crossing the gate, I and Shura are guided to the reception. We sit down on the sofa and grab the cup of coffee that was brought in front of us. Its really bitter. Shura sits on my left and Pearl sits facing me. As expected, Old Man Bar, He died huh SNORT SNORT... Pearls face looks as if hes about to start crying. Then I tell Pearl about the death of the Old Man. And as expected, it seems that there is not much information about it. Even his relative, Layla, doesnt know. But Im glad. At least you were there. He closed his eyes peacefully. He didnt die in a terrible way. I see! Thank you! Im sure its also thanks to you. Pearl bows his head. Deep enough that his forehead almost hit the desk. Oi oi I hurriedly grab Pearls shoulder. Stop it! Its not a big deal! Youre a respectful man, right? Is it okay for you to lower your head so easily like that!!? Im really grateful! That, great man, did not die in loneliness because of you! Really Thank you! Pearls voice is trembling. This man How much he respects the Old Man? Who the hell is exactly the Old Man? How much has the Old Man done, to be respected by such a great man so much Hmm, Im sorry to interrupt your moving talk, but I have something to ask you. Despite the heavy atmosphere, Shura cuts out to the main subject immediately. The location of Barha-Zettas house, thats all I want to hear. Why Old Man Bars house? Pearl raises his head. To break a curse. There may be a clue to that in the house of a man named, Barha Zetta. Shura said that normally humans would laugh when they heard that. Or at least surprised. But Pearl, he just sharpened his eyes. Thats it. DDI see, Old Man Bar was certainly looking for a way to break a curse. I guess, there may be hints there. Really!? But even if there is a way to break a curse, it wouldnt be easy never. The word sounds like an advice. Pearl doesnt deny Shuras goal, nor does he affirm it too. Shura takes a breather at Pearls sharp gaze, but immediately laughs. Im more than prepared! Good! Keep that spirit! Pearl soon returns to his original calm face. Old Man Bars house is in the Imperial City. I will write the location on the city map later and hand it over to you. Thank you. Then, will Seal-dono also head for the Imperial City? Stop that -dono. Just call me Seal So, will I also go to the Imperial City? Well, Im curious about his house. However, I still have something to do in this city, so even if I go, Ill go about a week laterDDWhat are you going to do, Shura, are you gonna go first? If you go now, you can catch up with the others. Ill go in a week too. Im interested in the duel between that woman and you. Hearing the conversation between me and Shura, Pearl pats his chin with his finger, Duel? Alright, if you like, can you tell me about the situation? Ah, so I tell Pearl about the letter I received from the Old Man and my promised duel with Layla. Pearl hits me on the shoulder while in tears. For your master, you went all this way just send his letter to his granddaughterDDwonderful! But, let me tell you this, Miss Layla is formidable. Hmm, so youre on my side right? Thats right After I heard that story, I cant just stay silent Only Old Man Bar who could rescue Miss Layla from the darkness I hope that letter will be the catalyst. Could you tell me more about Layla? Why does she hate him so much? Alright, listen, Ill talk about everything. Pearl keeps talking until I finished drinking all the coffee in the cup. Layla Freiheit She was a student at the Imperial Citys largest and best Magic Academy, Yunferno Darts. A Genius Magician, and was on the list to be the top graduate of the Magic Academy Her dream was the same as Ignacio, to be the Knight Commander. If you could be the top graduate of the Magic Academy, Yunferno Darts, which directly under the Knights supervision, she could become at least a platoon leader from the start. She was eager to study every day, aiming for the top position. By the way, the organization chart of the Imperial Knights is: Knight Commander (1 person) Elite Guards (5 people) = Knight Captain (3 people) Company Leader (9 people) Platoon Leader (27 people) Soldier (about 500 people) Trainee (180 people). The knights in are called as the local knights, and it seems that they have their own separate positions. Basically, the power relationship is Imperial Knights > Local Knights. The difference between the Platoon Leader and Soldiers are large, and the condition of being able to become a Platoon Leader from the beginning is exceptional. However, most of them who start from Platoon Leader are immediately demoted due to lack of ability But Pearl said Leila wouldnt have been demoted. So, Laylas life went smoothly Until his grandfather was imprisoned. One day, when the Old Man visited the laboratory used for the development of magic, strange corpses were lined up. It seems that most of them were related to the Knights. They said that the Old Man attacked the Knights, so he got handcuffed and branded as the great sinner. Many people related the Knights died. Among them was the wife of the Knight Commander. Its bullshit! He would never do that! Old Man Bar said that there might be a in the upper ranks of the Knights, and he got framed by that My guess is that maybe someone above the Company Leader Hey, the knights are related to the incident in Seadust Island, right? Seriously, you guys, how deep is the dark side of the knights Someday, Im going to go to the Imperial City to investigate all at once. Ive prepared for that the other day. Ive to uncover the darkness of the Knights as soon as possible to clear Old Man Bars name Well, lets get back to the story. So, since it was an incident involving many people related to the Knights, the story immediately flowed to the Magic Academy as it directed under the Knights. And since this incident, a terrible treatment began against Miss Layla, who was Old Man Bars granddaughter. I see, its what they called bullying. Layla was originally a target of jealousy because of her strength. So, there must be many people bad mothing her even before the incident happened. However, human beings cannot take steps without a cause or a reason that could justify their actions. And when the reason presented by itself The jealousy flame that had accumulated in their hearts, with a firewood called, justice, as the fuel, the flame got bigger and so exploded. The other students started to see Layla with white eyes. Not only them, Even the teachers of the Magic Academy and the Knights. Eventually, her grades were manipulated in an unfair way and she failed to be the top graduate. Then she was expelled from school. Layla couldnt stand living in the Imperial City anymore and decided to come to , where many have a gentle heart. Ans since the Knights are under Pearls command, they never dismissed Layla. Layla visited the Old Man many times. Before he got transported to . Grandpa, I believe in you. So, talk about everything Please, its okay please say that you havent done anything Grandpa Grandpa why dont you say anything? The Old Man didnt tell Layla anything. Im sure Old Man Bar isDD You dont have to say it. You probably didnt want to get her involved, same as the Old Man If the Old Man said that hes innocent, Im sure Layla would probably have gone into the dark side of the Knights searching a way to prove it. No matter how dangerous it is. But, thats not what the Old Man wants. Layla finally gave up on the Old Man who didnt say anything. Layla, she accepted the story about her grandfather. Unforgivable. Grandpa, I will never forgive you! That was the last word Layla said to her grandfather This makes me angry. All of this its because of the guy who framed the Old Man. I dont know who it is, but be prepared. All of the thing that got destroyed by you, Bastard. I will make you take responsibility for everything This duel, I cant lose Miss Layla is strong. She is an all-rounder who excels in all three Main Colors of Mana. Shes an outstanding person in the same generation as you. What about her secondary colors? ..Its Rainbow, the Mana of Freedom Rainbow Mana. The most unusual Mana among the four sub-source colors. Im sure, other than Black, White and Yellow, is classified as Rainbow. I see. The extraordinary Mana I felt from that woman, that was Rainbow-colored Mana The Rainbow Mana is special I know the color of her Mana, but I dont know the exact quality of it. Even those who have the same Rainbow-colored Man have completely different characteristics of that Mana, right? Thats right! The Rainbow Mana power is basically anything that cannot be classified by other Sub-source Colors. Unknown power. The Mana that cannot be classified as Destruction, or Regeneration, or DominationDD Oi, old man. Do you think I can beat her? You wont win. There is a difference in strength, but youve more problem She has some understanding of your ability, the Sealing Technique. Also, you dont know what kind of power her Rainbow Mana has. Even if I could somehow get information about her for you, but still, itll be hard for you to win. I guess so. I also think that this is bad. Im sorry, but honestly, I dont think its a difference that you can somehow makeup in only five days Well, I guess its impossible to win in a head-to-head match against someone who has been learning magic since little, right? Still, I cant give up. By the way, Ive never asked you about this, but How long since you start learning Magic? Hmm? A little over half a year. Half a year huhDD Suddenly, Shura stands up and grabs my chest. HALF A YEAR!!? Oi Oi! Whats wrong!!? Shuras upper lip is close enough to stick to the tip of her nose. No Way! Shura and pearls are sweating on the temples. Looking at the reaction, it seems I did something amazing? really? I cant judge since I dont know the standards of the other Magicians. Hua, hahahahahahaha !! Pearl suddenly bursts into laughter. You must be kidding, right? In just half a year, such a complicated technique Even if you surprised me but, you mean, did I lose to someone who had only learned magic for half a year? I see. I see! You have hope then! Pearl stands up and thrusts his fist into the air. Seal Zetta! Lets go to my house! I! Will push you to the level where Miss Layla is in five days! Thank you, but Ill ask you, please do it gently. Despite being anxious about the strangely motivated Middle-aged Knight, Ive decided to receive Pearls guidance. CH 43 43. Boring and Fun Trainings Pearl takes both of us to his home after leaving the rest of the work to the secretary. Pearls house is in the middle part of the mother punk. As expected of Knight Captain, his house is a big two-story house. Its a little late, but lets have lunch first. My wife should have prepared the food for me! Let me tell you, my wifes food is superb! Superb, huh Hmmm, is it Akane-san? Layla said she is her cooking teacher DDYeah, I cant expect too much. Seal Shura grabs the sleeve of my cloak. Like a child grabs the sleeve of his fathers clothes. Whats wrong? Its about time. Ah yeah yeah BOOM! White smokes come out, and Morning` The blonde magician Ash appears. The lower abdomen is exposed as shes wearing the clothes that Shura wore. As it fit perfectly, her body line is clearly visible. The chest part looks tight. The swollen chest is about to burst. Yep, of course right I mean, the size difference between Shuras chest and Ashs chest is about the size of an acorn and a melon. If Ash wear clothes that match the size of Shura, it will be like this. Hmm? How about their underwear? With this size difference, there is no underwear that could suits both at the same time. And how about the bellow too? Wait what happened to it when I sealed Shura? I forgot Alright, lets ask her next time No, if I ask, I be beaten by her, right? This..!? Pearl scratches his head as he watches the scene. Everyone is surprised when seeing it. But Pearl has a slightly different reaction than the others. You are the child with ! Yes Perhaps, are you from the Curse Village ? [TN: Im sure its Germanic, and the meaning is, Curse Village] Thats right. DDIts hard to believe, Shanoir-dono let you go outside [TN: in the raw, Υ` can also be translated as Chatnoir, which is in French?, it mean black cat But Ill go with Shanoir] The Chief didnt let us go. We came out on our own Pearl seems to know about the curse of the Ashura sisters and about their hometown. There are two words I dont know. , which seems to be the name of their hometown? And Shanoir, which seems to be the name of the head the village, the one who still want to continues his village crappy customs. But for you to be with a Sealer DD What a karma huh, Old Man Bar. Pearl sadly laughs. It seems that there is some sad moment that I dont know. Ara? DING DING The bell on the door rings. The door on the first floor is opened a little so that the inside could not be seen. At the end of the door, I can hear an elegant female voice. It seems that the person inside is looking through the gap in the door. Then the bell rings loudly, the door opens completely. And a woman wearing an apron appears. What the DD I make a surprised voice. Because a person with a lot of hair DD a beastman stand there. Fluf DFluffy!! Ash with shining eyes points her index finger of her right hand at the beastman. Ah, Im sorry, I gently lower Ashs right hand. The person is walking with two legs, and has the same physique as a human, but her face is, it looks likeDD a cat. A cat beastman!! She has fluffy ears, white hair growing from the whole body, and three beards? grow symmetrically on the cheeks. You can tell that she is a female because she has a soft face and swelling chest. Although she is a beastman, shes really charming and full of elegance. Pearl waves to the cat beastman, Oii! Dont tell me shes DD C She is my wife! Seriously A human and a beastman. Well, I thought there might be such a combination somewhere in the world, but I dont think theyre this close. Ara ara, a guest? Cute the ears are moving up and down Ash pulls on the hem of my clothes. Her eyes are shining like when she saw the bean sprouts. Ha Ha Ha! You dont need to be bewildered like that! Its impossible not to Well, there are some species among the Beastman that can be counted as a monster, but shes from a species called, , a full-fledged pure beastman. You dont need to be so scared! [TN: Bastet or you could say, Cat God] I guess, its bad to keep being surprised so much Lets renew my common sense Yeah, I guess there is such a family yep We go inside the house. In the middle of the corridor, there is a door with a hanging door plate, {Dias room ` Off limits `} Oh right, Pearl said he had a child. So, I guess its the room of their child? DD I wonder how their child look like? Is it a normal human, or a beastman, or a half? Oh, Im really curious. Even so, what a cute guest~. May I ask you for your name? Im Seal Zetta Ash! Seal-kun and Ash-chan. I see Im sorry`, I would have made something better if I knew that a guest would come Ha ha ha! It should be fine! Everything you cook is delicious! Oh come on In the living room, there is a rectangular dining table with four chairs. I and Ash sit side by side. There is a window on the side of the dining table, and the sunlight overflowing through the gaps between the leaves of the cherry blossoms comes in. I give up the window seat to Ash. Plates are brought to the table. Seeing that, I get up and help carry the dishes. Ara, what a good boy`. Pearls wife gives me a gentle smile. Yeah, its a gentle smile that resembles Pearls smile. And shes so cute I want to stroke her head When the meals are lined up on the table, I take a seat. Pearl sits the opposite side and his wife sits next to him. Huuf Im nervous Sure, all the dishes in front of me look delicious. But, Ive a bitter experience of being betrayed by the looks. Itadakimasu.. Itadakimasu Please enjoy? I stab the sweet and sour pork with a fork and bring it to my mouth. Hmmmm!!? The meat juice that pops in my mouth from the meat with a soft texture. I can bite it even without using the power of my jaw, it just passes through my throat and melts into my stomach. Im glad This taste delicious. Akane-san, is it? Ara, my name did you tell him? Ah, no, I heard the name from Akane-sans apprentice. Layla Ah! Layla-chan! I see So, you see, she cooked food for me before, but her food was a little bit well, so Im wondering why Akane-sans apprentice cant cook such delicious food like you Akane-san smiles and looks away from me. Im sorry, but you see, there are things that cant be helped no matter what. In this world. Well, so is Laylas cooking skill beyond help? Seal. After eating, Lets go outside and go to the rocky area. Youll train there! Can you tell me what were gonna do there? Well, just look forward to it! ..? - After finishing the meal, I go to a place full of rocks. And there is the start of DD my hellish training. Pearl put on a rock that is ten times as tall as me, on my back. And while covering my whole body with Red Mana, Im doing push-ups on the spot. The purpose is to strengthen my Red and Blue Mana. Red Mana increase by applying a load to the muscles. Blue Mana increase by using the Mana. Pearl told me that in order to increase these two at the same time, I should train with a load on the muscles while covering my whole body with Red Mana. And so, this rock push-up is said to be two birds with one stone because it uses Red Mana and increase the muscles density at the same time. Well, I understand the theory, I really understand it, butDD 999, 1000 ! Good! 9000 more!! Hah! Hah! Hah! Do you thinkDD I can do it!!?? I throw the rock on my back to Pearl. Hmm! Pearl pulls out a sword with a Green Alchemy Stone embedded in it from his waist and swing the sword vertically twice. The wind blade created from the sword easily cut the rock into three. The slashed rock falls to the ground avoiding Pearl. That sword seems to be easy to use. The ability is simple. The wind blade moves far into the sky so the range is also quite long. Pearl puts the sword back in its scabbard and puts his hand on his waist. Hah! You lack of endurance, Seal! Its so plain I cant stand it its boring! Dont you know some ground-breaking training? Ummmm, how about Plan B? Pearl pulls out a sword with a Red Alchemy Stone embedded in it and throw it at me. I catch and receive the handle of the sword. Then, Pearl pulls out the sword with the Green Alchemy Stone embedded in it. Lets have a sword battle until you tired This is Plan B. You can get battle experience, and increase your Red and Blue Mana at the same time. Isnt this Plan, the best? However, there is one drawback Whats the drawback? I could accidentally kill you, Seal. Its difficult to adjust my strength when I get serious! The drawbacks are too harsh Could we just use a wooden sword or something else? Plan A, Low risk and average growth, or Plan B with high risk but high growth. Which one do you like better? Which one is more boring? Plan A Then lets go with Plan B I take off my cloak and point the sword I received at Pearl. GAHAHA! As expected of Old Man Bars discipline! You can come at me from anywhere! Come! Seal! It seems you underestimate me too much Well! Swing your sword with confidence! Come at me! Your blade will never reach me! I see Ossan! So, you mean that even if a miracle happens, I still wont be able to hurt you? [TN: Ill use Ossan, sine it somewhat sounds better? It means Middle-aged man] Yeah, try it if you want! Even if the earths and heavens are turned upside down, You wont be able to hurt me! A red aura is emitted from Pearl. I can feel an absolute confidence from that aura, its telling me his accumulated experience over the years Alright. If you say that much, If I can hurt you, give me that sword. I point to a pearl sword with a Green Alchemy Stone embedded in it. My lovely sword, this ! You want it huh!? DD interesting! Alright!! But be prepared! If you want me to bet this sword, I have to take this battle a little seriously too! A sword that produces a wind blade. Its a perfect weapon for me, who dont have any means in medium to long range battles. A Green Alchemy Stone on the handguard and a swirling dragon emblem on the blade. The appearance and the skill, I like both. Yeah, its a cool sword. I definitely want itDD Good, its getting fun! CH 44 44. Laylas loneliness Before I hated my Grandpa, I was so clingy to him. I loved my Grandpa who uses some strange techniques who liked to spoiled me earnestly. Grandpa showed me the strange technique Sealing Techniques, as if it were magic tricks. When I was a kid, I was simple, so when I saw his technique of putting out rings and jewels from a piece of paper, I fell in love with him. Seeing such a mysterious technique, I decided to become a Magician. I strongly admired the Sealing Technique used by Grandpa. I tried to learn it, but I gave up knowing that I didnt have the Mana for it. Of course, I didnt give up easily, I imitated my grandpa all day but, I knew I couldnt really do it, and the next day I was crying all day. Every year, in the Tenzaka Month, I came to with Grandpa and spend our time together there for a week. [TN: its the fifth month] Grandpa, who seemed to be busy all year round, stayed with me for a least seven days every year. He bought me anything I asked. Clothes, stuffed animals, anything I didnt know since when, but one day I felt like I only used my grandpa for money, and I instinctively hated it even when I was a kid. So, when I was about seven years old, I didnt ask him for anything on our trip. And on the last day of our trip on that year, Grandpa bought a stuffed animal without me asking for it. It was an ugly weird-looking teddy bear. To be honest, it wasnt to my liking at all, but since Grandpa left home for hours only to bought me one stuffed animal. When I thought he was probably very worried and decided to give something to me, I received it and laughed at that ugly teddy bear. Then Grandpa smiled as if he was relieved. Grandpa said he was worried because he didnt know what to do since I didnt ask anything Even so, I couldnt believe that he chose that ugly stuffed animal Yeah, he was basically a clumsy person. He rarely talked, and always looked lonely somehow empty. He had a sad face. But only when I was on his lap he was laughing as if something was filled. Grandpa always cared for me and often asked, Are there any abnormalities in your body?, Are there any pains?, he persistently asked me. So I told him that he worried too much. Still, every time I met him, I heard the same thing He was really a worrywart. It might be weird to say this myself But, Grandpa was fond of me. I felt tremendous love from him me too, I was returning the same affection to my grandpa. Grandpa who was kind and I loved so much. DDThat person betrayed me. Committing the worst sin a human experimentation After I left Seal, I went back home and went into my room, the frustration I feel since a while ago didnt go away. Seal Zetta Suddenly, I see an ugly stuffed animal on the bed. I trample it, and his face come to my mind. Seal ZETTA! What is this feeling? I just, cant forgive his existence. I cant forgive that face of him, He who learned Sealing Technique, and looked like as if he knew everything about Grandpa. DDI need to tell you this Your Grandfather is dead. It doesnt matter I hate Grandpa. I lost everything because of that person! I dont care I dont care! I kick the stuffed animal many times. Again and again Im not sad Ive a grudge against Grandpa, I despite him, I really hate himDD DDIm not sad. I take my feet off the stuffed animal. The stuffed animal still looks the same even after I kicked it so many times it seems, I was unconsciously held my strength. Sealing Technique Why you could? Why you, know that Grandpa died The technique that I longed for, that I wanted to have no matter what I lost He has it all. Well, of course he doesnt know how much I wanted it. You, who is a complete stranger I definitely dont want to lose. I want to deny this. Grandpas disciple, his existence, I cant forgive DD no matter what At first glance, his ability is not that high. There was almost no magical pressure, I couldnt feel the atmosphere peculiar to the strong man. The girl next to him seemed stronger than him. .. My right arm that I used to block that girls kick is still a little numb. Well, Ive been away from magic for a long time, so my senses are dull. But its okay, I can regain my senses in five days. That guy Seal, is probably about the same level as a Three Star in the Magic Academy. And I, a One Star level. Hes not my opponent. Ive never lost in a mock battle. Ive won against both senior students and teachers. Im confident that I will never lose as long as Im conscious. The last existence left by Grandpa, the only disciple of Grandpa. The existence that taught by Grandpa about that technique-DD All of it, everything Ill deny it and break it. All my hatred for My Grandpa, Ill vent it all to you. Ill bully you to the fullest Seal-kun. The light slowly disappears from my eyes. CH 45 45. One last trick On the first day of training I was completely defeated by Pearl. It was the first time I hadnt been able to do anything against someone. It was as if all of my actions were foreseen. It felt like I was slashing into a lump of steel all the time. I slashed, slashed, slashed and the moment I was out of breath or disturbed, he kicked off my belly. What was that, I have to be a little more serious. He wasnt serious at all. Pearl was without a doubt strong. I couldnt imagine I could hurt him. I tried over and over again until the sun went down, but in the end, only me the one who got scratches. When I dropped the sword in my hand for the hundred times, the training on the first day was over. Was that really a training? I felt like I just swinging a sword to my best, nothing more. The second day of training I could see Pearls movement a little. However, I hadnt reached the level yet. I could block and parry more often than before, but I couldnt reach anything other than the sword. However, I felt that my Mana was steadily increasing. The third day of training I had learned the basics of sword art, such as how to hold a sword and how to make a gap. By the way, nothing was taught by Pearl. That man was silent, he just slashing his sword on me. He had a similar educational policy as the Old Man, Only teach me the basic training method and leave the rest to me. But, this method was quite suitable for me. Rather than forcing something to me, it was better for me to think and come up with an answer myself. I had never learned any swordsmanship. Therefore, the way of holding the sword, I imitated Pearl Hold the sword with your right hand and point its blade at the opponents throat. A One-handed sword style. For these three days, I finally understood the initial movement of human beings and the magnitude of motion after I became one with the sword The breathing, gaze, muscle movement How much your knees sunk and how much your hips twisted. All of that information processed instantly to predict the movement of the opponent. If you could understand this, it would be possible to make movements that would be difficult for the opponent to read. On that day, the sword in my hand was dropped by Pearl only three times. And the morning of the fourth day comes. I wake up in a room surrounded by bookshelves. By the way, the room where Im sleeping is the room of Pearl and Akanes child, Dia. In the room, Bookshelves are lined up along the wall. Even the windows are hidden by the bookshelves. A bed and a blanket with a cat mark on top of it are placed in the middle of the room. as ever, this room still makes me dizzy. When I first came to this room, I thought it was a study room for a moment. Pearl had a bitter smile when he guided me to the room. My daughter is an alchemist! She is crazy about alchemy research and has no interest in anything else! All the books here are alchemy books! The room is also undecorated! But now, she has her own store and sleep in that store! I asked, Is the store at ? Yeah! If you are interested, please try to visit once! Well, Im curious about the appearance of their child, and about the alchemy stone too Alright, Lets go when the duel with Leila is over. Today, is the last day of the training since the day after tomorrow will be the day of my duel with Leila. So, I want to be in good shape tomorrow. I havent been able to hurt Pearl yet. Today is the only chance to meet the conditions for receiving his sword. Anyway, I wake up and go to the washroom. While brushing my teeth in the washroom, Im thinking about how to land one hit on Pearl. .. Peral is really strong. The stronger I become and the more I know about sword, the more I realize that there is no chance. Im sure my sword talent is decent. But, no matter how much I master the sword, I dont think it will reach that man. Thats if only about the sword. For the time being, I have one trick. There is only chance, Ill be able to land a hit when Pearl is not careful enough. The success rate is fifty percent, but I have no choice but to do it I collect water in my palm and hit it against my face. Then, I turn around, and I see Shura with a messy hair. Good morning HAAAWN Her lips are trembling. Her eyes are like a line, I can barely see her pupils. She looks really sleepy. Shura is sleeping in Pearls study. It seems that she is fishing for books related to curses. How are you doing? Good? I guess, not bad? Shura passes me and stands in front of the washbasin to brush her teeth. How about you? Youve been going to the city library and reading a book about the curse, right? No harvest. Theres only a book with many types of curses, a theory of strengthening magicians with curses, and other similarOnly rotten books. Well, you know that it wont be easy to find a way to break the curse, right? Anyway, I leave the room, get ready, and head for the usual rocky area. - When I reach the rocky area, I put a huge rock on your back and do push-ups 1000 times. I decided to put up with it if its only 1000 times. After that, its the time to spar with Pearl as usual. I and Pearl hold the sword and stop with a distance of ten steps between us. Pearl is grinning, but his eyes say the opposite. For a beginner in swordsmanship like me, Hes totally alert. It feels as if hes dealing with an expert. Looking at Pearls eyes, its easy to misunderstand yourself as an expert in sword. With real sword in each of our hands. Im moving slowly to him. Seal, this is the final match. Huh? I lower my sword and open my left hand. Why? Dont you still have time? You have to start training for beating Miss Layla! When this match is over, we will start that training immediately. All right. Then, is this the last chance? Hmm? What are you talking about? Have you forgotten that you will give me that sword if I can land a hit on you? HaHaHa! So you still remember! I thought you had given up! No way.. I raise my sword again. The aim is for that one chance. Right now, the rock wall behind me hides the sun. The moment when the sun comes out and the sun shines on Pearls face. Its the chance. I will show you my trump card. If you dont come, I willDD At that time, the sun shined on Pearls face. Mmm! Pearl wrinkles around the eyes. Its time. Now. Only this. I strengthen my whole body with Red Mana and I wear Yellow Aura. DD!? The next moment Im right in front of Pearl. CH 46 46. Coloring I lower myself and in one step, Im in front of Pearl, leaving a cloud of dust. Exposed to the sun, the relaxed Pearl completely surprised by what he just saw. FastDD! DDgot him! I swing the sword from bottom to top. CLINK! A high-pitched tone coming from the collision between two swords. Tsk DD Damn it! The attack that I did with all my might, was blocked by Pearl. The sword that was in my hand, is now on the ground beside Pearl. Slowly, three brown hairs Pearls hair falls off. Really!? Even that was no good huh! Seriously, you, what a monster. I collapse on the spot with my hands and legs outstretched. If even with this much, he still could block it, theres no hope for me. Just now you didnt just strengthen your body with Red Mana, rightl!? What did you do! Seal! What? Ah, I just circulate the Yellow Mana all over my body. You see, there was a time when I got stuck, and I was able to force myself to move with Yellow Mana. This time I did the same thing with my body in perfect condition. I forcibly removed the body limiter with the Yellow Mana. haha, FuHahHaHahaha! You really surprised me. I can only do it for a moment, though. Its too fast for my nerves to catch up. It was too shallow to say that youve hurt me, but you dropped three strands of my hair! Lets think about the reward! Pearl sits down with crossed legs. I raise my upper body and put my hands on the ground to support it. What you did just now, its a technique called, Coloring. Coloring ? Thats what we call the technique of putting your sub-source Mana on the body, weapons, and magic for a long time. Well, since its just for a moment, maybe its better to call it a pseudo-coloring. I see I heard a rough breath from behind. I look up because a shadow of someone covered me, and what I see is the face of a sweaty blonde girl. Finally, I arrived Ash, what happened? Why you came here? For this Ash put a wooden basket over my head. Akane-san said that todays breakfast was too little. Lunch box! I was just hungry. What a great timing. I open the basket and look at the food inside. What is this? Inside the basket is, Rice ball. Fried rice with bean sprouts. Salad with bean sprouts. By the way, what are the fillings of the rice balls? Its bean sprouts. I ordered it because I wanted you to be healthy happy? Seal? Ah, yeah, happy, Im happy You did something unnecessary I wont say it since Ash might get offended. Anyway, I pick up the rice ball and carry it to my mouth. CHEW CHEW As expected of Akane-san. Even though the ingredients are limited, its still delicious. Hey Ash. Can you do Coloring? I can do it Ash pulls out his cane and points it at the rock wall. Coloring, BlackDD Roiro Homura A lump of flame is formed, and Black Mana is released from Ashs wand covering the flame. Ash shoots the intimidating black-colored flame at the rock wall, and a huge hole is made in the rock wall. Its amazing it feels like a special move. Thats right! Its difficult to use because it consumes a lot of Mana. In addition to requiring good control at using Mana, a certain amount of Mana is required to generate high-density Mana. Its a high-level technique that not anyone can do! Well, in fact I could only do it for a moment. Its difficult already to use it on my body, I dont feel like I can use it on flames like Ash Maybe Ash received some help from that cane? What a good time. Lets me teach you another high-level technique. After finishing the meal, Pearl stands up and takes a distance from me. Miss Ash. Shoot me with any magic! Are you sure? Yeah, dont worry! Ash turns her right hand toward Pearl and forms a flame. Pearl stands upright with his arms folded. Ash shoots the flame on Pearl. A lump of flame explodes into a pearl. But Pearl was unharmed. He didnt use any Red Mana, but instead he covered his body with a swirling Blue Mana. Blue What did you do with it? I manipulated Miss Ashs mana and scattered it! Other peoples Mana!? Blue Mana, is the Mana of Operation, which used to manipulate Mana. Basically, the role of it is to carry other Mana in your body. But, to use it against the Mana released by othersDD Cover your body with a swirling Blue Mana, and the moment another persons Mana touches your Blue Mana, immediately manipulate it and scatter it outside The name of this technique is Ruten [TN: It roughly means, wear and exile, If I were to name it in English, maybe something like, Reverse Control] Ruten Will I learn it from now on? Hahaha! Thats impossible! Look at this! Pearl shows the back of his right hand. It was slightly burnt. Even I, who have trained this Ruten for many years, still cant handle it perfectly! There are only 10 people I know who can use this. Then why are you talking about such Technique to me now? Ah, this is bad. I have a bad feeling.. No way, you mean.. Thats right! Miss Layla she can use Ruten perfectly. Seriously, what a bad news This Ruten is also Old Man Bars specialty. So, its probably heredity, or maybe shes really a talented person. So, she can use the technique that even Pearl cant use properly? This is not the only strength of Miss Leila. The basic style of Miss Layla is a throwing knife. Hold the iron knife made with the Green Mana, and strengthen the knife and arms or shoulders with Red Mana before she throws it. Why does she need to grab it? It would be easier to shoot with Blue Mana, right? In response to my point, Pearl makes iron with Green Mana, and attaches the iron to make a knife and floats it in the air. This is what happens when you shoot it with Blue Mana. The knife is released and go into a small rock Cracks can be seen on the rocks. Pearl formed a knife again, this time, hes holding it in his hand and also strengthening his arm with Red Mana. And when you throw it directly DDHmm! Pearl throws the knife. The thrown knife slammed into the rock at a speed that made it blurry, destroying the rock and still flying further behind it. Its better to hold it with your hand and throw it DD Its faster, and stronger. Miss Layla produces this knife faster and in large quantities than I do. She will keep throwing knives and block her opponent movements to the spot. When the opponent, cant move and reserve to use Magic, she will use Ruten to disperse it. She forces her opponents to use their trump cards, break it, and hunt them down. Miss Layla won the battle she had in Magic Academy with just that tactic. Ruten and throwing knives In addition to that, she has that Rainbow Mana DD She has a lot of hands huh Seal, are you scared? No way. On the contrary, its getting fun. I dont think Ill be bored. Youve grown a lot in the last few days. But still, not as good as Miss Leila. The difference that isnt filled on the board is managed outside the board. Tomorrow, I will use one whole day until the duel to prepare to win. Sealing is a technique that can beat anyone if the conditions are met. Do everything to meet the conditions thats what a Sealer is. If I dont have enough hands, Ive no choice but to increase my hands. I already thought what I need in my head. After that, I had a spar with Pearl, who imitated Laylas fighting style, and completed my trainings. CH 47 47. The day before the duel The day before the decisive battle. How I spend today will determine tomorrows battle. As soon as I woke up in the morning, I went to the kitchen where Akane was. A bundle of paper, gloves, and various types of paint? Yes, I want them, so Okay, no problem. I have a lot of paint since my hobby is drawing. Ill prepare a bundle of paper and gloves too now, so please wait. Im really sorry. Ill be sure to payDD Dont worry about it. You see, I wanted to have a son, and Seal, you made me feel how it is to have a son. As a thank you, please receive it for free. This is bad, Im about to shed tears on her overflowing motherly. Even though she has a cat face, I feel the warmth to the point I dont care about the appearance. Race differences? I think that I can care less about it when Im spending time in this city. After I received the tools from Akane-san I immediately went out to pick up something. There is an object filled with Mana called, Coral Cracker. When an impact is applied, the Mana contained in it will bursts, causing an explosion. The Knights use it by the name, Coral Grenade. The other day, I asked Pearl, Is there anything that has Mana and can be easily obtained? And he told me about this information. And so, Im going to get it now. It seems that a golem with this bomb coral all over its body are living outside of the city, in a cave just a short walk along the sea. They said that you can get more than a dozen fist-sized corals from one golem. Unfortunately, its raining today. So, I borrowed the umbrella that Pearls daughter used before I went out of . I was walking south along the sea. I heard the location from Pearl and got a map so that I wouldnt get lost. Is its here? A hole in the rock wall its the cave. The sky is dark but the inside of the cave is bright. Somehow Red and Yellow ores are shining inside the cave. Well, its not what I want, but maybe I can trade it for some money. I guess its time to dig the treasure? Well, it can be a good souvenir. I closed my umbrella and took a step into the cave. Then, a heavy footstep was approaching behind me. Take this! When I turned around, the other side of the axe blade was approaching in front of me. I step back and land while dragging my foot on the ground. The axe that was targeted at me is crushing the ground. Bastard, who are you? Standing with an axe was a large man with an evil-looking face. Drenching in the rain, his wet bangs were blocking his face and made his evil-looking face even worse. Thats my line! You what are you doing in our hunting grounds!? Hunting grounds? I heard footsteps behind the big man. This is the hunting ground for the excavation guild, Naga Desert. All the gold ores inside are ours! Who cares? You should at least put up a sign, idiot. I got the knights permission. There is no reason to complain. The foolish one is you! Who cares about the knight! Leave now. Hurry up! I take out the talisman with written on it from my pocket. [TN: the dagger] The guy in front of me seems to be able to use mana to some extent, I knew it with the attack he did. OPEN I take the dagger out of the talisman and hold it in my right hand. What!? From where you take that dag! You dont have the right to know. The man with an axe, swings his ax, saying, OOOoo!. Slow compared to Pearl, there are plenty of gaps, too many, it makes me in dilemma about which one should I choose. I could pierce him first, but I decided to wait for a while and swing the dagger to the side when the ace came near. CLANK! The axe broke and the debris scattered. The tip of my dagger pierced the mans belly. Back Off. I dont want to use Mana! DD!? I let out a little of my Red Mana. And, the thieves stepped back all at once. It seems my intimidation using Red Mana has finally reached a usable level, perhaps to the level of Shuras and Pearls. In the wild, its not uncommon to fight for hunting grounds. Kill the owner of the hunting ground to take over it. Its something normal. Bas, Bastard! What? Wanna fight over this cave with me for real?.. When I shook my finger provoking them, the man with an axe and his gangs faltered. But DD Hoho? You, use some interesting techniques huh. From the shadow of the man with an axe, as slender man with glasses appeared. A man with mossy green-colored hair. This guy is not an ordinary person. You can tell by the Mana hes letting out. Naga-san! The man with an axe called the glasses man, Naga. Is he the leader? This is a warning. The coral golem at the end of the cave is not at a level you can deal with. Its wise to go back. Can you deal with it? Yes, of course Then, if I can beat you, that mean I can beat it, right? I point the tip of my dagger at the man with glasses. The man lifted his glasses, and put his right hand forward. Alright. Ill get on that provocation! Ah, wait, Naga-san! You, in this rainDD! Dont stop me. The blood as a Magician is boiling after a long time! I step forward and plunge into the man with glasses called Naga while drenching in the rain. Take this! This is my most valuable Magic Technique, Sand Magic! Sand!? Sand rises from Nagas feet. DDHowever, Whoaat!? The sand sucked the raindrops and fell to the ground. Wa-wa-wait a minute! This battle is invalid! I hit Nagas head with the handle of the dagger. In one hit, Naga fainted and fell to the ground. A few seconds of silence comes between me and the axe man. Are your leader, an idiot? Yeah, thats why I usually get rid of problems before him Go, if its you, perhaps you can beat that golem too. Okay DDBe strong, man. I lightly sympathized with the axe man and returned to the cave. Looking back, I saw the axe man holding the man with glasses pitifully. Whats wrong with them A lot of gold ore was sleeping in the cave. Lets take it on the way home. But, why is such a mountain of treasure left unattended? Perhaps people were scared of that guild? The guy in the back of the cave solves my question. [GOOOOOO!!!] A beautiful open space in a cave where red and blue ores illuminate the area. There it was waiting. It has a body that is five times taller than me. A golem with blue coral-like crystals from the whole body. No doubt, that is a coral golem. Perhaps people were scared of this and so no one dared to get close to this cave. DDLion Spear I unseal the lion spear and hold it with both hands. The golem opened his mouth wide and turned to me. [Gooo!!!!] Blue crystals released from its mouth. I strengthen my whole body with Red Mana and jump sideways to avoid it. When the crystals landed on the ground, a roaring sound could be heard. They blasted and scattered debris around them. Its like what I heard I kick the wall in the cave, swing the opponents line of sight from side to side, then kick the ground and jump up. At the same time as its gaze turned upwards, I put Red and Green Mana into the lion spear. Grow! The spear stretches and crashes into the golems forehead. However, the spear was sluggish there, as if it couldnt grow any longer. CLOSE I sealed the spear back. Indeed, it seems that its useless if there is not enough power to break through that armor. Is it hard to do it with a weapon I have? Then, Lets give up on breaking it, from the outside. After landing, I roll up the talisman that sealed the lion spear. At the same time, the golem tries to tackle me in a high-speed. I put my hands forward and caught it. Oh Different from what I thought, the golem stopped with just a little strength. Is it the result of the special training? Well, it wasnt in vaDDin! I grab the golems arm and throw it at the back wall. The golem digs into the wall. The crystal one the body should have received a considerable impact from it, but it still doesnt detonate. Does the crystal wont detonate when it received a shock as long as its attached to its body? The golem quickly breaks out of the wall. [Gooo!!!!] The golem opened its mouth again. DD I was waiting for it. ! I take out my dagger, from the talisman, hold it with my hand and rush. I drop the released crystals with the dagger. The first crystal I dropped, it caused a blast, and the other crystals too. Throw myself into the black smoke with all my might and throw a paper ball into the wide-open mouth of the golem. The golem swallowed the piece of paper containing the lion spear. Alright, time to end this. I raise my finger, OPEN The lion spear is unsealed inside the golem. The lion spear pierced the golem from the body to the head. One down! The golem couldnt even scream and collapsed on the spot. Im take out the Coral Cracker from its body, draw a letter on it and seal it on a talisman. With this, my mission completed. On my way home, I collected the other ores and sold it at . The ore wasnt as expensive as I expected, even though I carried until my arms full of it, it was only 2000 Ouro. Well, lets buy some sweets for Akane-san with this money. Five days have passed. I have done what I can. Im ready. DD The first day of Tenzaka Month has come. At the arena, Im waiting for her. CH 48 48. Seal vs Layla (1) Ancient Arena . A dome-shaped place. Inside, there is a circular audience seat, and in the center, there is a square stage. All of it made of stone. The roof blocks the sunlight, so the light is a candle made from magic. Its a round glass with a Green Alchemy Stone embedded in the center. I guess they used some magic to lit it. OO`iii! Its not the time yet!? Im tired of waiting! I wonder if you really can see a really interesting match, you sure right!? Many guests were sitting in the audience seats drinking alcohol. There are knights, merchants, who got drunk there. I stand on the stage and look at Pearl, who has his arms crossed next to him. Oi, Pearl. I havent heard that there would be audiences. HaHaHa! Its impossible to rent an arena for free! At the very least, we have to attract customers and makes this as an event to cover the expense! Youre making another people as a spectacle without permission, you know Anyway, why are they so pissed? Because I told them 30 minutes too early! My bad! Thanks to you, it became like this. Well, thats fine. Ill shut them up right away. Yeah! Im looking forward to it! Outside the stage, there are three knights in addition to Pearl. All of them are women. Who are they? Theyre a white magician! When something happened, I immediately brought them to heal your wounds. DDHooo! Finally, the other main character for the show is here. Well, as a supporting character, Im off the stage. While the swearing of the audience who got tired of waiting flew around, Layla appeared wearing a long skirt, a shirt with buttons, and a robe. That clothes Is it the school uniform? There is something like a school emblem on the shoulder. You came early. Seal-kun. Well, it seems youre not running away. I cant run away. I will win and prove it. That, Grandpa, Ain Freiheit, was a trash amongst human being Ain Freiheit Is that his real name? DDIs that so? I see. I dont think even if you win, you can decide your grandfathers personality as you wish. Thats true. Then, Im not going to proof but Ill deny it. I deny. Deny the technique of that person I will crush that devils technique that he got from human experimentation, with this hand. If you can do it do it. Ill seal you together with that silly delusion of yours. Layla glares at me. So, I glare back at Layla and step forward, Then, a cute voice Yeah! Just like that! echoed behind me. Unfortunately, its a voice Ive heard a lot. Keep going! Raise your middle finger there! Like this! THISS! Shura Shura raised her middle finger and sticked out her tongue. I turn to the back and approach her. There is a step between the stage and the audience seats, forming a groove. and Shura was there. I bend down from the top of the stage and adjust the height of my line of sight to Shura who touches the stage. Why are you here? Go to the audience seats. Youre so noisy Huh!!? Im your second! Your Second! You should be thankful that Ill be giving you the right instructions! I only have a bad feeling about this hmm, Sorry shura, but can you take the hemp bag that has fallen there? Hmm? This? Shura grabbed a jute bag that is the size of a sack, held it with both hands and placed it on the stage. I grab the hemp bag and say, Thank you Then I turn my foot toward Layla again and start walking. About 20 steps away from Layla, I stopped. What is it I wonder? Inside that bag Its a secret weapon thatll surprise you. Please look forward to it. About thirty seconds before the bell rang, Pearl, who was standing outside the stage, shouted. Then I will explain the rules! If you admit defeat, or out of the ring, or admit that you cant continue the battle, you lose! While listening to Pearls explanation, I untie the jute bag. Hey Layla, one thing before fightingDD Can I make a prediction? Okay, tell me. I grab the mouth of the jute bag with my right hand and lift it. Then thrust my left hand into it and tell her with a provoking tone. This battle, I will definitely take the first hit. what a funny joke. Then, lets fight each other fair and square! Thats allDD DDThe sound of the bell echoed throughout the city. We start to move with the voice of Pearl, Begin! I grab both ends of the jute bag and shake it with all my might, throwing the contents over Laylas head. The contents of the jute bag, that isDD Rubbish? Its a lot of rolled paper. Its a crumpled paper ball. At first glance, its just garbage, but DDAh, its not! For those who know Sealing Technique, its a pile of weapons. Layla changes her expression. Yeah, Layla immediately noticed that each piece of paper had a weapon in it. O Flame, rise up !!! Layla accumulated Green Mana at her fingertips and lit a flame on her finger. Ah, she plans to burn the scraps of paper before I get to use it. wont let you I put my right hand on the ground and cast a spell. DD CLOSE A pentagonal red letter that appears from my right hand to Laylas feet. DDIts a Mana Sealing. Yesterday, I came to this stage and drew a letter in a color that was as close as possible to the color of the floor, and covered it with sand from above. If you put in Mana, it will give off a color and stand out, but if you dont put in any Mana, it wont be noticed. I came to this stage first to guide Layla to the east. If I wait on the west side, Layla will naturally stand on the east side where the trap is set. Its not a foul. There is no rule that you shouldnt set a trap beforehand. Mana Sealing!? As expected, Layla knew about Mana Sealing. But it doesnt matter. Shes already one step behind. The Mana Sealing I set is activated against Layla, who is in the center of a huge pentagonal character seal. This was the size thats barely enough to cover her. If the character stamp of the Mana Sealing is too large, the performance will be weakened. Therefore, with this size, the limit is to disturb the Mana is still at its best. No way, you, in advanceDD! The flames on Laylas fingertips are disturbed and extinguished. Garbage scraps are flying in the air. When the trash is above Laylas head, I cast more spells. OPEN The things that came out from the trash, Seven blue crystals of Corral Cracker.. It falls at Laylas feet. As an impact shocked the Coral Cracker, its started to filled with light. DD!? My prediction, is right A bursting coral, a blast that rolls up. But, its not the end. I put my hand on the ground and kept sending Mana to the pentagonal mark. At the same time, the ground with the pentagonal character engraved on it cracks due to the explosion, and the Mana that was sealed on the ground is released and bursts. Yeah, triggered explosion, a two-stage explosion for the first strike. A smoke from the blast covered the arena. The roaring sound made the audiences swearing completely gone. CH 49 49. Seal vs Layla (2) Did I overdo it? Well, its an unexpected firepower Isnt this bad? I, who was far from the mark, could feel the blast and Layla, she was blown to the edge of the stage Are you okay!? Layla!!!! I start running towards the smoke as Im worried about her. As expected, with the current firepower, even the granddaughter of the Old Man DD Idoit! Seal! Above you!!!!! Hearing Shuras voice, I look up overhead. There Layla was holding four knives in her right and left hands and aiming at me from the sky. Her clothes have torn and there are some scars on her body, but she doesnt seem to have suffered enough damage to slow her down. DD Rain Snipe !!!! Eight knives thrown all at once. The throwing itself was simultaneous, but there was a difference in speed between the knives. I was worried for nothing! I jump forward and dodge knife. The leading knife pierces the ground, crushing the ground and raising sand smoke. In the sand smoke, there were seven knives. Its faster than I expected!? Strange. I should have avoided all of it. I feel hot pain in my right flank. I turn my eyes to the tip of the pain. There, an iron knife was stuck from behind. Knife? From where DD Its shallow, but why Im sure dodged all the knives. Is it related to Laylas Rainbow Mana? Is it Mana of Turning or Mana of Transparency? Or was it a wind magic that manipulated the orbit of the knife to turn around? Did she move it faster with Blue Mana? No I saw the knifes once again. The number of knives stuck in the ground is DD7. The number of knives thrown by Layla should have been eight. One is missing. If one of them is a knife stuck in my flank, the chance that she changed the orbit is thin. If it changed direction, it should be in my sight when I dodged it. You have no time to rest As soon as Layla landed on the ground, she closed the distance with me in one step. Close combat, huh? Even though she knows the abilities of the sealer, to go directly at me its just a suicide act. ! I equip the dagger that came out from the talisman on my right hand. And parry Laylas attack. Taking advantage of my training experience with Pearl, I read Laylas movements and swung the dagger, but Laylas knives in both hands parried my attack. Then Laylas stretched her legs and kick my flank. What!? The impact of the kick shakes the knife stuck in the flank, causing pain. I immediately pulled out the knife and stepped forward to parry Laylas attack. Its a good sword handling. For an amateur like you. Arent you a little too strong? Girls are more popular if theyre weaker! What is the purpose of her action? According to Pearl, Laylas basic tactic is a long-range attack by throwing a knife. But why is she coming close? Im a sealer, if I can hit her with one direct hit, and leave a character stamp, itll be my win. What is the meaning of approaching me even though she knows the risk? Perhaps! Does this girl have the same one-shot kill skill that can be activated in a close combat as I do? DDHummph! Layla crosses the knives with both hands in an X shape. I paired it with the dagger, and while moving backward, I paired Laylas pursuit attack. If I hadnt trained with Pearls Ossan, I would have been easily destroyed There! There! Put your feet out! Aaah Seriously! What are you doing! You should do a hook there! Dont pull, dont pull! Press!!!!! Shura was rampaging outside the venue. Shut up! Im not as agile as you! Idiot! Dont stop!!!!! Layla throws a knife on her left hand at a short distance. I reflexively close one of my eyes, twist my neck and dodge the attack. Seeing a gap, Layla grabbed my right wrist with her left hand. Wait a minute! Layla turned her wrist, not hearing my restraint. DDMy field of view has rotated. I got thrown. My body turned sideways beautifully. I noticed that my back was on the ground and Layla was about to swing the knife down from above. Seal!!! Its over! Great timing. I swing my right leg up and turn the sole of my shoe toward Laylas belly. On the back of my right foot shoe, a circular magic circle is drawn there. DD The magic circle with the word { written on it. DD!? At the moment where Layla almost got her win, the stretched out that was sealed on the back of the shoes came out. The spear emerged and pushed Laylas belly. Urgh! With the cooperation of Shura, the that was sealed was long enough to reach the audience seats even from the edge of the stage. If all goes well, it will be an out-of-field KO. It should end like that but, The spears tip disappeared from her belly, as it lost its hardness and bent. I look at Layla. She wore a swirling Blue Mana all over her body. As expected, its Ruten ! Just now, it was dangerous Seal-kun. The Mana that I put in the lion spear did she scatter all of it with her Blue Mana? The bomb that I prepared and the lion spear Both of it are supposedly an attack that can makes me win, but its not enough huh! Seal, thats enough Layla stopped moving and spread her hands. Lets stop this fight here. Hoo, what an unexpected proposal. I can see how hard you have been training yourself by looking at your movements. Youve been doing a lot of magic training since you were a kid, like I did, right? No, thats not the case, though? I dont think I can take away that effort anymore. Im not telling you to quit being the sealer. If you go out of this city quietly, I wont say anything anymore. So, lets stop it heDD What is it huh? Layla, are you scared? Im not going to accept her proposal for reconciliation. Im fighting better than you expected, and since youve got a slight chance of losing, you want to stop it huh? Hey, Layla. Youre scared to read the letter, right? What do you mean? Youre afraid to accept the fact that the Old Man died, youre scared. No, Thats not it. Shut up You know that the curse made the Old Mans life short, right? Thats why, you dont want to read it By keep telling yourself that you hate him, you can avoid the sadness of his death. I really hate Grandpa! Its not a lie! I hate grandpa, I really hate himDD If you really hate the Old Man, you cant bear to live in that house, after all, in that house full of memories of you with the Old Man You leave the door plate alone and keep the stuffed animal that the Old Man gave you. Thats because there was no other place to live. If you asked Pearl, he would have let you stay at his home as much as you want. He let me and Shura to stay in his place so easy. Annoying DD You know it. That if you read the letter from the Old Man, you cant escape from that feeling. You want to escape from the sadness of losing a lovedDD Shut up!!! Layla frowned, shook her eyelids and looked at me. If you keep speaking such a strange speculation, Ill stick a knife in every finger. Seal-kun She mustve known somewhere in her heart that he hasnt done anything wrong. But she couldnt keep her heart in piece unless she made the Old Man a villain. Fierce bullying, expulsion from the academy And the existence of a disciple of her loved grandfather, me. She instinctively felt that her heart would be broken if the death of an even more important human being overlapped there. Thats why, she denies. Denies the affection. So that she wouldnt have to be sad. She knows that shes just turning the problem around. You, dont know anything. How selfish Ain Freiheit is? She has to face it. I have to make her face it. Otherwise, she wont be able to leave this city for the rest of her life. I dont like her so much. She has a troublesome personality. Shes like a walking bomb shes not good at cooking. Sometimes the light goes out of her eyes. But I have to do my best to get her to read the letter. I have to help her walk forward. I have to get her to laugh from the bottom of her heart again. There is only one reason. Because I can affirm, that there is her existence in the Old Mans regret. Not for Layla, I swing the sword for you (Master). He only went home for a few weeks a year, He always looked lonely. He monopolized the rare technique, Sealing Technique, for a long time without teaching anyone. Many people came to Grandpa with a lot of money to ask him to become his disciple! With that money, my mom and dad could have had more fun, but that person refused! And after all of that, he passed that Sealing Technique to some stranger like you! Layla opens her eyes wide. You dont know much about Ain Freiheit! Layla approaches me while scattering knifes. I carefully parry the knife with the dagger in my right hand and the spear in my left hand, and wait for her next action. Layla throws a knife. With this, there is nothing left in her hands. What are you going to do? I have a weapon. This girls dexterity is amazing, but still shesDD !!? When I parried the knife that was coming close, pain ran to my right shoulder again. The pain made me dropped my dagger. When I looked at my shoulder, I found a knife stuck there. From where..!? No, more than that DD Tsk! Layla was already in the spears range. I try to intercept with a spear, but Layla easily avoids it. Layla pulled her right hand and lowered her back. Shes going to drive in and use the bottom of her palm. But, it shouldnt deal a great damage Hey Seal. Do you think that Ruten can only be used for defense? Blue Mana swirled around Laylas right hand. One theory came up in my mind. Ruten is a technique to disperse the Mana of the target. If you got hit by it directly, what will happen to the Red Mana that used for strengthening your body? DD The worst ending ran into my mind. This is baDD! Rutenshou Laylas whole body, which has a swirling Blue Mana, explodes in my belly. The impact of the spiral was transmitted to the back. A, argh ! The Red Mana that I used for strengthening my body was cracked. The reinforced palm heel struck my bare body. DD Ugurh!!? The taste of iron spread in my mouth. CH 50 50. Seal vs Layla (3) Floating in the air, I managed to stretch my legs while making a wry face in pain. Then I rubbed my toes against the ground to weaken the momentum. I stopped at the edge of the stage, and got on one knee. Argk! Bloody sputum gets entangled in my throat. Its hard to breath I need to get my breathing in order. The game is not over yet. Why Laylas face was saying, Its strange. Thats right, her attack If it had hit me directly, I wouldve lost my consciousness. Layla sees the spear in my hand and finds out why Im still conscious. I see, you stretched your spear and flew behind to avoid a direct hit, right! Thats right. Immediately before the bottom of her palm hit me, I stretched the spear in my hand to the ground and lowered my body. Its a close call you know Really, If she come to attack me with the same attack, even if its not a direct hit again, Ill lose for sure. Before I knew it, I noticed that the venue was quiet, and I looked at the audience seats. Its very different from before the start. The audiences line of sight was completely shifting from the bottle of alcohol in their hand to the stage. The voices of the audience at the venue came into my ears. Hey, is this really a fight between kids? Are you stupid!? Theyre comparable with the Knights platoon leader! The voice of the audience gradually rising. Its nice to be them. Enjoying the fight Im in danger you know? Oooo! Suddenly, my stance goes wrong. My knees are shaking. My line of sight is becoming a little hazy. Up to this point, I got stabbed with the knives on my shoulders and flank and it seems that Ruten blow was heavier than I expected. Youre really persistent, Seal-kun. It seems Ive underestimated you too much. I never thought the fight would be so long. Layla put her right index and middle fingers together and put them forward. I have to give you a reward. Ill show you my full power With that said, from her fingertip, there is a light that seems to be her Rainbow Mana. She started drawing a magic circle with that light. Sub-Source Color, Rainbow Mana! DDYes. This is my Sub-Source Color! Intuitively, I felt something was wrong, so I stepped forward. Layla used her finger to draw two magic circles in the space in front of her. Its a small fist-sized magic circle. Passing my head, one of the two magic circles goes behind me. Layla formed a knife in her right hand and threw it at the magic circle in front of her. I stopped and made a stance ready to fight, but the knife disappeared when it touched the magic circle. It disappeared!? Warp Snipe I feel a sudden sharp pain on my back. The knife went deep and stuck in the center of my back. You must be kidding. The knife has moved from that magic circle to the other magic circle? Hearing Shuras reaction, I understood the characteristics of her Rainbow Mana Its DD Mana of Teleportation, right!? To be exact, its Mana of Transference. My Rainbow Mana erases things and moves it! So, throwing knife and mana that can transfer it somewhere well, yeah, this is what you call by good combination, I mean DDThe worst situation!!! Let me praise you! Even at the academy, no one had ever made me use this mana at full power! Layla throws the knife again at the magic circle in front of her. I turn over and see the magic circle behind me. DDThe knife she threw appeared from the magic circle. Its a foul! I intercept the knife with the spear and immediately turn to Layla. However, at that time, Layla had spread out 10 new magic circles. Oi Oi Oi DD Give me a break!! 10 magic circles + 1 magic circle she made before. Total 11 Five of it moves to surround me. The magic circle behind me also joins in the formation. I pierce the magic circle in front of me with a spear, but the spear has passed through it. There is no substance!? Layla pinches the knife between her fingers and throws it at the remaining six magic circles in front of her. The knife comes out from the magic circle that was set up around me in the center. This ! I jump straight up and avoid the knife. As if she was reading my actions, all the magic circles in front of Layla moved right in front of me who was in the air. The magic circle that was set up around me sucked in the knives. Itll comes out from the magic circle that has just moved. DD!? Shes recycling the knife A knife is fired at me in the air from the magic circles set up side by side in front of me. This, I cant dodge it DD! Idiot! Dodge it! Seal!? I won..! I cant dodge it. DDIf so, I just need to knock it all down! , DD OPEN ! A roaring sound could be heard in the arena. The air swelled and the tornado wrapped me around. Whats happening !? The audience in the venue raised their voices. CLANK!! CLANK!! CLANK!! All the knives were hit by the blade of the wind and fell to the ground. A ring with a Red Alchemy Stone embedded, is on the index finger of my right hand, And in my right hand is a sword with a Green Alchemy Stone embedded in it. Its Uncle Pearls sword! Yes, this is a sword that produces a wind blade borrowed from Pearl. He let me use this only during this battle as a reward for dropping three hairs. And that ring is GrandpasDD! T-t-that is Old Man Bars !!?? So, you have it huh! The sword I received from Pearl and the ring I received from the Old Man. Its a one-time only combination. Black bruises spread from the ring to my right cheek. The time limit is 3 minutes. Mixing the wind and the red aura, I point the sword in my hand at Layla. I dont have any tricks left. From now on, Ill just push by sheer power! CH 51 51. Seal vs Layla (4) Magic Circle that could transfer things. Knives formed in Laylas hands were throwed and approached me through the Magic Circles. DDI intercepted all of them with . My body that was strengthened by , made me able to wield the sword at a high speed and created a wind curtain. Magic Circles were surrounding me. I made one full turn while swinging the sword, destroying all the knives the moment it came out of the Magic Circle. No way! Laylas expression becomes cloudy. Im glad I used my Mana as minimum as possible so far. I still have a lot of Green and Red Mana. That means, I can fully use these two trump cards that cost a lot of Mana for quite a long time. But what about you? Layla. Ruten, Rutenshou. Repeatedly making knife with Green Mana. Also constantly using Rainbow Mana since a while ago. Do you still have a lot of Mana left? Its a competition of endurance! The corner of Laylas mouth goes up. Very well! The knife formation speed increases and it is thrown out randomly. I drop the knife and steadily pile up step by step. Its been a minute since I activated the . I dont have much time left. But I cant be impatient. Its too early to use it. Layla, do you know what your grandfather was doing away from home? I dont know! Anyway, Im sure its not something good! Youre wrong! The Old Man, he was going around to seal the threat of the world. I know one of many great evils that the old man sealed. A demon that devours people, called as the Corpse Emperor! Its a monster that can destroys a country! If you leave it alone, you dont know what kind of damages that dangerous existence will makes! ! He went around far away from home to keep away the threat of humanity. Im sure it was to protect someone special! If you spread the Sealing Technique, the threat could be easily sealed! A sealer can unseal the seal as well as a seal. The reason he didnt teach others how to seal so badly is to prevent mischief from unsealing the great evils he had sealed! There is nothing wrong with his actions! Thats all your delusion! Layla was defenselessly standing behind the magic circle thats connected to the magic circle in front of me. DD There! ShiDD !? I thrust the sword a few times at maximum output, and the generated wind blades passed through the Magic Circle. It transferred to the Magic Circle in front of Layla, and it hit Laylas right shoulder. Ugh!? Layla drops the knife from her hand with an expression of agony. There! I saw a gap that I was waiting for, so I threw my sword on the spot. DDIts end here. Coloring! On top of my body that is still strengthened with , I released the limiter of my physical capabilities with, Coloring. My figure was covered in orange color and appeared in front of Layla as if I used a Teleportation Magic. What the! So fast! I certainly dont know much about Ain Freiheit, but I tightened my right fist and pulled my right arm. Isnt you too ignorant of Barha Zetta? DD!? Layla was frightened and lifted her right heel from the ground. But immediately, she regained her position. Pulling her right hand, Layla prepares the bottom of her palm. Rutenshou! A swirling Blue Mana was wrapped around Laylas right hand. Shes trying to prevent the mark that I may make with of my right fist. If she matches her palm with my fist, the Yellow Mana covering my fist will get disturbed. DD Im sure things will go according to her expectations. If I really let go of my fist. DD CLOSE I caught Laylas palm with my left hand. There is something on my left hand. I wore it just before accelerating with color. Its something without Mana, a white color DD Glove!? A pentagonal character stamp is drawn in the center of the glove. Ruten that disturbs Mana. My glove that seals Mana. Two anti-mana techniques, Ruten and Mana Sealing, collide. Take this! This is, Mana Sealing!!? At that moment, the palms of my left hand and Layla right hand scattered sparks and the waves of Mana went to burst. As a result, my gloves broke and Laylas Ruten was cancelled. This is the measure for Ruten that I prepared. I put out my right fist. You, how far are you going to DD MARK I hit Laylas face with the Red and Yellow Mana in my right fist. A character stamp appears on Laylas cheek. I put a talisman with her name on my right finger. The talisman was shining blue. CLOSE Laylas clothes were left behind, and her body was sucked into the talisman. The magic circle drawn on the talisman is dyed red. DDHuft, Seriously its been a long process. Sealing, complete Finally. The venue couldnt keep up with the development, and it was so quiet. As I lifted my fist, it heated up in a blink of an eye. CH 52 52. Promise Light was lost from . Red Mana has disappeared from my body. A feeling of weakness starts to attack my whole body. + Coloring This combination really put a heavy burden on the bodyDD WWOOOOOOAAAAHHHH!!!!! WhaD!? A wave of crowds overflowing from the audience seats. Already exhausted, I couldnt escape and was swallowed by the waves. Hey, you! Do you belong to any guild!? If you like, you can join our Delivery Guild, Pegasus Delivery, with the girl earliDD! You damn Delivery Guild, go away! If you want to make the most of your skills, of course its on the battlefield. So, come to this mercenary guild led by me No, wait! You are an acquaintance of Captain Pearl, right!? Then come and join the Knights here! We gladly welcome you! A woman in uniform, a big man with a rugged appearance, and a male knight with a serious look in armor approached me while rubbing each other. Wait a minute, guys! I dont feel like joining to any grouDD CLAP!! Suddenly, I heard a sound of clapping hands from behind. When I turned my head, I saw Pearl with both hands clasping together. The crowd went silent when they heard Pearls clap. Well, I never thought you would really beat Miss Layla it seems, youre a man far beyond my imagination! But even though youre the disciple of Old Man Bar, your fighting style is more like Saurus-dono. Saurus? The junior of the Old Man? Make the most of your various skills, corner the opponent, and then seal the opponent. This is exactly how Saurus-dono fights Anyway, the battle just now was amazing! I couldnt have this many cards up of my sleeve, if I wasnt training with you. That girl, she was really a monster, really Shura hit me on my back, put her hands on my waist and looked up at my face. You well, youve grown stronger! Especially that last accelerationDDonly in that moment, your speed was about the same as my speed when I used Coloring. Id like to have a spar again with you someday! Spare me from that. I dont feel like I can win against you who know my trump cards. Hmm, Shura raised her right hand to demand a high five I clap Shuras hand. CLAP!! So, what are you going to do now? Im going to fulfill my promise. Ill go to Laylas house, unseal her, and have her read the letter. I see. Then, Ill be waiting at Pearls house. No, I want you to come too. I need you to treat Layla. Aaah, right, she was injured. Okay, leave it to me! I look at the talisman with Layla sealed inside and sit up. Put all the weapons inside the talisman and get treated with the Healing Magic of the White Magician brought by Pearl. Then, I shake off all the invitations from the persistent people and head for Laylas house with Shura. C Laylas house wasnt locked so I went in easily. I recently learned that there are many unlocked homes because is basically full of only good people. In the living room where I had dinner with her before, I take out the talisman with Layla sealed inside. Shura looks at the talisman with curious eyes. This, isnt this the seal that can be broken by tearing it? Yeah. If the vessel is broken, the seal will be DD Shura stole the talisman from my hand and torn it, Yay!. What are you doing I want to see what happens As the vessel is torn, a naked white-haired girl came out from the seal as if she got kicked from inside. Uwaa!? The girl was thrown into the air. DDThis is bad. The skin is getting near!?? Kyaaa!? Layla, a white-haired girl, was falling down. I thought that I would hit the table behind me with Layla. But, somehow I managed to support Layla by holding her back with my arms. I felt something soft on my right hand. This is!? Something I grabbed in a hurry had a very soft feel. I move my hand three times and finally find out what it is. Hey, Stop ! Yeah, this is that. Girls Mountain. Lets make a prophecy. In a few seconds later, I would be blown away by a slap. Im sure of it. .. Her mountain is not that elastic. It easily deflates with a weak force, and swells slowly when you release it. Its doesnt really have elasticity, but when you let go of it, it immediately tries to move up. Yep, this is a type where you cant really feel its weight, a bowl type. [TN: Bowl type = Round type] Seal-kun until when you want to keep holding it? Layla was staring at me with face dyed in red. Her cheeks were red like a normal girl when they got embarrassed, but her eyes were pitch black. Shit, I was moved by the rare touch. That I forgot Hmmph! Laylas elbow hit my cheek. It was a clean hit. I got blown off, my body spined and plunged into the sofa. Well, of course right It hurts After Layla finished her treatment and changed clothes, I was finally allowed to look other things than the wall. Layla wore the same white dress she had when we first met. Layla looks away from me and mutters in a low voice. I, lost huh I take out the envelope with the letter from the drawstring bag. Time to fulfil your promise .. Look and read it properly Layla received the letter and stopped with her right foot on the stairs. Hey, Seal-kun. What kind of person was Grandpa from your perspective? What kind of feeling she has to come up with that question? I tried to think deeply, but I stopped. I decided to give an honest and frank answer. He liked books so much as if it was his lover, He wasnt good at teaching clumsy knew strange tricks and a lot of boring stories, and DD I bend my eyebrows and loosen my mouth. Only when he talked about his granddaughter, he looked happy he was an old man who kept thinking about his grandchild. When Layla looks at my face, she looks like somewhat relieved. I see Layla went upstairs to her room. Is that girl will read the letter properly? DDShell read it for sure. Im sure, she has cooled her head off Well, Lets go home. Akane-san seems to be preparing a feast. A feast huh it doesnt matter to me. Dont say that. Ill tell you how does it taste in detail. That! Dont do that! Its just a bother to me! I open the door and go out of Laylas house with Shura. CH 53 53. Letter I lost. I was defeated by Seal-Zetta. But why I dont regret it at all? The room is dim with only a small light from the outside. But fortunately, no, unfortunately, the sun is shining on the desk. Its as if something is telling me read the letter there. I put the envelope I received from him on the desk in the room. Sit in a chair and tear the tip of the envelope with my finger. Pick up two bland papers from the inside. My finger stops. My chest feels painful. My defense instinct is screaming that I shouldnt read it. Nevertheless DDInstead, if I winDDIll have you read this letter! DDWhat is it huh? Layla, are you scared? His words grab me who tries to escape. It cant be helped, because its a promise. Because its a promise, Ill read the letter. Not because I want to read it With that excuse, I open the folded letter. A nostalgic grandpas handwriting jumps into my eyes. I breathe in And start reading the letter. Dear, Layla Freiheit, First of all, I want to apologize to you. The letter began with an apology. I caused trouble to you and your parents. Im really sorry. Its all because of my poor crisis management ability. But I want you to believe this. The things that would makes me unable to see you right in your eyes, I would never do it. Eh As your grandfather, I never do anything that would makes you ashamed. I was trapped into someones tactics and was condemned. Im innocent DD! All this time, The word Ive always wanted to hear all this time was simply written in the letter. Im sorry to keep silent about it. I chose silence so as not to involve you. If I claim innocence, you will surely go crazy in search of the criminal. I was scared of it. It is For me? Then Then, why now! But I dont need to worry anymore. He should be by your side now. The line after that was written with stronger pen pressure. My beloved disciple, Seal Zetta I stand up with the letter in my hand and approach the window. From the window, I see a black-haired boy walking along the road. Seal Zetta While holding my hand on the window, I turned my gaze back to the letter. Even if you throw yourself in danger, he will surely protect you. From that sentence, I felt absolute trust from Grandpa to him. Well, youll be bored if its just a stiff story. Before you continue reading this, first look inside the teddy bear I gave you when you were seven. The bear..? Of course, I cant forget it. An ugly stuffed animal that Grandpa bought when I was seven years old. If you have thrown away the stuffed animal, you can dont need to continue reading this. You can throw this away. I sealed a certain thing inside a talisman and put it in inside it. Perhaps the seal has been broken. I pick up the stuffed animal in the corner of the room, unzip it from the back, and look inside. There is a piece of weakened talisman. Right next to it, there is a flower-shaped hair ornament. DDIts a pink hair accessory. Its the same color as the cherry blossoms of I hold the hair accessory in my right hand and go back to the desk to read the letter. Its what I was trying to give for your sixteenth birthday. However, the hair accessory was originally planned to be given to another girl. Its my daughter. Im sure you dont know, that besides your father, I had another child. A daughter named, Lyla. I have an aunt? I thought that Dad must have been an only childDD But she fell ill before her sixteenth birthday. 16 Its the same as my age now. The hair accessory was the one I wanted to give to her when she was sixteen. But, she died the day I bought the present. I was pouring on you the love that I couldnt give to her. You look just like my daughter. When you feel uneasy, you have a habit of grabbing the hem of my clothes. When you sleep, you like to kick the futon. You like to be pampered, and have a radiant smile like a cherry blossom. All of that was exactly the same. Well, I couldnt help it because you were so cute. At the same time, I was worried, What if you die before you turn 16 years old, just like her? But you grew up energetically. I couldnt even see the shadow of any illness. I was really looking forward to the time when you became sixteen. Stop, stop it I hate it, I dont want to read it. My chest is about to tear. I hate you Grandpa, I hate you! I was really, really, looking forward to the day you put on that hair accessory. But Im sure, I would have lived out my allotted span of life before youre sixteen. From the bottom of my heart, I wish I could have lived a little longer, Just a little longer. Maybe you dont need such a thing and throw it away. Still, thats fine. As long as you are alive, I dont wish for anything more than this. I avoided it all the time. I knew Grandpa had been cursed and had lost his life by this time. Im sure its because I cant accept the fact that, Grandpa had died. Thats why, I chose to hate Grandpa. Sorry DD The truth is, I really believed, that Grandpa hasnt done any human experimentation. But, I resent, detest and hate Grandpa. I was in denial. Not accepting the fact that Grandpa died, I tried to not think about it. I should have known, that I was just putting it off. Im sorry! When I noticed, tears were spilling from my eyes. The first letter is over, so I move to the second one This is bad, Im not good at putting it into words. Please, put a blanket on when you sleep. Im worried because you often pull off your clothes showing your stomach when you sleep. Use your money properly. You always buy what you want right away. I dont want to say anything about your love life, but I hope that you feel in love with people who value their promisesI wish I couldve seen you wearing a wedding dress. The letters gradually become thinner. Weak and winding. You can tell by looking at the letters that he could barely hold the brush. You can tell it Finally. Live, Layla. Live, no matter how painful it may be. There will be many farewells in the future. There will be a lot of sadness. You can stop or look away. But dont stop living. I know a lot of people who lost their lives before accomplishing anything. Never do anything that would kill you. I am watching over you from heaven. Well, if I could have a wish fulfilled, it would be to see the cherry blossoms at Mother Punk with you again. Suddenly, I remember the day when I first saw the cherry blossoms in here while grabbing my grandpas little finger. Only when Grandpa was looking at that cherry blossom, he wasnt anyones Grandpa, he was just my Grandpa. Layla Freiheit. I love you from the bottom of my heart. Your smile was my salvation. The last sentence after this. I dont want to read it. I knew what was written there. But still, I have to read it. Thank you and goodbye Im sure I cant get out of this city if I couldnt read that sentence and overcome myself. From Ain Freiheit DD Finally, the name that was written there, was not the name of the sealer, Barha Zetta, but, Ain Freiheit, my grandpa. DDUnforgivable. Grandpa, I will never forgive you! I remember what I said to him. The last words I exchanged with Grandpa. Grandpas face at that time, I still cant forget it. Grandpas crying face, I cant forget it. Grandpa I, I was wrong. Liquid drips from my eyes and nose. I tightly hold the letter, suppressing my desire to scream. Grandpa, please.. Let me say Thank you. Let me say Im sorry. Let me say I love you and Goodbye to you! The sobbing echoed silently. Gradually the sobbing grew, and eventually I cried like a child. The emotions that Ive been held until now finally burst. No matter how much I wish, time will not come back. Now, Grandpa is only left in my memories. The last memory wouldnt change no matter how much I struggle. I couldnt forgive myself who act like a spoiled girl, who act like a child forever. DD Hey, Grandpa. If you could hear me, let me tell you this The cherry blossoms at are still as beautiful as ever. CH 54 First, Ive decided that Ill rewrite this series in this style. Im pretty sure my translation skill has got a lot better as my writing too. So, from here, Im sure, itll be more enjoyable to read. Finally, there is an info about the manga adaptation. Itll start from next month, 3th of June, so, next week. I guess, itll be a be-monthly (2 chs per month, 1st and 3rd Friday of the month) since its Young Gangan. Based on the magazine itll be published, I guess, its going to be categorized as Seinen (Young Adult). So, Ill resume this series again, albeit, itll be slow (for a while?) Here is an illustration to commemorate the announcement by the manga artist. (Also going to be on the cover of the magazine) Some Illustration 54. New weapon 1 One night had passed after the battle with Layla. And now, it was early morning. As usual, I had Akane-sans food for breakfast. Pearl seemed to have been away from work since the morning, and the table was surrounded by me, Ash, and Akane-san. Seal-kun, where are you going today? I refreshed the curry taste in my mouth with water and replied, Im going to meet an alchemist in this city. I want a new weapon. Ara, arara! Then youre going to see Dia-chan, I see~ Saying so, Akane-san raised her fluffy ears. Dia was a child of Pearl and Akane-san. An alchemist, who had a store in . Yes, it seems that her shop is the only alchemists shop here. MUNCH!! MUNCH!! Ash with curry in her mouth raised her face. Seal! Ill follow you! Catgirl she must be cute Thats right. Im interested in half-humans and half-humans. Ufufu. You can look forward to it. Shes very cute, my proud daughter~ Seadust Island the loot I got there. It was a red and green alchemy stone. I would like the alchemist to use those and create a new magic item. That was all for todays schedule. Ah, can you bring the silvervine cookie and give it to her? Its her favorite food ? Silvervine Well, she is a cat, after all. [TN: Silvervine (Actinidia polygama) is said to be the cats favorite] Gladly, its just a simple task. Ash walked fast on the road. This girl, when her favorite things are involved, her tension is rising high. Hey, did you like animals so much? I like cats and dogs. My sister loves only dogs. What about you, Seal? I dont particularly like or hate any animal. So, hmm if Im to say one, perhaps, I like birds. Im jealous of being able to fly freely in the sky. That, feels different from the like were talking about Guess so. Rather than like, perhaps you can say, Im longing for it. I opened the map that Akane-san gave me and aimed for the place marked with a red cross. As a result of walking toward the X mark, we arrived at the second level above the bottom layer. Its quite impressive. Really In front of us was a building that ignored the exterior. A rugged building that stood out in this city, built of natural objects. A chimney extended from the roof of the building and was blowing smoke. The sign that was properly raised had the words, Kettle of Galatia. I wonder if its open Turned the oil-stained doorknob. A light jumped into my eyes. The inside was surprisingly bright. Glass-enclosed cases containing magic items were lined up along the wall. The boxes placed there were uniformly labeled as 500 or 1000 ouro. Inside one of the boxes, it was whetstones and cloths that would likely be used to maintain the armor. There were some ores of unknown use too. elcome` I heard an unmotivated voice. There was a cashier counter near the door. And, a girl was on the other side of the checkout counter. A girl with cat ears on her head. Unlike Akane-san, she wasnt a pure beastman, but a human girl with cat ears and a tail. The mouth was hidden by a scarf. The physique was small, a good match with Shura. No doubt it was a clerks habit to put the elbows on the counter and looked at the book in the hand without looking at the customer. The catgirl scratched her head with her long tail and yawned, Fuah~ I walked to the counter with suspicion. Are you Dia? The catgirl with a mix of black and white-colored bangs, opened her sleepy eyes and looked at me through the gaps in the bangs. Thats right, but who are you? Ash, who stood next to me, started to move. With a shining eye, she shouted, Cat!. Although Dia was just a half beastman, it seemed that she was still within Ashs Must protect range. I know your parents. And Ive been living there for a while as a guest. I see. So? What a cold reaction. A child of that passionate father and gentle mother, I imagined an active girl who would add `nya at the end of the word, but it was the exact opposite of what I had imagined. Can I, stroke your ears? Ash listened while squirming. Fine, but its 100 ouro per touch. Hearing it, Ash dropped her shoulders. Ash looked at me with her pitiful eyes as if asking for 100 ouro, but I shook my head. Arent your guard too thick? Its a measure for that silver-haired devil. Silver-haired devil? The name is Layla Freiheit. Once, I was struck all day long. Im sick of it. Huh, that girl is the cause? Well, she said she liked cute things. I didnt think there was an interaction between Layla and Dia. It seemed that the old man and Pearl had a close relationship for a long time. So, yeah, it was natural that their family members, Layla and Dia, also had some contact. Thats right, I almost forgotDD Here, its from Akane-san I put a parcel containing the silvervine cookies on the checkout counter. Dia received it with both hands wrapped in her sleeves, expressionless. Its the silvervine cookies Oh~. Thanks. I myself, will be in high spirit, if theres this. There is no change in your facial expression though? Im often told that I dont show up expression on my face. It shows with my ears, so if you want to know my feelings, I myself, recommend you to look at my ears. Her cat ears were expanding and contracting. I see, is this a signal when shes happy? Can cookies be put away for now? My main purpose is this one. I opened the drawstring bag, took out two alchemy stones from the bag, and put them on the counter. When I placed the alchemy stones, Dia looked into them with interest. Her ears were moving just like when she got the cookies. I want you to make a magic item with them. Dia took out the magnifying glass from the shelf on the back without turning her body and carefully observed the alchemy stones. The alchemy stone of formation, harmony level 3. And the alchemy stone of creation, harmony level 4 Harmony level? Its an indicator of how powerful it can be when fused with ore. Simply put, its the rank of Alchemy Stone. The maximum is 12. These two arent bad at all. Dia put away her magnifying glass and took a thick book from the back shelf. Its the catalog. Dia presented a book to me. I received it. Surprised by the weight, I was about to drop it. Is this really a book? The catalog was as simple as connecting paper with a string. I opened it and took a quick look. Swords, shields, spears, bows, amors There were a wide variety of things. An image diagram with explanations was written next to each. Dont be so confused I have three now. If the opponent isnt a ghost-type monster, I can just use the dagger . A spear that stretches when you put in mana, . A ring when you put it on your finger will greatly increase your fighting power, but once you put it on, you cant remove it until the red mana is exhausted, . For close combat, I have perfect measures. The problem is medium and long-distance. I had returned the sword, , to Pearl, and the only effective attack method against enemies in the distance is to extend the Then should I get a bow? No, its hard to throw away the shield that can solidify my defense Hmm? When I flipped through the catalog and approached the second half, There was a magic item with a strange, never-before-seen shape. Dia, whats this? I expanded the catalog and showed it to her. Ah, this is I see, you can even make such a thing huh? Dia pointed to a part of the catalog. Looking at where she was pointing, it was written as 1%. The success rate is listed here. These two are almost certainly not successful with our technical capabilities. Then dont put it on the catalog Im hoping that someone will provide the alchemy stone to improve our technical capabilities. The items from that page onward were purchased in one of the 22 cities under the Emperor, the alchemists town, . Anyway, it seems that a ridiculous genius duo has recently entered , and theyre all the ideas of that genius duo. I see. It seems there are many amazing guys in the world. Ring now, the alchemists town is being swayed by the genius duo. Clearly, the level of their technique is different from others Well, right now, I dont care about the story of such a genius. It seems each has its own success rate. But, none of them is 100%. Is there no item with a guarantee of success? Its the only alchemy stone I have, I want to avoid failing. At least 90% or more DD Hmm. Im not sure, but I think, Im going with this. Shield and bow. Both are good choices, but this one is the one that seems to suit my style. Seal, which one did you choose? I opened the catalog so that Ash and Dia could look. The V-shaped throwing weapon was drawn on that page DD A boomerang! CH 55 55. New weapon 2 The success rate was written 90%. It should be no problem. In terms of range length, the bow would be the winner. But, the bow must be with the arrow. The boomerang should be more convenient as it had nothing to consume. A boomerang, is it? Sorry but, Im afraid I cant make it with only these alchemy stones. Huh? Look here Once again, I looked at the catalog. Below the picture of the boomerang, there were red, blue, and yellow circles. This is the type of alchemy stone and how many are required for making the item. The alchemy stones required for this boomerang are red, blue, and yellow. One for each. Are you going to put a total of three alchemy stones into one weapon? Ive never seen a weapon with three or more alchemy stones Alchemy stone of strengthening (Red), Operation (Blue), and Domination (Yellow) all of them would be incorporated into the boomerang How good of a weapon would it be? I was really interested, but I didnt have Blue and Yellow Alchemy Stones Seal, youve only red and green. Well, I guess, Ill choose other Wait Dia opened the door nearby the counter and went inside. In less than a minute, she returned with a blue alchemy stone. Ill exchange the alchemy stone of creation for the alchemy stone of operation. Oh? Is that okay? This alchemy stone has harmony level 2. Its one rank inferior to the alchemy stone of creation. Its not a bad exchange, right? But still, I dont have the yellow one. I have a plan for that too. For the time being, I exchanged the Alchemy Stone of Creation (Green) for the Alchemy Stone of Operation (Blue). Theres a volcano all the way northeast of this city. You mean the Mt. Grueri? Thats right. The guardian of that mountain is using Black Mana. Is that so? Then, what? Right now, I really want a black alchemy stone. If you defeat the guardian, you may get a black alchemy stone. If you bring me that, Ill exchange it for the yellow alchemy stone I have. If I defeated the guardian of Mt. Grueri and got the Black Alchemy Stone. I could exchange it for a yellow alchemy stone. Then, I could make the boomerang, well Its not a bad deal. But, a monster with Black Mana that means, it can manipulate the Mana of Destruction? Im a little worried, but it cant beat my curiosity. Alright. Ill kill it and bring you a black alchemy stone. Ash, can you follow me? Sure, OK. But, before that Ash leaned over at the cashier counter and, She hugged Dia tightly and had Dias face buried in her chest. Ah You said you would take money if I stroked your head, but you didnt say you would take money if I hugged you. I-I forgot to mention it. Well, its your own fault. When Ash was satisfied, we left the store. DDNear Mt. Grueri, The smell of burnt rock filled the air. Red cracks ran through the ground, and there were magma swamps here and there. Normally, when people came to these kinds of places where sparks fly all over the place, they would wear armor and clothes that covered their whole body so as not to burn their skin But, I and Ash had come in our usual clothes. Its hot! DDDamn it! I shouldve prepared properly. The sparks came to my cheeks. I wiped the burnt skin with the sleeves of my cloak. The high temperature was already annoying, but the sparks were even more annoying. I wondered if Ash, who was exposing her bare feet, would have had a harder time, so I turned my face to her, and I saw the wind was blowing around Ashs body. The wind armor was deflecting sparks DDAsh. You Hmm? What is it, Seal? Did you say something? I cant hear it well because of the sound of the wind Can you, give me, wind armor too?! I walked around the volcano after having Ash put wind armor on me. The monsters that came out were all the ones who could manipulate fire. They werent very strong and could be defeated without using the Sealing Technique. But no matter how much I walked and looked for the guardian, I couldnt find it, not even a monster that might be it. What should we do? Should we go deeper? No, its too dangerous. The area of ??magma is larger inside. Even if the guardian is there, I wont be able to fight properly. Stop! As I was thinking, I heard a bitter voice with a low tone. A tall rock in front of me and Ash, and we could hear the sound of feet from the top of the rock. Huh. It smells like a hassle From the voice, I didnt think an ordinary person would come out. So, I picked up the talisman with { written on it. [TN: the lion spear] A shadow jumped from the top of the rock. DD!? When I saw the cute existence, I almost dropped the talisman from my hand. What are you guys doing here? What is your purpose! It had fluffy hair and was walking with four legs. It definitely looked like a dog. However, a beautiful low voice echoed from its mouth. The, the dog talks! Looks so fluffy!! CH 56 56. New weapon 3 A dog that could speak human language. Such a dog walked between me and Ash with an elegant way of walking. Hmmph, no wonder that youre surprised. This I, in this appearance because of cursDDemmph!?? The dogs talk was stopped by Ashs hug. So cute so fluffy S-stop! Dont hug me! Ash stroked the dog, hugged it deeply, and stroked it again. Good grief I put the talisman inside my pocket again and released the fighting stance. Stop! Dont stroke my head! Even if you do thatDDIm happy No, Im not happy! DDWell, isnt your tail more honest - Black fur. White mane extending from the nape to the back. A dog carrying a small bag appeared. This I, is Garratt. The great alchemist! While being held by Ash, the dog gave its name. Yeah, yeah, alchemist, is it I wonder, why a dog in such a place? What happened to the owner? Im a dog, but not a pet! Originally, Im a human, I became a dog because of a curse! Thats a pity I dont need your sympathy! Ah, dog! The dog left Ashs arm, jumped, made a circle in the air, and finally landed. I didnt turn into a dog because I wanted to! Then, why? This I, like dogs. I dont want to leave a dog even for a moment, but I cant stay with a dog all the time. Dogs will get stressed. But, I couldnt give up my dream of spending time with a dog? thats why, this I, was reborn! As a dog! If I myself become a dog, Ill never leave a dogs side for a lifetime! DDYour love is too heavy Dog. Dont leave. Again, Ash held the dogDD Garratt. So, Garratt-san. Why are you in a place like this? My buddy wants a black alchemy stone. I heard that I could get it if I defeated the guardian here, so I rushed! Well, then youre going to fight with us. Our purpose is also the black alchemy stone. As expected! But, stop it. This I, is strong. You wont win even if you fight with full power! Its not convincing when you are told while being aimed by such a cute paw Garratt escaped from Ashs arm. Garratt then ran away from Ash, but Ash kept chasing. The two draw a circle and follow each other on their backs. The guardian here, Magma Rock , hides in rocks! If you cant follow its smell, you wont even have the chance to fight! Do you know the smell of it with your dogs nose? Thats right! You wont find it with your human nose! The sense of smell, is it For being cursed to lose her sense of taste, Shura is blessed to have a better sense of smell. Worst case, Ill ask for Shuras help. But, no matter how good her nose is, I dont know if she can smell this Magma Rock Do you really recognize the smell of the Magma Rock? Although youre a dog now, you were originally a human, right? Garratt got caught by Ash. Just like that, Garratt looked at me with a sharp eye while being lifted up again. Dont underestimate me! This I, can smell the Magma Rock perfectly! Really? Then, why are you selling oil in such a place? Instead of bothering us, you should go straight to Magma Rock. Because the Magma Rock is near here! First, Ill get rid of you and then start to hunt Ah! I see. So, the Magma Rock is around here. Bastard! Youve tricked me!? No? I didnt. I just simply asked you. There were three remarkable big rocks. A red rock with two bumps. A dark, burnt-smelling rock. A rock with white and red lines. I pointed to them one after another. Is it that red rock? Nah That burnt rock? Nah That white rock? And, Garratts ears moved. Nah I see, so its that white rock Mmm!? How did you know!? Dog, is easy to understand So, that white rock is a monster? Alright, lets launch a first strike and get rid of it as soon as possible. , OPEN I took out the dagger from the talisman. Ash. To that white rock, attack with your magicDD A soft object came on my shoulder. Hair stuck on my cheeks. I knew the identity of the culprit. Oi! Dog! What are you doing!? Y-you! What is that wonderful dagger!? Its not just the shape thats great. The daggers alchemy stone has a harmony level of 9!!! Where on earth you got such an item!? Who cares! Get off quickly! Move, you damn fluffy dog!!! CRACK!! The ground cracked. The white giant rock in front grew up while ringing the sound of the earth. [Annoyiiiiiiinggggg!!!] Two hands and two legs. A humanoid rock emerged by joining rocks together. A red magma was running all over the body. The face had red round eyes and a rectangular mouth. It was big about the size of a normal house. Do we need to fight that Damn it! My first strike failed because of you! Thats my line, you dog bastard! Garratt jumped off my shoulder, landed on the ground, and was ready for battle. [Who! Who disturbed my sleep!!] Garratt pointed the cute paw at me, and I pointed my index finger at Garratt. That dog bastard. That unscrupulous person. [Its you all! Unforgivable! KIIILLLL!!] Magmas were released into the sky from the head of the Magma Rock. CH 57 57. New weapon 4 The launched magma turned into arrows and fell on us. Can you not go and run alone? You little Dog! Who are you talking to! Wearing the mana of strengthening on my legs, I jumped to avoid the arrows of magma. Landing on a giant rock. Garratt, like me, was covered in mana and jumped again. Garratt bounced to the ground and used it as a foothold to jump again. I could barely follow the movement. Garratts speed was comparable to that of Shura. Not bad The curse that turns a person into a dog Since its a curse, there should be blessings, right? I wonder what it is Magma Rock hadnt been able to react. Garratt now was on the back of Magma Rock. Green and Red Mana started to manifest from Garratts body. I Myself, Shall become a dragons fang and destroy the enemy ! Transformation Technique, Stage Bud,Mighty Water Dragon!!! Swirling water wrapped around Garratt, who disappeared into the stream. The water turned into jaws, fangs, and wings. Its appearance was exactly that of a dragon. DDthe Water Dragon bit the back of the Magma Rock. Too shallow! The fangs of the water dragon only scrape the surface of the rock and didnt reach the core. A sign of mana came from the whole body of Magma Rock. This is bad, a counterattack is comingDD [Get away from me!] What!? Magma Rock sprayed magma from the whole body to the dragon that bit the back of the head. The water armor easily evaporated, exposing Garratt. To think Ill be killed like this! The right fist of the rock of Magma Rock approached Garratt who was frightened in the air. That stupid dog! DDAsh!!! Aqua Shooter Two spears of water were released from both hands of Ash. The water spear crashed into the back of both knees of the Magma Rock. It stopped moving for a moment. In that gap, I accumulated Red Mana, jumped in front of it, hugged Garratt, and landed on the rocky mountain on the other side. Im saved! As thanks, Ill give you the right to pet me later! Well, give it to that blonde girl! The Magma Rocks fist crashed into the rocky mountain where we were standing. I and Garratt jumped in the same direction and had a conversation in the air. Whats your Sub-sourcecolor? Im yellow. Ash is black! This I, is black. There is enough firepower. Hit with maximum firepower at once and roll that rock on the ground! I and Garratt slid on the ground and landed behind Magma Rock. This I will make a chance! You do something to finish it! Okay! DDAsh!! Lets do the collaborative technique we practiced before! OK Garratt released the mana of creation, causing visible green mana to rise above the ground. O cold air, Create a phantom of myself! The mana that sprung up felt cold. It slowly turned into the shape of a dog. Be A Flower Garden. Multiple, Moisturize, Dry, and Color Yourself! Transformation Technique, Water Dance!!! Colorful watercolors were created in the cold air in the shape of a dog, and innumerable alter egos with the same color and shape as Garratt was created. [So annoying! Die!] A flock of Garratts surrounding the Magma Rock. The alter ego blocked the view of the Magma Rock one after another. Nice performance! I succeeded in joining Ash while hiding in the shadow of Garratts alter ego. Ash! Lets go! Yes Picked up two talismans. , CLOSE , OPEN! Put the dagger inside the talisman, equipped the spear in my right hand, and pointed the spear at the Magma Rock. At the same time, Ash raised the cane on my spear. Coloring, Black A black light was lit on the tip of the . + Black Mana a jet-black spear was completed. I put Red and Green Mana into a spear. Take this!DD Roiro Magayari!!! [TN: Roughly it means, Deadly Black Spear] Extended the spear and made a flash to the side. A black flash ran at the feet of the Magma Rock. [It, Huuuurrrrttssss!!!!??] The rocks on both feet fell to the ground. Two murderous intentions were directed at Magma Rock. Coloring, BlackDD Roiro Gousui [TN: Roughly mean, Dangerous Black Water] Coloring, Black! DD Transformation Technique, Stage Blooming,Mighty Black Dragon!! Ash put Black Mana on the spear of water and shot it. Garratt turned into a black dragon and headed for the Magma Rock. [I wont let you!!] The Magma Rock spewed smoke from the whole body and hid itself. Ash and Garratts attacks were misled by black smoke. It missed the core, but managed to hit the Magma Rocks shoulders and turned both shoulders into charcoal. As expected of a humanoid monster, it wont end that easily huh? However, it has lost both arms and legs and can no longer move. DDYeah, we got this. Scoundrel, now! Seal! I went straight and got close to the Magma Rock. Pointed the spear at the Magma Rock, and Die! stretched the spear toward the face of the Magma Rock. It couldnt do anything and had no choice but to welcome the spear. The tip of the spear pierced the Magma Rocks face DD It was supposed to [Always, you all, so annoying, its irritating!!] Just before the spear reached its face, the whole body of the Magma Rock shone DD in black Oh, right this guy has Black Mana DD! The tip of the spear collided with the Black Mana covering the Magma Rock and was flipped. We got it wrong! Garratt! Ash! Take a distance!!! [Youve been, bullying me a lot!!] The Magma Rock once again, put out Black Mana all over the body. Magma was sprayed from the rear as it was, and it moved as if about to tackle someone. The Magma Rock focused on DD the least agile, Ash. This, this is bad Sh*t! She has just done a big move, she wont be able to do dodge! DD! Little girl!! Ash!! If I use the can I make it!?? What!? This smell is! Scoundrel, Behind!!! Garratt shouted at me. Hah? I felt a chill on my back and stopped picking up the talisman. What, is DD This ridiculous magical pressure! The pressure was so strong that you almost forget everything in front of you. Helper? A new enemy? If it was the latter, I would definitely die. I felt the presence from behind, which told me that I couldnt win. I wasnt the only one who felt it. [DD!?] The Magma Rock looked behind me and stopped rushing. Move A voice of, a young man. As I turned around, a shadow ran past me. I chase after the shadows back. The shadow was a human wearing a sand-colored hooded coat. Human is he an ally? In his waist, there was a rusty sword that was about to break and a cane with a green jewel embedded. The intruder pulled out the rusted sword from his waist with his right hand. What are you going to do with such a rusty sword? I mean, cant you see the Black Mana covering it?! Wait! Its dangerous to get close to it now! The intruder moved forward without worrying about my screaming. The intruder had a silver-white wind on his left hand and released the wind towards the Magma Rock. Vattle Srebro [TN: Based on the kanji, it means Silver Whirlwind or Silver Strom] A whirlwind mixed with iron fragments. Dont be stupid! Its not so easy to get rid of the blackDD When the silver breeze came into contact with the Magma Rock, it extinguished the Black Mana covering the Magma Rock as if blowing out a candle flame. He blows it with wind (Magic) I, Garratt, and Ash couldnt keep up with the sudden action of the man. Ganmetsu [TN: Roughly mean, Rock Breaker]] When the intruder chanted something, the rusty sword in his hand turned into a big sword. A sand-colored sword that was the same color as the coat. Perhaps feeling something dangerous from the big sword, the Magma Rock seemed to be apparently impatient, this time it covered the head with Black Mana and rushed to the intruder as if it wanted to head-butt him. Move! Ignoring my advice, the intruder aligned the index and middle fingers of his left hand, which had no sword, and pushed forward. What!? I squinted in a hurry. I thought that such a grotesque scene where fingers being melted by Black Mana would soon happen, so I squinted my eyes reflexively. However, the sight that spread beyond my eyelids was completely different from my imagination. Are you kidding!? DDThe intruders finger didnt melt and caught Magma Rocks headbutt without him being pushed back. The Magma Rock was vibrating with all its strength. On the contrary, the intruder seemed to be not putting any effort into it, and his body wasnt shaking at all. He calmly caught the giant with two fingers. [W-What are youDDwhat are you!?] The Magma Rocks words matched my feelings. You Wrong. Not my target. Oi, have you heard the name, {Mud Emperor}? The intruder asked a question. The Magma Rock didnt respond to the intruders question, raised his head, and tried to head-butt again. I instinctively thought. That the Magma Rock would die soon. No? Then, disappear. The man easily slashed the opponent we couldnt finish with three people (two real humans, and one human who turned into a dog). I could hardly see the sword flash, and when I noticed it, the Magma Rock had fallen apart. The big sword returned into a rusty sword and was placed on the waist of the intruder. Then, the intruder finally turned to me. Dark red hair, yellow eyes. Drop-shaped earrings were attached to the left and right ears. A man who still looked good with the word young. I realized that I had seen his face in a certain place. He is ! DDWell, what should I do? Do you want me to break you free? All the guards here, Ill deal with them. a man who started a conversation with the old man. One of the four visitors who visited my prison cell. If Im not mistaken, his name is Adolphos TN : This ch so many magic incantations. And most of it would sound nonsense if tl-ed literally to English. For now itll be like this. I may change some of it in the future. CH 58 58. New Weapon 5 Adolphos. Im sure he said he was indebted to the old man. The old man also felt that he trusted him. He may be aware of the person who despised the old man and made him a criminal. Should I ask? tch, another miss huh? Adolphos saw my face, but there was no particular reaction. Apparently, he didnt remember me. When he came to that prison, he probably didnt even recognize my presenceDDmy bad, to have such a low presence. Oi, you therDD Bastard! Who are you! Garratt roared. With his teeth exposed, Garratt threatened Adolphos. Oi, Dog, what happened to you? Why do you Dont let your guard down! The man smells like a monster! Are you stupid? What are you saying? Isnt he a human by any means? Well, it seems that dog have a good nose. WHOOSH!! With a rustling sound and the sound of cutting the wind, bright red wings came out from Adolphoss back. It spread big and fiercely, it was exactly what you would call DD Dragon wings ! As Ive guessed! Adolphos flapped his wings, moved onto the rocks, and turned his back on us. Its not just Dragon. Besides that, Sylph, Slime and another one. DDThat dogs nose Wait, is it a blessing? A normal dog doesnt have such an unusual sense of smell. Its too sharp. Well, the other one is a monster called Metal Conductor, a monster that manipulates metal. Bastard, are you a ?! No. But not far away. Once again Adolphos swung the dragons wings up and down, floating in the sky. I forcibly tried to understand the principle of the dragons wings with the knowledge I had. Perhaps its something made with the Mana of Creation? I mean, you can make iron. It wouldnt be strange if you could make monster wings DD right? Im sorry, but I have no more time for you. Wait! I have something to ask! Adolphos stopped his wings and landed on a rock. what? Do you know BarDD When I tried to ask about the old man. GROWL!! DDA sad sound interrupted my story. .. It was a belly ringing sound. From the direction of the sound, the owner of the sound was definitely Adolphos. COUGH!! Adolphos cleared his throat. Ive something urgent to do. Im going back now. Huh? Wait a minute!! Adolphos flew away in no time. Whats with the urgent? Youre just hungry It was a man who gave off a strange smell. I dont want to get involved with him too much. Garratt turned his paws back and approached The Magma Rocks corpse. Black miasma was rising to the sky from the Magma Rocks corpse. The head of Magma Rock melted and a black bead appeared from inside. Garratt walked up to the bead and held it in his mouth. Ah! You Dog Bastard! I rushed to Garratt, thinking that the dog would take away the Black Alchemy Stone. However, Garratt threw the stone in his mouth toward me, which wasnt what I expected. Caught the stone with both hands while taking a step back, Whoops! You guys played a bigger role than I in this battle. Lets say Im quietly withdrawing. No, I think the MVP was definitely you, except for the intruder. From the beginning, it was one-to-two. If you add up the work of the two of you, it will exceed the work of me. Besides, I was saved by you. At that point, I lost the right to get it. Really? Then, thank you. Hmmph, you better cherish it. See you. This I will collect some ore here. I need to have some souvenirs to bring back. Garratt left in the opposite direction of . I flipped my foot toward while spinning the Black Alchemy Stone with my fingertips. Fluffy dog.. Alright, time to withdraw. Now I can make a new weapon. I put the stone in a bag on my back and walked toward . Boomerang with 3 Alchemy Stones Im looking forward to seeing what kind of performance it has. - When I returned to the alchemy shop , I saw a girl with cat ears raising and lowering her head, while wetting the scarf with saliva. Fluffy and cute Well, its definitely a lovely figure. But, is it normal to ask someone, and you yourself go to sleep? Sure, I dont know her skill as an alchemist, but as a clerk? Shes disqualified Dia, wake up! I brought you the Alchemy Stone. Fuuu-nya? For the first time, a way of talking that I expected came out. I threw the Black Alchemy Stone lightly. Dia caught it and looked at it Hoo, hoo. You really brought it Youll exchange a Yellow Alchemy Stone for it, right? I took out the Red and Blue Alchemy Stones from the bag and arranged them on the counter. With this, you can make it, right? Yeah. But I want you to wait for a while. My partner isnt here. Cant you make it by yourself? Dont you know? In principle, alchemists work in pairs. As I tilted my head, Dia taught me more about alchemy. The basics of alchemy are reconstructing. Destroy the material and regenerate it while mixing. The boomerang we will make this time, will also destroy the Alchemy Stones and ore and regenerate them while combining them. To do this, you need both a person who can handle Black Mana and a person who can handle White Mana. Destroy the material with Black Mana, the Mana of Destruction. The material that has been destroyed and shattered is regenerated while being mixed with the White Mana, the Mana of Regeneration I see. If you can use both mana well, two objects will become one correct? You cant destroy the material too much, after all, you cant fix the material perfectly. The Mana of Destruction and the Mana of Regeneration must be poured in a well-balanced condition. I heard that alchemy is one of the most difficult Techniques. When I looked down to the lower right, Shura stood where Ash was. Wearing loose clothes as usual. Since when Oi You, I helped you get the Black Alchemy Stone this time, so there is a chance to get a White Alchemy Stone next time, please help me get it! It was Ash who helped me, not you. But, alright, I cant use a White Mana anyway. Well, as Ive said, I cant get into work until my partner returns. Alright, should I do something else for a while? When I thought about killing time somewhere. CLICK!! The door of the store was opened. Dia, Im back. The voice of a man with a deep low tone. Looking back, no one was there. But I could hear light footsteps. When I looked down to the floor, there was a dog there. Black fur, white mane extending from nape to back DD That Dog Bastard!?? Mmm!? Scoundrel! CH 59 59. New Weapon 6 Right, this dog said that, his partner, wants a Black Alchemy Stone. Also, he himself is an alchemistDD Wait, the name of this store . Garra(tt)dia Oh, its connected Mm? It seems youve been convinced about something! This I, cant understand the situation at all! DD What!?? A small body hugged Garratt. Strange, Ash shouldnt be here right now Dog~~! Good! Good! Well, Shura-san? Shura held Garratt with both arms and fell on her back. Where did the usual sour look go? The smile shines like a normal girl. Shura stroke Garratt, again and again. Ugh! Little girl, stop ! Fluffy~! Sooo fluffy Oi, Shura? Ah! Shura noticed my gaze and made her face red. Let Garratt go from her arm, she stood up with her hand on her hip. W-what!? Who are you? Wheres the real Shura? Shes not a person who will do something like this. Shut up! So, annoying! Dogs are different! An exception! DDWell, for the first time, I felt that you and Ash were sisters Garratt jumped to the counter, threatening Shura Grrrr! Seriously, no matter how pretty I am, your companion loves me too much! Arent you too full of yourselfDD Well, your partner has come, can you do the alchemy now, Dia? Yeah. Before that, you forgot one important thing. Hmm? I forgot one important thing. The indispensable items for shopping at the store. Money Ah At this time, Seal Zettas wallet was empty. Alchemy would obviously cost a lot. Whats more, all I provided was Alchemy Stone, and the other ores would be used as the material was left to Dia. In short, I made a big miscalculation. The financial situation was completely out of my mind. That face, it seems you dont have it! Unfortunately. If so, you have to show me the ACD (Alchemy Colored Device)! ACD? A weapon created by alchemy with Alchemy Stones Is it or ? If you let us observe the ACD that feeds our technology, well Pay the observation fee. Then you can use the observation fee to pay for the alchemy cost this time! Its a nice suggestion. I dont know if what I have is enough to make enough money for it. If you still have that dagger, theres no problem! Show it fast! No rush, dog. Ill put it all out now. I took out three talismans from my pocket and grabbed them. , , , D All at once, OPEN . A blue long spear. A dagger with an Alchemy Stone embedded in the brim. A ring decorated with Red Alchemy Stone instead of jewel. I unpacked everything I had and lined it up on the counter. What!!!?? Dia and Garratt were nailed to one of the three sacred treasures I had put out. They stuck their cheeks together and focused on something as if they wanted to bite it. It wasD the Ring of the Reaper, the . Wh wh why!? Why do you have something like this!? No doubt. Its ! Is it such a famous item? A hundred years ago, there was a legendary alchemist duo Arcana who made a name for themselves! Its one of the 22 ACDs left by them! If you sell it, its a ring that wont go lower than 200 million ouro! 200, Million ? The harmony level is 11. Well, well, its this shape the system, that you should keep an eye on. Is this an item with a curse and a blessing? No, its similar, but its different! I cant believe it, its something 100 years ago An excited and incandescent alchemist. Dias ears were going up and down. Nonstop. But, that old man, he gave me a ring that costs 200 million like nothing It was given as a practice tool, so I thought it wasnt very valuable. Sell this to us! If you sell this, Ill give you all the ACDs in this store! Ill give you whatever you want! Calm down, guys. Sorry, but I wont sell this no matter what, I cantDDIts one of the few things I received from that person. I picked up the . So, how much is the observation fee for these three items? Will it be enough for alchemy costs? Of course! Itll even leave you some money! Youve shown us a good one. The observation fee is 100,000 ouro for Osiris Orb alone. Ill cut 20,000 ouro as alchemy cost from there and give the remaining 80,000 ouro. Seriously!? Well, thanks. I thought about this, but if you show this ring at various alchemy stores, you can make as much money as you want, right? Shura, nice idea! I can make money without any effort just by showing the ring. Huff, time to say goodbye to poor life. I dont recommend it Why? We dont do anything because were good alchemists, but other alchemy stores? Some may hire bandits the moment they see this ring. Some may think of taking a risk and hold this ring as soon as they see it and run away. I-I see Ah, Dog! You bastard, dont get any closer to the ring more than this!! And also, not every alchemy store offers this kind of service. Then after over ten minutes of observing, the catgirl and the dog were finally satisfied. Not only but also seemed to be something interesting, and I received an additional 20,000 ouro as an observation fee. By the way, the was worth 0 ouro. It seemed to be a common ACD. Even though, of these three weapons, I relied on it the most. But convenience and rarity might not be equal after all. Osiris Orb Observation Fee 100,000ouro + Lutta Observation Fee 20,000ouro -Alchemy cost 20,000ouro. A total of 100,000 ouro filled my wallet. What an unexpected income. Im going to start doing alchemy in a separate room. It will be completed tomorrow morning. Never open the door! It would be helpful if you could lower the sign of the store when you leave. With the yellow, red, and blue alchemist stones, the alchemist opened the door inside the counter and went inside. Tomorrow morning We can leave tomorrow then. Right. Then, should we leave for the Imperial City as soon as we receive new weapons? Hey, dont you curious about it? Shura pointed her right thumb at the door inside the counter. They said to not open the door, right? Its a door with a window, so isnt it okay to look through the window? Thats, well Put my hands on the counter table, put my knees on it, and stood there. Shura jumped and landed on my side. We were in front of the door. With my height, it was enough to look into it with a slight bend. However, if you werent tall, you wouldnt be able to reach the window. Hmm! Hmm! Shura stretched her spine and desperately raised her toes. It cant be helped. Heave-ho DDkyaa! I lifted her body from the armpits and gazed at the window. O-oi! Dont treat me as a kid! Be quiet. I can hear the voice inside. Shura shut her lips and became quiet with Hmmph!. I lowered my chin and looked inside, just right from above Shura. . Only silence. With a large jar that was big enough to put people in, Dia was standing in a chair holding her hands over the jar, and Garratt was beside her with his paws also over the jar. Something like a pot was hung from the ceiling and installed on the top of the jar. There were Alchemy Stones and ores in the pot. Garratt destroyed the ore and Alchemy Stones with Black Mana, slowly decomposing them. Dia raised both hands and uses the White Mana over the alchemy stones and ores that Garratt had decomposed. Collected in one place, the powder was densely packed one by one to form a shape. I kept watching for 30 seconds, but it wasnt as lumpy as a pebble yet. I thought it would be somewhat flashy, but it was just plain. It was plain, but it made me forget to take a breath for a moment. Their concentration. I could feel it. I and Shura decided at the same time that we should leave. One disturbance could be fatal. They were doing such detailed work. We moved slowly from the counter to the outside, from inside to outside, lowering the sign, and heading home. So, thats an alchemy Its a field that Ill never ever be able to do. Same The outside was getting dark before I knew it. Well, its already dark. Akane-san said that she cant make dinner today because she has something to do at the knights place, so I wonder if we should eat somewhere before we go backDDHow about mochi while watching the cherry blossoms at night? Its cherry blossoms. Lets go see the cherry blossoms. , the top layer of the city would light up from 7 to 9 at night. The side of the cherry tree had started to become brighter, and you can see the cityscape from the side of the tree. Im not interested in mochi. But if its seeing cherry blossom, Ill accompany you. Alright! Lets go! The sunset dyed the city orange. Childrens bye-bye! voice. The smell of food from the houses around Made my stomach growl. I and Shura went up to see the cherry blossoms at night. DDI would never forget the cityscape of that I saw that day. The light of the pollen illuminated the dark night, the pink petals were fluttering in the air. The sea that spread in the distance Pollen melted on the surface of the water with the shadow of the moon. Expressing the beauty of this scenery in words was a little too hard for me. TN: So, this ACD, in raw, its bɫ which not even an existing word. But based on the context of this series, it should roughly mean, Alchemy (stones) Colored Device or Tool, so either ACD or ACT but I preferred ACD, so yeah, for now itll this. CH 60 60. The Curse of Goddess This also doesnt seem to have any relation. After finishing the cherry blossom viewing, we returned to Pearls house. There, I repeatedly took out the books from the bookshelf in Dias room, looked at the cover, and returned them. I was looking for a curse-related book. I havent searched in the room where youre sleeping yet, so If youre free at night, search for me if theres a book about curses. Well, I was asked by Shura on the way home from cherry blossom viewing. , , As expected, there were only books related to alchemy. To be honest, I was curious about everything. If possible, I would like to read all the books in this room, but if I did that, it would cost me three days and three nights. So I lined up all the books I was interested to read in the center of the room. No, I must not. Be patient, Seal. Curse Curse Curse None When I was about to give up Oh! There was a red, thin book. The title was . At first glance, it didnt look like something with a hint to break a curse, but it was the only book that seemed to have a curse in the title. So, I took the book and rolled on the bed. I turned the cover of the book while lying on my back. Well, lets check this out The first thing that was written in the book was not a table of contents, notes, or greetings from the author either, but a history. The history started from the White Calendar. The white calendar was an era when the concept of years didnt exist yet. To put it simply, it was what you called Once upon a time. White calendar An era when monsters didnt exist in this world yet. Humans were fighting against each other. In order to stop the conflict between people, the Goddess named Rondo separated the continent, which was one big land, into five according to the number of the five major powers that were fighting at that time. Its a common story, but Is this a fantasy story? Or is it a story that actually happened? I mean, Goddess who believes that such an existence exists in this world? But, yeah, it seems this world is more mysterious than Ive always thought. Well, lets continue Rondo thought that if the continents were separated, each would live quietly on each continent, as long as they lived in a different place, there would be no fight. However, the human war didnt end. People crossed the sea to continue the fight. People continued to revolutionize technology in the war and developed mass murder weapons one after another. All the weapons were dangerous, not only for killing people, but they were also polluting the world. Goddess Rondo finally warned the humans. If humans still continued to fight, She would destroy the human species. Humans listened to the word of the Goddess and abandoned their weapons, albeit for a while. When the warned generation died, the war started again. Goddess Rondo had finally run out of patience. Using the existence called apostle as a handpiece, the Goddess waged war on humans. Mankind opposed this. And, the war between humans and God began. This would be called the . The result of this war was Gods overwhelming victory. It seemed that there was a difference in the level, it was as if babies vs. adults. Humans were treated like ants. Mankind then soon surrendered. However, the Goddess who was dyed with anger didnt stop the invasion. When the population got reduced to one-hundredth, humanity threw in the last trump card. It was a single traveler, a man recognized by all five kings, the rulers of the five continents. The traveler sneaked through the apostles attack, stepped into the world of God alone, and finally reached Goddess Rondo. The traveler said. We were stupid, we will accept any punishment, but please dont eradicate humans. Goddess Rondo nodded in front of the travelers sincerity and pure heart. Instead, She put three conditions on the traveler. ? One, mankind should abandon the technology that they have now. In particular, tools that use harmful substances must be completely discarded. Do not leave its existence to posterity. This is, to reset the developed civilization once. ? Two, the traveler will manage humanity responsibly. The traveler will be given eternal life and the traveler must do something when mankind goes out of control again. ? Three, receive the wrath of the Goddess in the form of a curse. The traveler easily accepted the first and second conditions. However, the traveler asked Goddess Rondo what She meant about the third one. The Goddess said that if her anger never subsided, her anger that wanted to destroy humanity would no longer disappear and it must be isolated. The Goddess said that this anger should be divided into seven parts and scattered around the world as a curse. That was the punishment for humans who had polluted the world so far. Curse.. A curse is one set with a blessing, right? When I turned the page, I found the answer to my question. The Goddess said that receiving a curse shouldnt be all bad. The curse would have a corresponding blessing. With that said, the Goddess sent seven lights to the traveler. Red, Blue, Green, Black, White, Yellow, and Rainbow Seven kinds of colorful lights, blessings. The Goddess then said, from now on, humans should use the power of this blessing to live affluently. After returning to the human world, the traveler named these seven blessings: DD Mana Umm? In other words, the four-colored magical power flowing through my body is the power of blessing? Is this book credible? Then the history of the White Calendar was over, A new era, named after the Goddess, Rondo Calendar began. Right now, its Rondo Calendar, years 1598, so, this book, it should be written about 1598 years ago. From that point onward, there were endless stories of the traveler developing the world through alchemy which used the power of the blessing, Mana. It must be around here where the book piqued Dias interest. Apparently, this traveler was the ancestor of the alchemist But The important thing wasnt written in the book. The Seven Curses of the Goddess The book didnt mention their true identities, at all. Did the traveler do something about it? The ending still left many mysteries Also, this book said that the continents were divided into five, but there are only four main continents in this world. As expected, this smells fake. Then, I closed the book and resumed the search. But in the end, I didnt find any other book that Shura would want. .. I guess, its time to sleep I got ready for tomorrow and lay down on my bed to sleep. CH 61 61. Trying a New Weapon The morning of the departure day. But before going on a trip, there was a place I must visit. Is it done? I immediately went to the alchemists shop for my new ACD. I went alone because Shura was still scratching her stomach when I looked into her room. When I opened the door of the alchemists shop, a catgirl and a dog were waiting by the counter. On the countertop was a V-shaped object wrapped in purple cloth. Scoundrel, Ive been waiting for you! Well, I tried my best to come early. So, Dia, is that the thing? Yeah. It has no problem. Perfect. Took a slow step, consciously, so that they both couldnt realize that I was so excited. My throat was ringing and my chest was throbbing. Standing in front of the counter, I grabbed the purple cloth and pulled it off at once. It was about the size of a door. Beautiful V-shaped object. Hard material with a wood-like texture, a Blue Alchemy Stone and a Red Alchemy Stone were embedded in the bulge that serves as a handle, and a Yellow Alchemy Stone was embedded in the middle point. Ooohhh!! Somehow, it it felt different from buying the weapons lined up in the store, there was some other feeling. So, I couldnt help but raise my voice. The name is . Its a masterpiece with an emphasis on destructive power and operability. [TN: Engetsu means, Crescent Moon] When I saw it in the catalog, I thought it was a boomerang-like throwing with one hand. Ive never thought it would be this big Originally it was half that size. This one is special. I dont remember placing such an order, though? If you want to take advantage of the potential of three Alchemy Stones, this size is the best. I know that its difficult to carry a boomerang of this size, so I always keep it small when making boomerangs. But! Since you can use the technique of storing things, I dont hesitate this time. I decided to make it bigger in Garratts opinion. Nice, anyone would be surprised if an empty-handed guy suddenly puts out such a big thing, right? Lifted the end of the boomerang with both hands. DD Heavy. Without Mana, it might not even be possible to lift it. Even if you had Mana, it wouldnt gain momentum unless thrown with both hands. Ill explain how to use . Lets go to the plain outside . At Diars suggestion, I took a boomerang to the plains. In a flat land overgrown with grass. I, Dia, and Garratt stood side by side. First, Ill explain two points to master . In Short! Its Stack and Control! There were three alchemy stones attached to . Red, the Alchemy Stone of Strengthening. Blue, the Alchemy Stone of Operation. Yellow, the Alchemy Stone of Domination. Like the , each alchemy stone had a proper meaning Try put Red Mana in. Held the boomerang with both hands and put Red Mana in. Then, the Red Alchemy Stone shone, and white steam rose from the boomerang. Thats Stack 1. Put more mana! Like this? When more Red Mana was added, things like red sparks began to mix with the white steam. Thats Stack 2. You can put more mana into it. Its easy to say! Im doing my best alreadyDD Added more Red Mana. This is hard! My Red Mana is about to be squeezed! DD!? My hands felt hot. As a result of putting red demons with all my might DD covered in red. A red aura resembling a flame sprung up. Thats Stack 3 without any Stack, it has the power that can stun ordinary people when thrown. With Stack 1, its powerful enough to stun the small fry monsters. With Stack 2, it has the power to destroy even golems. And with Stack 3 Garrratt pointed the paws at the rock wall that could be seen in the distance. I nodded and threw the boomerang at the rock wall. Aaaaahhh! rotated vertically and approached the rock wall while tearing the space. BANG!! A terrible explosive sound on the eardrum. The rock wall was deeply carved. It was carved with traces of destruction that seemed to have been hit by a cannonball. If you use it with less stack, itll be a projectile with a small turn. If you use it at full power, itll be a deadly weapon! What a great weapon that suits my needs. It covers medium to long distances, and also makes up for my lack of firepower. Next, try to put in Yellow and Blue Mana. Okay, I think I can somewhat understand it. Yellow Mana, the Mana of Domination, was elongated from me, extending to the boomerang that bit into the rock wall. Attached the Yellow Mana to the Yellow Alchemy Stone embedded in . Then pulled it. And, the boomerang returned to me while spinning. Immediately before it returned, I tried to divert the Yellow Mana to the right, also fly to the right, then diverted the Yellow Mana to the left, also fly to the left, and lastly diverted the Yellow Mana to the sky, also fly to the sky. I caught falling from the sky with both hands. DD!? .. Dominate the boomerang with the Mana of Domination, and operate it! This is how to use , right? Whats with that face? Am I wrong? Somehow, you used it like a yo-yo Yo-yo? I-I cant believe you have such large amounts of Yellow Mana Such an unreasonable trick is possible!? Still, its inefficient. Before throwing, you should put Red, Yellow, and Blue Mana at once. I see If the boomerang moves away from your hand, the Mana will start to flow outside, but you can control it with the Blue Mana. Instruct the Blue Mana to control the other mana and throw it. The Blue Mana in the thrown boomerang will move the Yellow Mana as instructed by the user, changing the trajectory of the boomerang. In other words, the trajectory is decided before throwing. In your case, if you want to change the trajectory, you can do it as before. But, if you do such a thing every time, aside from Yellow Mana, you will easily run out of Blue Mana. For the time being, try to put my Mana into it, with the intent to make it going straight and returning straight. Okay, okay. Got it. I made a stance for throwing the boomerang. Go straight to that rock wall and come back straight Concentrated my mind and put in Yellow and Blue Mana, and a small amount of Red Mana. Haahh! Then threw it with all ones might. The boomerang flew straight in a horizontal rotation, changed its trajectory at the last minute when it reached the rock wall, and flew straight toward my side. Oh! Its working DDargh!? The boomerang that came back straight crashed into my belly without stopping. I flew into the air and dive to the ground from my back. Thats not good. You have to tell instruct it to stop at your own hands. Fool! Tell me that first, cant you But well, I understand how it works. Stood up and hit which was rolling behind. MARK DD CLOSE Sealed the boomerang on the talisman with ¡ written on it. [TN: = Moon] Even so, its a rare technique that you have. Isnt it the Old Man Bars Technique? How nostalgic. Garratt, do you know him? Only a little. Ive been helped once before. I know him too, but this is my first time seeing his Technique. Old man, youre known to various guys. Are you perhaps a celebrity? This is the end of the explanation. Thanks! Its a perfect weapon for me. If I have this, it will be much easier to make a strategy for a battle! Really, its a good weapon. I will take good care of it. Well, its our job. If you break it, Ill never forgive you! Yeah, yeah. It was a good time to go. So, I returned to once and returned to Pearls house to pick up Shura. Oh! Seal, Youre back! When I arrived at Pearls house, a man was talking with Pearl in the living room. Why are you here? I said in a slightly frustrated voice. The man who noticed me took off his fedora and waved at me with a light smile. Its been a long time! President! Sonata Campbell TN: So the name of the system of the Boomerang, its in raw, it means store, stock, gather, etc so I came up with the name Stack, at first I wanted to named it Reservoir, but Stack has a better ring in my ear, so yeah for now, itll that name. CH 62 62. Seven Threats Eh, hey, P-president!? First of all, take one hit! Held my fist and hit Sonatas cheek. Sonata fell to the ground with his chair, Ugh!? Seal!? What happened to you suddenly!? Because Ive decided to hit him once! I mean, this B*stard, leave us on a deserted island! Well, Id something urgent to do! Really! We just met again after a while and youre being so mean already Sonata fixed the chair while rubbing his cheeks. This guy, hes a Knight Captain but hes relatively light even though he used such a great magic on . Is it the same as Ash, who can use Green Mana but not so much Red Mana? DDWas you in the middle of an important talk? Sorry for disturbing you. Then. Ah, wait, wait. Seal, you should listen too. ? Sonata sat back in his chair and looked up at me with his black eyes. President, You remember that {Corpse Emperor}, right? Tch, itll be a long story huh. Anyway, I didnt sit in a chair, and just left my back on the wall outside the aisle. Of course. Such a dangerous monster is hard to forget. Seriously, I dont want to remember if I can. That {Corpse Emperos} is the problem now. Twenty-two cities of the Emperor, in one of them, The ancient city was attacked by him, half of it is now in ruin. What!? I couldnt help but bit my lips. At that time, if only I didnt let the {Corpse Emperor} escape from that island! Its not something you should care too much about. All of it is our, the Knights responsibility. Im fully aware of it. Nothing would have happened if you hadnt let the {Corpse Emperor} escape in the first place. Ahaha, youre so unforgiving huh. So, were you talking about what to do with the corpse? Its a little different. Like the {Corpse Emperor}, the problem now is those regenerators themselves. Regenerator Is it an immortal and self-regenerating monster? I dont know much about it Does President know how many regenerators there are in the world? Hmm 100? No, thats too many. 3 Oh! Sonata made a surprising look. Did I get it right? Well, its completely wrong. The correct answer is 7! Then dont give me a misleading reaction! But, 7 huh? It seems that its a lot and but also not at the same time Well, I guess its within the acceptable range? To be honest Im glad its not 100. Four of them were sealed by your master Barha-san and his disciple, Saurus, and entrusted to the Imperial Knights. Among 4 of them, you faced one. That man, the {Corpse Emperor}. The {Corpse Emperor} is out there, so now you only have three of them? Thats right. But, the other Regenerators that were actually kept in different places were stolen. Thats the urgent thing I wrote in the letter. Wait, all the Regenerators are always left alone? Hey for now, the Knights = incompetence guys. Thats my image of you all. Unbelievable. HaHaHa! Yeah! I cant argue! Its not a joke But well, even if theyre not stolen anyway when the old man died, the seal should have been broken and those Regenerators would have escaped, right? No, your master wasnt that sweet. Even if he died, he was taking measures to prevent the seal from being broken. Well, that measure was also solved by the one who stole them. Even though the seal is persistent, if the Sealer died, the security of the seal will be weakened. Now, even if you arent a sealer, if you are an advanced magician, you can break the seal made by Old Man Bar. Sealer Saurus Rosso and Barha Zetta. The release of the Regenerator is a sign of their death. With the release of the Regenerator, information on the death of the sealer will be transmitted to the world. The rampage of the (Corpse Emperor) will also accelerate the spread of information. When the other Regenerators mistaken it as the sealer has completely gone from this world, its only a matter of time before they go on a rampage. Therefore, we decided to form a new corps to capture those Regenerators, led by Sonata-dono! It was what we were talking about earlier. I dont know what would happen to this world if those who had the same ridiculous ability as the {Corpse Emperor} do whatever they wanted. So yeah, its only natural to take measures. I want to have as few members as possible, and so Im trying to collect only the elite. This?is?the?real?topic! This me! I want to add two people to the squad! They are in this or somewhere near , is that what you mean? Youre right! So, who do you think? President. Say quickly Youre no fun Alright, lets announce it now! The first is Adolphos Eater! He has the power of the {Dragon} which is the ruler of the sky, the power of {Slime} to parry physical attacks, the power of {Sylph} which could control whirlwinds, and the power of {Metal Conductor} which could control iron. He has the power of four kinds of monsters, so you can say he wont lose to a Regenartor in terms of ability and Mana. A brilliant man with great skill! That guy? Adolphos He helped me at . Being in a volcano probably means hes living near here. Still, As I felt when I met him, hes really an amazing guy. Adolphos, hes been on a journey to seal the Regenerators for three years with that Barha-san, and he has captured two Regenerators. Of course, he had seen and even fought with those Regenerators. In short, you can say hes a specialist for this. Traveling with the old man? There are a few people who have traveled with Old Man Bar, But he is the only person who was with Old Man Bar for over a year! Even I couldnt last more than three months following Old Man Bar! Eh!? So, maybe, Adolphos is stronger than you? Of course! T-theres someone stronger than him huh I thought Pearl was the strongest. Then the second person! The second person is a person who knows President well! So, who do you think? Who do you think!?? So annoying its me, right? T-thats correct its good that you understand. If you want to catch the Regenerator, its natural to want a Sealer. Yeah, since you understand it, this will be quick! Seal Zetta, by all means, be my subordinatesC Absolutely, no. Sonata dropped his shoulders and shouted, Why!? Aside from the Regenerator, I dont want to belong to any organization. Moreover, the Knights, there is a certain amount of my personality that wont fit. Above all, I really hate the idea of becoming this guys subordinate. Even without the Sealing Technique, you do have some measures for those Regenerators, right? Yeah. But compared to the Sealing Technique, all of them are flawed. Sonata smiled suspiciously, muttered I cant help it then and raised his face. Is that all? Then excuse me. President, whats your plan from now on? Go to the Imperial City in search of the bastard who despised the old man. I cant leave the old man as a criminal. Also, my companion has something to do with the old mans house, so Ive to accompany her. Whatever it is, next will be the Imperial City. A place where you can find all kinds of information in the center of this continent. Anyway, Im curious about the cityscape of the city. I see, the Imperial City, is it? Seal, do you know Niamh? Niamh? I feel like I heard that name somewhere Oh! DDIll just say it straightforwardly. Please teach me Sealing Technique. A female knight with her navel exposed who visited the old man in the prison at Yeah, her name was Niamh. I know. What about that person? Ah, Captain Niamh? Shes a little grumpy, though thats her cute point. Captain!? That woman is also a Knight Captain? Thats ri`ght She must be in the Imperial City. Alright, Seal, never use any Sealing Technique in front of her. I cant predict how shell react. If youre not a good talker youll be slashed for sure. Sweat was on Pearls forehead. Yep, its a serious advice. Niamh she was desperate for Sealing Technique. If she knows that such a rat like me has learned the Sealing Technique yeah, I cant predict what kind of action shell take. OK, Ill keep it in mind. BAM!! The sound of the door opening. Shura burst into the living room with a sleepy face while rubbing her eyes. So noisy. What are you talkinDD Hey! Its been a long time, Vice President why are you holding your fist too!? DDHow dare you left me on the island! Shura enveloped her fist with Red Mana and approached Sonata. I lifted my back from the wall and grabbed Shuras shoulders to stop her. Ive already hit him once, so please forgive him. It seems like there was really an urgent matter. Because of this guy, we were drowning in the sea! I have to hit once too to get rid of my anger! Its your own fault in that regard. Remember? I didnt agree with that raft operation. Anyway, get ready quickly. Im leaving before noon. Mmmm! It cant be helped then! Shura returned to the room unsatisfied. Then, Mr. Bard. Do your best, in your journey to seal the Regenerators. Yeah! Thank you for your support! Then, See you again President! I left the living room and prepared my luggage. After waiting for Shuras preparation, I and Shura left Pearls house. And so, we finally went outside the . CH 63 63. An honest smile Outside the mother punk, I and Shura lined up in the field. Pearl and Akane-san, Dia and Garratt came to see off. I turned my head and looked for a girl with white hair. Sheisnt here? There was no figure of Layla. In the end, did showing her the letter, a good choice? I dont know the contents of the letter. It would be nice if she could recover her spirit after seeing the old mans letter At this point, Ive no choice but to believe in the old man. Seal-kun, Shura-chan Akane-san smiled gently and gently put her hand on my and Shuras heads. If it gets hard, you can always come and visit us. Uh what a lovely mother. Please stop Youre making it hard Yes. It was a short time, but Id been in your care. Thank you. W-well, if I feel like it, Ill come and visit you! It seemed that Shura was shy. Fufu, Im looking forward to it. Next to Akane-san, Pearl folded his arms and laughed as usual, GhaHaHa! I will go to the Imperial City after I get rid of the work that has accumulated in ! You dont have to. I mean, Dont leave Akane-san alone here. Ara ara, Seal-kun will be a good husband! Akane-san squinted and looked at Pearl. Pearl looked apologetically, Yeah. Then, two small shadows appeared in front of me. Dia and Garratt. If there is something wrong with , bring it here and Ill fix it. Aight If you want to pet this I, Garratt, come back anytime! When I slid my point of view to the right, Shura was glancing at Garratt and turned her cheeks red. If you want to touch, you should touch. Uhh then, just a little Shura attacked Garratt with a big hug. Garratt received it with a scream, Urgh!? After the farewell greetings, we set out on our journey. Alright, time to go. It was when I was about to turn my back on . WAIT!! A girls voice stopped us. I looked back and looked at the source of the voice. I couldnt help but make my eyes round. YouDD She is The owner of the voice was a girl with white hair. She was dressed in pure white clothes. Definitely, she was Layla Frieheit. However, the hair had been cut to about the shoulders. Her long hair that stretched to her waist wasnt there. With a flower-shaped hair ornament on the head, She also had a bag on her shoulder. What happened? Your hair is Hmm? Theres no deep reason. I just cut it because it was in the way. You think, it doesnt look good? DDIts a foul to ask that while glancing up like that. At least for me. No, no it looks good on you. Rather, its my favorite length. Really? Ehehe thanks. Layla looked relieved while playing with her short hair with her index finger as if she got shy. Why are you getting embarrassed. Ewww, stop, it makes me feel sick! Why are you getting frustrated? Shura looked at the bag on Laylas shoulder and pointed her finger. Hey, where are you going with your luggage? Oh, right. First of all, I have something to tell you Layla walked over to us and looked back. Let me follow your journey, too. Seal-kun. I also want to go to the Imperial City. I want to go there and clear my grandpas name. Hah? What!? Is it a no? Nope! Welcome Hey! Shura looked up at me and glared. What? There should be no problem in terms of strength, right? Ugh, thats right but If youre heading to the old mans house, its better to have this girl. Am I wrong? Mmm` Even if I dont take her, this girl will move alone. If so, its easier to keep her within reach. I cant let this girl die after all. Besides, this girls ability goes well with me. Im sure there is no loss in moving together. Ill be in your care, Shura-chan! Hmm! Youre so cute after all Hmmph! Just dont be too much of a burden! Two footsteps approaching Layla. Pearl and Akane-san were staring at Layla with lonely faces. Miss Layla Thank you very much, Pearl-san. Akane-san too, thank you Layla-chan. It looks like youre okay now. Yes Layla bowed to the couple with a few tears. When Layla raised her head, I opened my mouth. Layla What is it, Seal-kun? Raised my index finger and pointed to the cherry blossom-colored hair ornament on Laylas head. That hair accessory, looks good on you. I really like it. It seems youve got a good sense. It was a beautiful cherry blossom color. A color that would calm you down, just by looking at it. DD!? Um, mmm Thank, you. Layla looked down and briskly passed me. Hmm? Did I make a mistake? I honestly praised her though Hey, Seal-kun Layla raised her face and looked into my eyes. Can I, take back my previous statement? The smile was as radiant as the cherry blossoms that color the city. It was beautiful and bright without any cloudiness. After all, you look a lot like the person I like the most The Everlasting Spring Town, It seemed that I finally got the chance to see Layla Freiheits honest smile in this place where the cherry blossoms were scattered. Is that so? Well, what an honor. And so, Layla joined the group, and we left . Then, lets go! Next is the Imperial City ! In this way, a new page of the story began. I, Shura, and Layla set foot at the same time toward the plain, where volcanoes and valleys were awaiting. TN: So this is the end of arc 2. I managed to finish this arc before the manga release tomorrow. I hope the art for the manga will be good. Just some info, in the LN, Seal ordered the weapon before the battle with Layla, but thats all, the flow of the story in overall still the same. Next, after considering this for a while, 3, Ill do the side story after arc 3, since arc 3 will end in a better way to start the side story. CH 64 64. The Regenerator form a Legend There were seven Regenerators in this world. Those Regenerators were said to have been born at the beginning of the Rondo calendar (no official confirmation). There were two main characteristics of a Regenerator, One, never die. They had the ability to heal any wound immediately. Two, they were angry with the human species. Their motivation might be different, but it was always related to the destruction of humanity. The number of countries destroyed by the Regenerator was unknown. In the White Calendar, one of the five continents of the era was sunk by the power of the regenerator. It was no exaggeration to say that the period between years 0 and 500 in the Rondo Calendar was the age of the Regenerator. Mankind was still bad at handling Mana, and the Regenerator gradually reduced the human population. However, the era of regenerators ended with the first Sealer born in the 500th year of the Rondo Calendar. Not only the Sealer, but also some other Technique users who could repel the Regenerator alone appeared one after another after the 500th year of the Rondo Calendar. The Regenerators, and those of demon race, called them DD Natural Enemies In the last half century, there were 7 people called Natural Enemies. Two of them, Barha Zetta and Saurus Rosso, had died, leaving only five. One of the remaining five, Adolphos Eater, was visiting a wetland. I finally found you, Regenerator The night when the full moon colored the sky. Adolphos glared at a woman across the lake. At first glance, the woman would look so beautiful that she could captivate men and women of all ages. She didnt wear any piece of her clothes. She generously exposed her beauty. Ive never thought you would accumulate mana in such a place The woman slowly turned to Adolphos and appealed with her tearful eyes. No dont look at me with such scary eyes! Im not like what you think. Being shown a bad performance, Adolphos sighed as if he was deeply disappointed. {Mud Emperor} Anri Rou Elflare. A legend said you could manipulate mud, which is considered to be the source of all things, very well to the point of sinking one of the continents into a mud. The womanDD {Mud Emperor} was exposed to Adolphoss confident eyes and smiled. Fufufu You knew that much and still dare to come in front of me, huh? Yeah, Im the Legendary Regenerator. Not someone you could against. You know it, right? Boy with Dragon Wing. Twenty years ago, you got sealed by Old Man Bar. Being able to revive only with the help of others, you dont have the right to brag. Haah? The legend was over since then, and it wont start again. Not today, not in the future. You bark a lot The womans skin melted and her whole body turned brown. Adolphos frowned at the scent of sewage on his nose. You are not a Sealer. The {Mud Emperor} focused her eyes on the dragon wings that spread wide on the back of Adolphoss. You use the mana of creation to turn your body into a monster huh? I see, so youre a Transformation Technique user, I presume? Who knows. If youre not a sealer, you wont be a threat ! The {Mud Emperor} raised her chin, looking down on Adolphoss. Adolphos gently rubbed the sole of his shoe against the ground without changing his expression. When I broke the egg, two yolks came out. Haah? When I fished, I caught a rare fish that I wouldnt normally see. The book Ive been looking for was found in an antique shop in a small village I visited by chance. So what? And you are now in front of me. Today, Im very lucky Today, I dont have the misfortune that is my biggest weakness. Adolphos took his right foot one step further. The {Mud Emperor} finally realized the amount of magical power hidden in Adolphos. DD!!!!!? The {Mud Emperor} quickly broke her relaxed composure and in her head, she was preparing for a strategy. She thought she couldnt win without a proper strategy. T-this amount of mana! No way. Its more than me, a RegeneratorDD Be prepared. The lucky me, will definitely defeat you. The sound of the weight of one man stepping on the ground. Upon hearing the sound, the {Mud Emperor} exuded sweat from her whole body and took a long distance. Y-youre just right for exercise!! A part of the body of the {Mud Emperor} popped. The mud that overflowed from the body turned into a blade and approached Adolphoss eyes. Vattle Adolphos cast a spell, a whirlwind was created, shedding the mud. Huh? Is this all youve got? Very disappointing! The trees around Adolphos melted turning into mud and swirled around Adolphos. DDBut soon the mud was wiped off by the wind. Adolphos looked up at the {Mud Emperor} with boring eyes and hands in his pocket. DDReally. Is this all youve got? Very disappointing. DD?!This damn brat ! The {Mud Emperor} jumped into the lake next to Adolphos. Then the water of the lake turned brown, and the whole area of ??the water turned into mud. A high wave of mud was then approaching Adolphos. Adolphos flapped the dragon wings on his back and flew into the sky to avoid it. While flying, he was dodging the following mud bullets. The power to turn the touched object into the mud. In addition, the mud can be manipulated freely. If she managed to touch me, Ill be out in one shot. Close combat is prohibited The landscape was changing to mud one after another. The earth, the lake, and even the atmosphere were turned into mud. Adolphos predicted that if this kept going on, the entire wetland would become a muddy land. So its not just a legend. I cant leave her alone! Ill make you muddy! Winged Boy!! The {Mud Emperor} made countless muddy giant hands and stretched them towards Adolphoss. Adolphos landed on the ground once, then put his right hand on a land that was not yet muddy. Used the Mana of Creation to spawn hundreds of towers of hard iron from the ground. The iron tower blocked the muddy giant hands. The vision was narrowed by the splashes of mud, so he relied on his nose instead of his eyes. Back, is it!? Adolphos sniffed a bad smell from his back, so he created an evasive posture Im really lucky today! But, when Adolphos turned around, his left arm was cut off by a mud sword that stretched away. Tch! A type that is good at medium to long distances, is it? Means, youre not good at short-range battles! Right, Boy!? Holding the mud sword, the {Mud Emperor} said in a confident voice. Thats right. Close range is certainly well, lets say, it may be something Im not good at. Adolphos admitted lightly and grew a hard iron arm from his left shoulder. But, see? No blood It was a prosthetic hand from the beginning. The {Mud Emperor} turned the ground into mud. So, what!? Adolphos sensed the danger and jumped into the sky. The {Mud Emperor} covered the sky with mud and prevented Adolphos from jumping high in the sky. Adolphos had no choice but to fly low. Kyahahaha! By the way, close combat is m`y favorite! The {Mud Emperor} grew mud wings, and also flew in the sky. She was approaching Adolphos. The mud thorns that grew from the ground aimed at Adolphos from below, and the mud that covered the sky also generated mud thorns, approaching Adolphos from overhead. And, the {Mud Emperor} aimed at Adolphos from the front with a mud sword. Come here and take my gift, boy! What happened to you!? I wont let you take any more distance!!! DD! Top, bottom, front. Simultaneous attacks from three directions. Adolphos moved his eyes up and down while avoiding the mud sword that shorten the distance. You cant handle this much mud with just a mere whirlwind! The ground on the other side turns into mud, and it kept rising up, closing the escape route. Lost his escape and was being cornered DDAs expected, Humans are insignificant!! DDDesperation should be in his mind. But, in a situation where up, down, front and back were blocked, Adolphos was just seeing at the {Mud Emperor} with a looking-down gaze. Dont make light of humans, you damn Regenerator! Also, your good points are not always better than my weak points. Adolphos emitted Blue Mana from the whole body. The {Mud Emperor}, the mud ceiling, the earth, and the area around Adolphos were all wrapped in Blue Mana. The Blue Mana then spun, creating a torrentDD What!? DDRuten!! The Blue Mana swirled like a storm and blew away all the mud around Adolphos. The approaching mud thorns, the mud ceiling that was blocking the sky, and the mud sword, all of which were swallowed by the Blue Mana, were destroyed. No way!? The Mud Emperor literally becomes naked, loses the wings of the mud, and floats in the sky unprotected. With the mud ceiling gone, Adolphos flew toward the {Mud Emperor} with a rusty sword. Wai DD!! Mud Destroyer Adolphos turned the rusty sword into a red sword, pierced the {Mud Emperor}s belly, and slammed her to the ground. Red blood flowing from the belly of the {Mud Emperor}. Seeing blood flowing from her belly, confusion came out on her face. W-Why? Why I cant parry the attack!? The name of the sword is . Its a sword that can capture the substance of a demon and block the use of mana. Still, it cant prevent the regeneration [TN: just some info, Claomh Solais is said to be the sword of light in many Irish and Scottish folktales] Adolphos raised his right foot and stomped the ground. A rigid iron kiln grew from the ground. Adolphos grabbed the {Mud Emperor}s arm with his sword stuck in the belly and threw her into the kiln. Guh!? The {Mud Emperor} hit her head against the bottom of a hard iron kiln. Its useless! Eve, if you trapped me in a place like this, I As the {Mud Emperor} looked up at the sky, a lump of flame was thrown into the kiln. NoDDDont joke with meeearrgh!! The body of the {Mud Emperor} bathed in flames and burned. Adolphos gave the kiln a whirlwind protection so that the hard iron kiln wouldnt melt in the flames. GyaaDDAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!? Finally, Adolphos covered the kiln with a rigid iron lid with air holes, and further sealed the kiln with a chain of rigid iron. A rigid iron altar was built around the kiln, and a wind barrier was wrapped around the altar. Die for the rest of your life. Adolphos turned his back on the kiln and began to walk away. This area is a no-mans land with no towns or villages nearby. There should be no problem even if she manages to escape and rampage After reducing her mana to the lowest point, lets move it to a place that is easy to monitor Adolphos suddenly stopped and looked up at the moon. DDIf youre not a sealer, you wont be a threat. Recalling the words of the {Mud Emperor}, Adolphos looked down. Thats right. Thats right. As that muddy woman said. I cant seal a Regenerator completely. As I keep maintaining the sealed kiln, my mana is constantly consumed Its impossible to make 6 more and maintain all of them. First, if Adolphos himself died, this simple seal would break very fast. It was impossible to contain the subject forever. Adolphos looked down and remembered one of his benefactors. How to stop them completely without a Sealer? Teach me. Old Man Bar Muttering so, Adolphos flew away. After Adolphos flew away, a man appeared in the wetland. Oi oi, doing such a terrible thing to a woman, he really isnt a gentleman. It was a white-haired old man with a weapon called a pistol on his waist. Barha Zettas younger brother, the {Gun Emperor}, a who confronted Seal Zetta on . But, well so that man was Adolphos, huh? Ive heard rumors about him, but yeah, I dont want to fight him The {Gun Emperor} approached the kiln where the {Mud Emperor} was sealed with a grinning face, and pointed the muzzle at the kiln from outside the wind barrier. Hihihi! Please be a catalyst for his growth. Do your best, Lady Regenerator At the middle of night, the popping sound of gunpowder echoed in the wetland. Author Note : Barha & Saurus Sealed Corpse Emperor Barha alone Sealed Mud Emperor Barha & Adolphos Sealed the remaining two CH 65 65. The next journey DDOne and a half months left until release. When I was still in the prison with the old man I asked him a question. A question that any man would like to ask. Who is the strongest magician you have ever seen? It was just a question pure of curiosity that suddenly came to my mind during training the Sealing Technique. The old man stopped reading the book. Apart from me? You are surprisingly confident The old man stroked his chin with Hmm And after a few seconds, he opened his mouth. There are various types of strength. The compatibility with the opponent also matters. There is no such thing as, the strongest. Hah, youre so boring. There must be a person who suddenly came to your mind, right? DDAh, other than you. The old man waited for a few seconds again, Thats right Speaking of which, I think its the last partner I teamed up and adventured with. Hes still rough, but if he keeps gaining experience, Im sure he may eventually gain more power and be stronger than me in my heyday. The old man didnt stop there. WaitDD If you include the potential, you could say there are two more candidates? Who are you talking about? The old man glanced at me and smiled. Its a secret Huh? The old man looked back at the book again. Ah, speaking of which, I just remembered I hadnt told him properly yet I forgot to say it. Probably the old man was talking about the companion he just mentioned. What is it? The old man slowly turned the page and told me the words he had forgotten to say to his last partner. He said that word, the word that wasnt directed at me, And, for some reason, it had not left my mind. C I, Shura, and Layla, left Motherpunk safely, and now walking on the grassy road. We were heading for the Imperial City to find the one who trapped the old man, and also to find a clue to break the curse. Hey, why are you grinning, Seal-kun? Huh? Did I grin? Layla who walking next to me, told me that, so I tried to touch my face to check it. Somehow, you look like a person who thinks everything in this world is happy. Even you, Shura Really? I didnt really notice it at all. I understand, Seal-kun. When a man can travel with two cute girls, of course, hell get happy naturally. Yes, yes, you can think whatever you want. Then, whats the truth? Its creepy, so spit it honestly, now. Wha-? Creepy? Well, I just thought that the feeling I have right now is what they called a journey, and so I was kind of happy. The sunny sky and the grassy road. Volcanoes and valleys in the distance. A plain in the field of view. What a good day to travel, to have a journey. Without the eyes of others, I wouldve dived into the grass and rolled around by now. When I visited a volcano, it was on a cloudy day, a different weather really could change your view of a place. Really, youre such a kid! I dont want to be told by you. Little girl. Wha-?! Come on, dont quarrel. So, Seal-kun, which route we will take? The route Layla mentioned was referring to the volcano and valley that could be seen further away from us, or the roads between them. We had to choose one of these three routes to get to the Imperial City. The valley. The level of monsters may be a little high, but there should be water sources there, so we wont be troubled with water, and it seems to be the most comfortable in terms of temperature. But, what if a dragon comes out? That sounds interesting, doesnt it? Defeating a dragon will be the real thrill of an adventure. DDI thought you were a more rational person Layla sighed as if she was amazed. Really, she couldnt understand the romance of an adventure at all Waa`! Dont stick to me! Disturbed footsteps from behind. Looking behind, Layla was entwining her right arm with Shuras left arm. Its okay, Shura-chan! Were both girls! Layla moved her foot toward Shura. Closer and closer. A girl having fun with another girl. You could say, it was an eye candy. However, somehow it made me feel uncomfortable. It was around this time that the loose and fluffy atmosphere peculiar to girls got disturbed. Oh, wait, this is bad its about time! Kyaa!? Shura disappeared and Ash appeared. Well, I thought it was about time. Layla seemed to be unable to keep up with the mysterious phenomenon in front of her. Well, it couldnt be helped, everyone seeing it for the first time would be like that. T-the cute girl disappeared and another cute girl appeared! What does this mean, tell me, Seal-kun!?? Then, I explained to Layla. About the fact that whenever Shura was exposed to the sun for 30 minutes, she would then change place with her sister Ash, and when Ash was under the shadow for 30 minutes, she would change place with Shura. Also, about their purpose, which was to break this curse. When Layla heard about the situation, she shed tears, perhaps because she had sympathy. Ash-chan Mmph!? Layla hugged Ash. Ashs nose and mouth were blocked by Laylas chest, and her hands were fluttering. I-its hard to breathe! Ill help you break the curse too! For sisters cant stand side by side, I cant let it goes forever! Ash bent over from Laylas restraint and escaped, hiding behind me. Layla, stop it there. Ash is scared, you know? S-Sorry, Ash-chan Im sorry I cant hold myself well Ash turned away. A-ah, see, youre completely disliked by her. Ash-chan, who is in a bad mood, is also cute Oi, you wont be able to shorten your distance with her for the rest of your life at this rate Dozens of minutes walking. The mountains surrounding the valley could finally be seen. Rivers and waterfalls were flowing through the gaps in the mountains. Climbing the mountain is a hassle, we should along the river in between. Im curious about the view from the top of the mountain. Is the risk really that big? Again, why youre so unreaso?! Layla, who was walking next to me, suddenly stopped, pointing at something. What is it? I looked in the direction of the tip of Laylas finger. There was a figure of someone in a tattered long coat and several men surrounding that person. They must be bandits I heard that they sometimes appear around here. Layla extinguished the light from her eyes and formed a knife at hand. Layla, put the knife away. Why? Dont you want to help? Theres no need for that The bandits were holding an ax or a sword, and slowly approaching the figure in a long coats. Then, the figure muttered, DDEnsenbaku [TN: Literally means, Binding of 1000 Flaming Chains] A myriad of chains of flames spawned, binding the bandits. Shortly after screaming, all the thieves were unconscious. The chains broke when they finished their role. Amazing, whispered Layla and Ash. From the point of view of the two who were familiar with magic, perhaps it looked different from me who was still an amateur I approached the figure and called out. What are you doing in a place like this? Mr. Bard Well, well! We really meet so often, right President! CH 66 66. 4 (+1) Party Fedora and tattered coat. Sonata Campbell, who looked the same as usual, stood there. C-Captain Sonata Campbell!? Layla looked at Sonata with a respectful color in her eyes, saying I cant believe it. Well, Layla wanted to be a Knight, so of course, she knew Sonata. Ah, youre Layla-chan! Ive heard of your success at the Magic Academy. Even though you havent joined the army yet, there was a battle over you in the upper ranks of the Knights. Its the person who isnt good at singing. Ash-chan, please refrain from remembering that Sonata picked up the bag and pointed his toes towards the valley. Are you also going to the valley? Yep Hey, President, are you not interested Sonata held the hat in his hand and turned his eyes toward us. in Barha Zettas last partnerDDAdolphos Eater-kun Adolphos Eater. As expected, he was the last partner of the old man. DD Thats right I think its the last partner I teamed up with and adventured with. When I asked who was the strongest magician the old man had ever met, he replied so. The Strongest Magician, is itDD There is no reason not to be interested. Im going to see him now. According to Sonata, Adolphos Eater should be in a tower in the center of the valley, . It seemed that he lived on the top floor. In other words, the hermit that Layla mentioned before, must be Adolphos. Want to follow me? Somehow, I felt like Sonata knew this. This guy. was he actually ambushing me? Hell try to guide me and at the same time add me to the new unit, right? well, I cant help but be suspicious. Just in case, I should be alert at all times. Im going to take a majority vote now. Raise your hand if you want to see him~ I and Layla raised hands, and Ash did not. Im interested. Hes the person who traveled with Grandpa after all. Im not interested. Such a tall tower, must be tiring to climb a tower high enough to penetrate the clouds. Certainly, itll be tiring to climb. Ash I mean, Ash and Shura. They dont really care enough about Aldophos to bother to climb. Adolphos traveled around the world with Barha. The amount of knowledge he has should be considerable. Maybe he knows some hints to break the curse? Ash raised her hand immediately. Looks like, its decided. Then, lets go back to the valley! I ended up acting with you as if its a matter of course Hmm? What is it, President? Whyre you a little sullen? Oh! Maybe Surrounded by beautiful girls, a harem adventure trip! Did I ruin your dream? Sonata put his arm around my shoulders and whispered so. T-thats not true. Isnt it convincing to say it while your eyes swimming around, you know? Actually, there are too many people of the opposite sex. So, to be honest, Im relieved that you joined the party. Is that so? Thats good. Lets get along well. Ah, if you want to leave, say it first. Ahaha, am I smell so suspicious? Ashura sisters. Sonata. Layla. And then, I. 4 people (+1 person), with such a party, we went into the valley. CH 67 67. Camping Woah~! As we proceeded from the organized roads to the valleys, a magnificent view welcomed us. The sound of a waterfall could be heard. Waterfall lined up on the rock walls on the left and right, creating water paths. Really, Nature never makes me bored. The sound of the waterfall is amazing! Umm, I dont think I can sleep around here Three young people were fascinated by the superb view. On the other hand, Sonata was looking at the scene calmly alone. President, its still early, but why dont we rest? Its hard to get to the tower by the end of today. I agree with taking a rest, but lets walk a little longer. As expected, this area is too noisy. This valley, called the , was roughly divided into three areas. The outermost mountain area where mountains were scattered as so to surround the valley. The waterfall area where the waterfalls were. The innermost forest area with a tower that penetrates the clouds, , in the middle of it. The four of us decided to decide on a campsite when we crossed the waterfall area and entered the forest area. When we reached the forest, it was already dark and only the moonlight could be relied on. Lets stop here? At the place where some gaps between the trees in the forest, we stopped. And decided to camp here. The place where the sound of the waterfall echoed in your ears gently, and the distance where you could always grasp the location of the water. In short, a perfect place. Alright, maybe I should look for grass that could be used as a cushion You dont have to do that, Seal. Leave it to me! Layla proudly said so. Layla drew a magic circle with her finger in the sky. It was a magic circle of transference. When she fought with me, it was about a fist size, but this time it was about the size of a human head. Thats the limit size? Yeah. If I widen it any further, the transfer position will not be stable. I see Sonata looked at the magic circle of transference with interest. The transfer magic, is it? Ive heard that there was one user of it in ancient times, but its really rare. Shura, who replaced Ash not long ago, sharpened her lips. So, what are you going to do? This transfer gate leads to the storeroom of my house at . And there is something in the storeroom. Layla thrust her arm into the transfer gate and took out some sticks. Then pulled out the green cloth. I looked at the cloth and guessed what Layla was trying to do. A tent! Thats right. Its two tents. Ill take them out of here. So, Lets assemble together. Well, well! Its really a convenient magic. With this, we can even put items that are too much for a trip into the storeroom through it. You can put heavy luggage in the storeroom from now on Hmm! Not bad, white-haired girl Yeah, its really convenient. Is it okay to keep the magic circle of transference to the storeroom all the time? Yeah! There is more mana to recover naturally than to consume if Im to leave the transfer gate. If its just one, its nothing much. It doesnt consume much mana? Isnt it really good? But, a tent huh. Well, its nice that insects and wind wont disturb your sleep. Hmm? wait a minute Two tents, ah, of course, gender-separated I and President will sleep under the same roof! Let me sing a lullaby on this sleepless night! Perhaps I should sleep outside Stop saying stupid things, and start helping me build the tent! After assembling the tent according to Laylas instructions, set the fire and it was time for dinner. The menu was grilled fish. There was a river passed through the forest, and Layla killed the river fish with a throwing knife. Then stabbed it on a skewer, and cooked it. While eating the fish, as I started talking about the night scenery, Sonata put out a green incense stick to protect us from monsters. If the incense sticks burned, you wouldnt have to worry about being attacked by monsters at night. After eating dinner, we would have a rest in the middle of the night forest. I lay down in a one-pole tent with a book in my hand. Its so comfortable There were no noisy insects or the sound of the wind. I flipped the cover of the book and looked for the most comfortable position to read. Supine or sideways? Or prone on both elbows The most comfortable position always changed depending on the day. It was hard to decide. President, are you awake? Sonata Campbell appeared by rolling up the cloth door of the tent. I guess I should sleep now Ah, so youre still awake? Why dont we have a talk outside? Too troublesome Sonata left for a while and appeared with a cup in both hands. A fragrant scent drifted from the cup. I have coffee Say it earlier I closed the book and went out of the tent. The sky was light blue. It was a night with a nice moonlight. Sonata sat on the grass. I sat next to him at some distance and received the cup. For the time being, a sip before talking about anything. DDhuff The coffee was a little sweet, probably because he was being considerate of me. I hate this kind of sweetness Do you not like it sweet? No, thats not the case. I just dont like half-baked sweetness like this. Coffee should be completely black or sweet with plenty of milk and sugar. I see, I see Sonata took out two vials from his coat pocket. There were a lot of white beans on one side, The other one contained blackish beans. Whats that? Coffee seeds and milk seeds. Dont you know? Recently in Imperial City, this seed series is being developed for travelers. When this seed is dissolved in water, the seed melts, and the water will become coffee or milk Take this. I took the white beans out of the vial that Sonata gave to me. Put the seeds in the coffee. Then a white stain could be seen in the coffee, and slowly the color turned light brown. Wow, its amazing. If you like the coffee to be rich in taste, add more seeds. Also yeah, I also have sugar cubes. Give me four. My mouth touched the sugary coffee milk. Yeah, good. Delicious. The taste of milk was firmly there. In a quiet house, I will drink coffee while shaking the Rocking Chair, but drinking it in this kind of situation is also good Yeah, its exceptional. Though mine is milk coffee. Placed the cup on my crossed knees and asked Sonata, So? What do you to talk about? You wont believe me, but I have something to say. Sonata staring at the bottom of the cup, President, I will not betray you, no matter what. Unusual for Sonatas remarks, the words were enthusiastic. Because you, are my hero You praise me up again. But a hero huh? Im, not such a big deal. Put my mouth in the cup and sip the milk coffee. The tip of my tongue felt the rough texture of unmelted sugar. I gulped until empty, put the empty cup on the ground, and this time I asked a question. Can I ask you one thing? Sure Why are you chasing the Regenerators? Is it because theyre the enemy of humanity or because its the work of the Knights? Or DD personal grudge? Its important to understand the flow of emotions that leads to the purpose. I wanted to hear the reason because I wanted to know more about Sonata Campbell. There is no big reason I see, then it must be, job as Knight? Well, it cant be helped. Thats right. But, there is another reason You see, a Regenerator destroyed my hometown and killed my loved one. Thats about it. Two motives of 100 points makes it 200 points, its more than enough reason, right? A sudden sad past. But, well, no one would want to fight such a thing without some good enough reason. Regenerator Isnt it possible for anyone to seal all the Regenerators? Yeah. Even your master couldnt do it. Then, if I can seal all the Regenerators I would be a full-fledged sealer, right? Suddenly, when I moved my gaze to the left, Sonata, who read what was inside my heart, grinned. President, join my new uDD No way! Dangerous It was really dangerous. This guy, if there is a chance, hell drag me to join the new unit. I need to be careful. DDGet out! White-haired girl! An angry voice broke through the silence of the night. It was Shuras voice. What? What is it It smells like trouble Shura appeared from the womens tent, followed by Layla. Shura looked angry and pointed to Layla and declared. Enough, Im so pissed now! Duel! Have a duel with me! Layla Freiheit!!! CH 68 68. Battle Between Two Women The duel between Shura and Layla would be interesting. On one side, stood Layla could fight at all short, medium, and long distances. On the other side, stood Shura who only fought in close combat. Without knowing the circumstances, I was excited. Good grief, but fine, do it. I wonder, which one is stronger? Wait, wait a moment, Seal Zetta. Being curious is fine, but this is bad for a new party, isnt it? I have to stop them. What happened? Did you have a fight for a man? Its not a big deal, Seal-kun This girl came into my blanket without permission! Even though I turned it down once! Ummmm? It seemed Layla once offered to sleep together, but Shura refused. However, Layla invaded Shuras blanket without permission while Shura was sleeping. When Shura woke up from the heat, Layla was in her view, and angry Shura asked Layla for a duel. I looked down at Layla, she put her index fingers together saying, I cant help it Layla, youre bad Im sorry but let me make an excuse, okay? After Shura-chan fell asleep, she grabbed the hem of my clothes and muttered, Mom , you know? In that situation, isnt it impossible to resist hugging her? I see, seems there is a situation for it. Of course not! If I was in the same situation as Layla, and the person sleeping beside me, muttered Dad I dont know if I could suppress the paternal instinct. Isnt it okay? Let them have a duel, if thats what she wants! Its bri`ght tonight. Sonata made a carefree remark. Also, it may be a good opportunity to know each others power. By saying such plausible good reason, I was convinced that a duel might be a better option. Of the four, only one was reluctant to duel. Hmm` If I win, I dont think something good will come out from it Layla, who was nearby me, muttered in a low voice so that only I could hear it. Sure, even if you win, Shura will just be in a bad mood. I also replied with a small voice. If I lose, Ill do anything, even if its sleeping together! But, as expected, Shura had good ears. It seemed that our muttering was also heard by her. Promised a great reward, Laylas eyes were shining, she was now more enthusiastic than anyone else. What are the rules? Where should we do it?! Layla was really excited. I think near the waterfall is a good place. The moonlight reflects off the water surface and the visibility there is good. As for the rule, what about No sub-source colors. And, a prohibition of sharp weapon and killer techniques ? Wait, isnt the rule proposed by Sonata a little more advantageous to Shura? I mean, it basically, limits Layla from throwing knives and using Mana of Transference. She can only use Ruten. Well, I guess with her battle sense, shell somehow manage it? Will she accept it? Sure. Lets go with that. I have no complaints either! The rules were decided with the consent of the two. Shura, what do you demand from Layla if you win? Eh? Well Ill think about it after I win! This girl, she asked for a duel on impulse huh - Shura and Layla were facing each other at a distance in the front of the waterfall, which had the weakest stream among many waterfalls. The depth of the water was just enough to sink the two ankles. It was shallow because it was quite far from the waterfall. I and Sonata put ourselves in the shadow of a tree farther than them. President, which one do you think will win? Well, I think 60% of chance that Layla will win. Why? She cant use her throwing knife and also her Mana of Transference, but Layla has Ruten. Well, the risk is severely cut down if the attack isnt close, but Shura has no choice but to have a close combat. If she countered by Ruten at a good timing, Shura wont be able to stand up. Sure, Shura trained her body. But Shura is a woman, and she is short and weight lightly. I had a hard time dealing with Layas Ruten, and if Shura get a direct hit, her small body wont be able to handle it. Ill vote for, Vice-President. Why? Bards intuition! Huh? Whats that Unlike us, the two girls were looking at the other person in front of them with serious expressions. After seeing you and Seal fighting, Ive always wanted to fight you dont let me down. She really just wanted to fight Layla huh Actually, youre not so angry, right? Im sorry Shura-chan. Im not good at holding back I might overdo it. You should worry about yourself! CLAP!! Sonata came out of the tree shadow and clapped his hands. Win or lose is decided at my own discretion. Once I clap my hands again, the fight starts. Ready CLAP!! As soon as Sonata clapped his hands, Shura kicked the surface of the water with her right foot. DDShe was creating a gap. The water kicked up by her created a wall between them. Layla ran towards the waterfall in an attempt to dodge the water wall. Perhaps Laylas movements with predicted, Shura ran in the same direction as Layla. They were now close in distance. Shuras prepared her left fist. Pulled her left fist and put it forward DD Ruten !! Blue Mana swirled around Laylas whole body in an instant. It was a perfect timing counter. If the left fist hit it, the Mana covering Shuras fist would be released, and Shuras attack would be broken down. I thought it would come! Shuras left fist punched the air. It seemed she didnt want to hit Layla in the first place. In other words, it was a feint. Shura jumped and kicked toward Layla, whose swirl of Blue Mana had disappeared. Which meant, no defense. However, the kick didnt hit Layla either. Layla bowed down and avoided it. Yeah, Layla could still fight She could be said a versatile fighter who could fight in all ranges. Of course, close combat too. However, I didnt think she could avoid Shuras serious pursuit attack. DD! As expected, Blue Mana swirled around Laylas palm. Yeah. This blow should be what Shura must be afraid of. Again, as expected, Shura seemed as if she wanted to retreat far away. In a way, Shura was slowly reducing Laylas Mana. Layla on the other hand, was rebuilding her posture. What would happen next was easy to guess. As expected, Shura sank her foot into the water and tried to take a back step, butDD Huh!? What happened? I cant see it well from here. DDShuras feet went wild. Shura lost her balance as if she had stumbled upon something. Her knees sank so much that she stopped moving, though not enough to make her fall. DDStill, the winner, had been decided. The bottom of Laylas right hand caught Shuras chest. Rutensho ! The impact of the spiral made an explosive sound. Shuras little body was blown away and her back was struck against a large tree outside the puddle. Shura curled up on the spot after spitting gastric fluid out of her mouth. Thats it! Its Laylas win! CH 69 69. No Rules In front of the waterfall, where Layla and Shura had their fight, I put my hands on both knees while looking around in search of something. When I looked into the water, I found a round object that reflected the moonlight. Plunged my hand into the water and picked up the mysterious object. DDIt was an iron ball. Right, a large number of iron balls that were large enough to be wrapped with both hands were there. The scooped iron balls became a green mist over time and turned into nothing. Green Mana, did you make these iron balls with the Mana of Creation? Judging from the fact that Layla created a knife for battle, it wont be strange that shes good at creating other things too. Set up the iron balls in the water with Green Mana while engaging in a close battle with Shura. Layla leaded Shura to step on the iron ball and lost her balance, which must be what happened. But, the scariest thing is that she could do that in that high-speed battle. W-what a scary woman I got out of the water and walked towards Shura, who was crouching on the ground. Are you okay? Shura raised her face. ~~~~!! Hm!? Biting her lower lip, Shura glanced at me. Tears collected at the corners of the eyes. From the appearance of her desperately enduring tears, I felt that she would definitely cry if no one was around. It must have been humiliating. She was completely defeated in the close combat that she was good at. The weak expression that the normally bullish Shura showed, such a gap in her expression, somehow aroused the desire for protecting her. I was on the verge of hugging her and stroking her head, saying Its ok, dont worry, but I could imagine that things would get worse if I did that, so I held myself. Ill run for a while Huh? Ill be back! W-well be careful Shura ran away towards the darkness of the forest. Is she okay? If shes attacked by a monsterDD yep, shell be okay. There was a popping sound from the puddle behind. It was a great amount of Red Mana. I would be knocked out if I got even one direct hit. Layla walked beside me, squeezing her wet clothes. The white clothes were transparent, and the skin color was faintly visible. The figure of her wiping the water droplets on her body with a handkerchief, was sexy. Naturally, my eyes were on her body. Layla noticed my gaze as she squeezed her wet bangs with her right hand. Huff, youre a man after all Layla uttered as if she was amazed and looked down. I forcibly blocked my eyes with my eyelids and scratched my cheeks, trying to get my reasons back. Ill leave Shura, to you. Yeah, I get it. Ill apologize to Shura-chan. Layla followed Shuras footsteps into the forest. The sound of trampling the grass echoed behind. When I turned around, Sonata stood with his hand on his waist. Its sure nice being young. But, a duel huh I havent done it for a while. I used to do a lot with friends from the same school. Huh? Did you learn martial arts? Its not a martial art, its a school of magic. There is also a school of magic. And I belonged to a magic school called, Yubaku Style. One of the Knight Elite Guards called Shinhwa is from the same school. [TN: Yubaku, roughly mean, No Binding] A school of magic huh I wonder if Sealing Technique is also regarded as one. HuffThis is bad. It seems that the fighting spirit in me is ignited because I remembered the old days. Sonatas eyes become sharper. I was pressured by Sonata, who was supposed to be my companion, and took a step back. President. The night is still long. You must have felt something after seeing their fight, right? There was almost no fighting today, I think, I have a lot of physical strength to use, how is it? Sonata walked towards the waterfall. What do you want to say? Sonata Campbell answered my question with a smirk. Have one serious battle with me. Do you feel like it? Sealer, Seal Zetta-kun DD!!? Green Mana rose from Sonatas body. The Mana that made the blue water surface looked green The fear inside me appealed to Reject. However, my curiosity told me, Go! A duel, is it Sonata looked at me with a relaxed expression. Hes really annoying It was a face saying that you could never lose. It was more like Lets see your strength I was seen as below him. Well I dont think I can beat a Knight Captain. But, Im sure my power is enough to surprise him. Above all, the fight with this guy is sure, will be fun. I mean, hes a Knight Captain. A great magician. He must have an interesting skill. I want to see it! DDAlright, its going to be a good way to kill time. I took out the talisman with from my pocket, held it in my right hand, and proceeded to the waterfall. [TN: its the dagger] Can I take it as a YES? Like Layla and Shura, I and Sonata sunk our feet into the water with the waterfall in the background. What about the rules? Sub-Source Colors allowed? Yes What about sharp weapons? Lets go with Yes! What about killer magic? Hmm, thats right lets go with, YES! OK, good. Bright it on! With a talisman between my right index and middle fingers, I readied myself. OPEN! Good, Lets sta`rt! CH 70 70. Sealer vs Bard Unlocked the dagger from the talisman and held it in my right hand before accelerating to Sonata. The prisoners name is Aleister. Tied up by fantastical ice swordDD Is it a chant? If he finished it, it may be my end. Sonata wasnt suitable for close-quarters combat, he looked so. That was why, my plan was to never let him finish his chant while crushing him. I wont let you ! Splashing water, I rushed to Sonata while throwing the dagger. Hmmph Sonata dodged it by tilting his upper body forward while holding his hat. Raising his right foot and aiming at his face, Sonata jumped and fled to the sky. While crossing the sky, Sonata recites the continuation of the chanting. Manifested in a symbol of freedom, in the shape of wings DDHyoujou Kenu [TN: Roughly mean, ice locking feather swords] Just above Sonata, big ice in the shape of wings appeared. Looking closely, the ice was made up of a collection of small swords. The small swords separated and approached me from all directions. tch, so troublesome! I ran on the watery surface and avoided the swords. When the little ice sword touched the water, it froze the surface of the water around it. The side touched by the sword got frozen, even a single hit may freeze my whole body. DDIf I get hit, its over! You wont let me relax huhDD! Took out the dangerous ring and fit it on my right index finger. Bruises spread from my right hand to my nose. Boosted my physical strength with the power of the ring and jumped into the waterfall. There was a rock scaffolding in the space behind the waterfall, and I landed there. The waterfall was frozen by the ice sword, but the water that kept falling from above shut out the ice sword one after another. I put the talisman with ¡ written on it on the rock scaffolding, and jumped out from the side of the waterfall. Scratching the coming ice sword, I approached Sonata. O, Chains of Flame Lord, come forth and strangle thy lords enemy DD Ensasen Baku A chain of flames that evaporated water came from around Sonatas feet. The number of chains gradually increased, expanding to the point where Sonata couldnt be seen. The chains stretched and flew to tighten my neck. I wont retreat Ill keep moving forward! Thanks to the ice sword for creating an icy scaffolding, I could move fast. While kicking and crushing the ice so as not to slip, dodged the approaching flame chain and ice sword in steps approached Sonata. O, the playful windDD Bard! Youre singing too much! I deployed the to the left, extended the spear, stitched it between the chains, and threw it toward Sonata. Sonata jumped back to avoid it. Hey, not bad! You can pass two of the seven Yubaku Stylemagics! How long can you be so relaxed! I wont let you use magic anymore! Let go of the spear and held a dagger in my left hand before closing the distance. I wont let you even say another word. Ill always stick close to youDD! You cant use other mana while chanting, right? The sign of Red Mana has faded since you started chanting a while ago. Yeah! Youre right! Red Mana can only be used a little while chanting. With the dagger in my hand, I tried to stab. Sonata leaned sideways, avoiding my attack and putting out the palm of his left hand toward my right cheek. I moved the dagger to my right hand and grabbed the Sonatas palm with my now free left hand. Aimed at Sonatas abdomen with my dagger, but before entering the motion, Sonatas right foot kick pierced my belly. Bastard! You can keep up with my movements after the boost of the ?!! However, as much as I was concerned about Sonatas close combat skill, I didnt feel the difference in pressure and ability as much as I felt from Pearl. I slid onto the surface of the water and retreated by two steps, but accelerated immediately. To set up close combat again without giving a moment of time. What an enthusiastic approach! Sonata seemed to hate that idea and so he ran towards the waterfall to get some distance. I chased Sonatas back, grabbed the coat, and brought it to the surface of the water. DDhm!? Only the coat was left in my hand. Sonata abandoned his coat the moment it was grabbed by me. Away from me, Sonata with a black shirt which sleeves up to his elbows, spreading his hands. President, its a checkmate. At this distance, the chanting will end before you get closer. Really? I wonder if thats the case DD A boomerang was unsealed on the rock behind the waterfall, far behind Sonata. I left it when I hid myself behind the waterfall. Sonata looked a little confused at my words. Yep, he hasnt noticed Im glad Im able to guide you to be in this situation. O, the playful wind DD I stretch a chain made of Yellow Mana from my feet so that it passed under the surface of the water. When the chain stuck to behind the waterfall, I pulled my right foot back. In response to the movement of my legs, the boomerang flew out of the waterfall and approached Sonatas back. carry the thunder DD Hm!? hit Sonatas back. It wasnt powerful because it was in the normal condition without any Stack, but for turning the tide of battle DDit was enough. While Sonata got staggered, I would close the distanceDD was my plan, but Hahaha! You surprised me! Well, well, you possess such a surprising weapon huh. Sonata laughed as he lost his stance. Now hes trying to cover his body with Red Mana. Means, the chant has been canceled!on DDThe battle will be determined here! But, didnt you forget something, President? Sonata continued talking, brilliantly avoiding my vertical slash. On , I put out a thunder dragon without chantingDD Suddenly, I remembered that moment in my head. Oh, right, this guy, he sent a flying ridiculous mass of thunder on Seadust Island in the form of a dragon to the dragon {Gun Emperor} was riding. DDAt that time, he didnt chant. You see, I, can manifest a thunder dragon in no time It wasnt a lie, I knew that Sonata could do it. At the same time as I thought so, Sonatas tongue shone. DDA dazzling light fell on the surface of the water. Looking up at the sky, a giant thunder dragon opened its mouth while staring at me. I threw away my dagger and raised my hands. I, surrender Its clearly a foul not fair! Authors note: If you stop chanting, you can resume it. However other Mana cant be used properly if you are interrupted. You should always focus your mind on the chant, otherwise, you must chant again from start. CH 71 71. Liar The Sub-source Colorsof Sonata-Campbell was rainbow color. Called, Mana of Truth. When someone believed the lie that he said while using his Rainbow Mana, the mana would give the user the magic construction formula necessary to turn the lie into the truth in a moment (only 0.36 seconds, as time passed it would be forgotten). The mana gave only the magic construction formula, simply the knowledge necessary to activate the magic, and the Red, Green, and Blue Mana required to activate the magic were consumed separately. In ancient times, this mana was also called Mana of Wisdom. The magic construction formula given by Mana of Truth was far superior to the magic construction formulas that exist in modern times, and the amount of mana consumed when performing magic and the speed of magic formation were both out of the ordinary. However, it wasnt all-purpose, and the lie that couldnt be realized by the mana within Sonata couldnt be materialized. For example, sealing wasnt possible. Magic using Black, White, Yellow, and other Rainbow Mana couldnt be reproduced. What could be achieved was within what kind of mana Sonata Campbell had DD So, it was limited to his Three Main-source Colors. Sonata described this special mana as unfriendly Because it was almost impossible to use it with a monster who couldnt understand language, or with a person who knew the nature of this mana. As an advantage, if the condition was met, it would be possible to perform magic with power that might exceed those with a chant, in no time. The amount of mana consumed at that time was also small, and the amount of mana consumed by Sonata for making a thunder dragon wasnt much different from the amount of mana consumed for beginner magic that was produced by regular means. If there was a person who believed in his lies on the side, it would be possible to overwhelm those different in ranks by firing large-scale magic without delay. The control force needed when Sonata Campbells Rainbow Mana activated was immeasurable. Why do you need to lie?, Why do you need to have someone to believe? The details were unknown. Research hadnt been advanced yet, and Sonata himself didnt have a detailed grasp of his Rainbow Mana. Rainbow Mana was treated as useless mana in some parts, and it was this aspect that caused this long research. Only a short history of property analysis, so it was difficult to apply them to many things. In particular, the difficulty level of the Coloring technique that combined the Sub-source Colors with the body, tools, and other magic techniques was significantly higher than the mana of Main-source Colors. There was just not enough precedent who succeeded. Sonata had no intention of telling this mana to Seal and his party. Because he wouldnt be able to use it when he needed to fight them. Yuubaku Style magic mainly for restraining the opponent and the Mana of Truth. These two were Sonatas main weapons. C Seal perspective C Ive lost. As expected of a Knight Captain. I cant do anything if he gets serious. To make me use almost all of my cards, Youre amazing. Was that last thunder dragon also a Yuubaku Style magic? That was, different Sonata went up from the surface of the water to the ground, drying the wet coat with flames. I also went up from the water and took the disposable weapons from the ground. By the way, your master, Barha Zetta, also used the Yuubaku Style magic. Really? Yeah. I heard that from my teacher. Yuubaku Style Magic specializes in binding, so I think it could be convenient in various ways. I see Use those magics used by Sonata to bind your opponent and mark them to then use the sealing technique Teach me in your spare time. Those Yuubaku Style magics. I dont mind at all. I have to get you stronger after all. But in your case, maybe, from more basic magic? Oh, right, Ash told me that she would teach me how to use the Green Mana, but in the end, it hasnt happened yet. Red, Blue, and Yellow Mana have come to be used in one or another way. Yeah, its time to start working on utilizing Green Mana. When I returned to the tent, it seemed that the girls had returned before us, and I could hear laughter from their tent. Layla seemed to have done it well. Looks like its okay now. That seems to be the case. So, should we talk about something? Wanna talk about some love story? No way. Dont say a word when you enter the tent. Im going to sleep. So heartless I returned to the tent and rested my mind.