So… It’s really happening huh…
Currently, we are in a large arena-like field. The surrounding is covered with Violetta-san’s barrier to prevent any damage outside the field. The heroes are inside the field surrounding one man. It’s my official big brother, King Fon. He is holding a wooden sword as a means for attacking. The heroes, they are well prepared and wielding weapons and readying their magic to strike him.
Well, most of you are wondering how did this happen. Going back three days…
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I am going to have lunch outside. Specifically, in the training grounds where the combat type heroes always practice. Milin is standing behind me. She looks professional when she keeps her mouth shut. The crime she committed lessened.
Milin sets up a small table for me and she brings out the foods. I even told her that it’s fine to just lay a blanket on the ground and eat there. I want to eat with everyone after all. She declined so I had her bring more tables so we can stack them. I am not going to go easily to her. Well, being the diligent head maid she is, she also brings a large umbrella for the shading. How professional.
Our little feast began. The people here right now are Ichirou, Kouta, Mito, the Murayama Twins, Ruri, Edelweiss, and Lily. The lethargic bastard should be sleeping with Mr. Couch. The Magic centered heroes are either practicing magic at some field or at the library.
“Iyaaa~ Thanks for coming here to have lunch with us Asagao!”
“Asagao! Come here, come here!”
“Asagao! Let me pat you!”
“Asagao! Let me hug you!”
“You guy are troubling Asagao.”
“Let it go, Lily. Since we are here, let’s just enjoy it.”
Such remarks were said. I ignored most of it because I’m chewing. They all have bad habits. Look at Lily and Edelweiss, they are eating gracefully! Ichirou is oddly quiet. The twins, they are feeding each other…they are so sweet to each other. Let’s not be bothered about their relationship.
Mito is restless. It seems he is expecting someone. No, Rose won’t come, I’m sorry. Ruri is trying to stick close to me, but since Lily and Edelweiss sat beside me, she can’t advance.
I ask a question since I have the opportunity.
“Lily, Edel, how is the training of everyone is going?
“Asagao, um…why are you asking something like that?”
“Edelweiss, it's fine, if she is interested, tell her.”
“Fine, you see everyone is—“
“Ah! Just in time!”
The one interrupts, none other than Fon. He has a brilliant smile in his face. The soldiers at the field greeted him. Lily, Edelweiss and the heroes though, they just sat there and made a hand gesture saying hi.
“Fonfon. Care to join us to eat for lunch?”
“Of course, I would love to! And I heard your question earlier, I want to know it too myself.”
“Hmmm, Then I shall make it brief…”
“…”
“…”
“I don’t know.”
Edelweiss…you… how dare you shoot us down like that…
“Um, Edelweiss, what do you mean by that?”
“These people… they are individually hiding their trump cards. They do all the basic and fundamentals of training diligently, but they do individual training about something!”
“OH! That does sound fantastic!”
Everyone here is nodding their heads in agreement. It seems it’s true, however, Ichirou was motionless the whole time…
Suddenly, Kouta raises his hand like he had some kind of idea.
“King Fon! I wanted to go all out! And I want to see how strong you are too! So, I just had an idea! All of us summoned heroes, against you!”
“Hou. I’m interested! I shall comply with your idea!”
“And King Fon, do you know that back in our world, there is this skinship that we do to boost our morale! It’s—“
Kouta dragged Fon away from us. I don’t have any idea what they are talking about. I bet it is something idiotic again. We have a complicated face. I do not worry for Fon, I bet he will be fine with handicaps too.
“What?! Is that true Hero Kouta?!”
“Yes, Yes!”
“I feel hesitant now…”
“Come on! If you think you can honestly win to us, then just say yes and nothing will happen anymore!”
“You… you are trying to attack my pride, how dirty."
“Oh, it’s not something like that!”
“I see. I shall let you know my might! But this decision is abrupt and sudden, will the others comply too?”
“Ah, I’ll talk to them myself! “
“Haa… then, I shall wait for three days, prepare yourselves, strategize and polish your skills.”
“Sure do!~”
And so, they decided everything like that without everyone’s approval.
But, there was no room for discussion after all. Everyone readily agreed to it like they are hungry for a fight. Susanoo just answered lazily. Priscilla is honest to the bone and said she shall try if she can clean the filth of a king.
The magician squads agreed with it saying that they can now test their magic to a live moving experiment. That was mainly what Bacarra said. Shun will be the one to make the strategy so he came outside to observe everyone’s capabilities.
I actually thought he withered away when the sun struck him with its sunlight! I was so sure he became blind. No, he didn’t become blind.
It seems the venue of the battle will take place in an arena-like field. People of the capital will also watch, like this is an exhibition and to show that the heroes training are fruitful. Ah, so it’s an exhibition match to showcase the abilities of the hero. Fon seems to take the challenge to his advantage.
The handicap of Fon is, he will only use a wooden sword and he will not move from his place. He is also not to use any power. It means he will be relying on his brute strength. When Violetta heard about this, she just sighed and massages the temple of her head.
Lily and Edelweiss will just be spectators. Violetta-san will be there to minimize the damage of the battle that will occur. I am kind of excited to see how strong everyone is.
So for the past three days, everyone trained harder and they refined their strategy. The close combatants and the magic users also trained with each other to further enhance their flexibility with the buffing, offensive and defensive.
After three days, a feast like a mood envelope the whole capital. Many people are here to watch the progress of the heroes and to witness the power of the King. Mostly people who are battle enthusiast are here, but the civilians are still rushing to watch.
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And so, that’s how we came to the current situation.
They already talked about everything. Vanguards, assaults and artilleries, Shun already made complicated strategies and positions for everyone.
Actually, before the battle starts, Kouta approached me and…
“Asagao, can we talk for a moment?”
“Un, what is it?”
“You are watching nearby right? With Violetta?”
“Yes.”
“Then can you *mumble mumble*”
“Eeeee…..”
“Come on! Please!”
“That’s…”
“Please Asagao! Everything is for getting stronger! We need to get stronger! We need to bond more, to understand each other and to know more each other!”
“…okay… I will see if I can do it…”
“Thanks! Bye!”
This dirty bastard… Well, I accepted it. If it meant to be stronger, then I shall comply. I returned to Violetta's side.
The battle hasn’t made any progress at this moment. They are still observing Fon from far away.
“Come on heroes, come at me!”
Then they started moving. Shun gave the orders.
“Bacarra, start it.”
“Roger! "
[Inferno], [Thunder Storm], [Pinpoint Meteor], [Rage of Frost], [Aqua Drill], [Wind Downburst], [Lighting Crash], [Fire Expulsion], [Hail of Fire and Ice]
What?! So many! What’s more, aren’t most of the spells sounds really dangerous and powerful! Especially the last two! Bacarra’s magic is already top notch!
Cool Skills names though.
“Hou, these are all new to me. You are already this powerful Hero Bacarra. But sorry to say, against me, it’s useless!”
BOOM
SLICE
Strong! He just sliced through every spell. He also sliced the incoming explosion from the spells. With sheer strength, he blew away everything.
“That’s already within my expectation.”
“Eat my sword!”
“Mito ! Go for the left side, I’ll take the right!”
“Two at once huh.”
Ichirou and Mito engage him in a close range battle with swords. Their movements are fast but, Fon’s movement is a degree faster than them. He just sends shockwave from each of them throwing them off in a far distance. After that, consecutive spells were launch at him for the second time. The shockwave Fon made raises dust all over the field. The heroes are taking advantage of it to attack him simultaneously.
“Not bad…You are guys are coordinating well.”
The magic that was fire at him were fended off but.
WHOOSH
An arrow that flew almost made its way to his back. The arrow exploded upon contact and a shadow of someone appeared behind him. It was the twins turn. Shouta’s spearman ship is top notch too. He will fling it, then rotate it and then pierce then turn and then fling it again. Every movement Fon makes will be answered by an exploding arrow.
While the twins keep him busy, Rose is already healing Ichirou and Mito. It seems Mito is furious now.
“Thanks for that old hag! I’ll show him how hard my anger will hit him!”
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“Eh!? Mito, do not rush in thoughtlessly!”
“I know!”
While the exchange happens, series of spells exploded again. It seems Bacarra’s magic is the perfect artillery to keep Fon occupied and it also creates blind spots because of the dust it raises.
After finally getting a hit on Shouta who flew several meters away, Rose immediately rushes to him for treatment. After that…
“The brawler squad joins the fray!”
“HELL YEAH!”
“…”
Kouta, Ruri, and Dreg charge in. They have well-coordinated movements. Fon’s movement is limited since he is not to move from his spot. I can say that he is in a tight situation. He is still receiving blows from Shouko’s arrows and from Bacarra’s magic.
The fist fight is going well too as Dreg’s purpose there is to further enhance their power while they already have body enhancement themselves. Kouta is doing the defensive tactics as he lures Fon's attention and Ruri does the offensive covertly by running in circles. Dreg will sometimes catch some of the shockwaves Fon produces. Whenever incoming artilleries flew, Dreg will quickly draw out the two from engaging Fon.
But…
“Oh, my… guys, you see, I still don’t receive any damage at all. Will you come at me seriously now?”
Now that he mention it. There are none whatsoever, his clothes are a bit damaged but that doesn’t mean he has any in his body.
“Tsk, so that’s how it is huh… he has a powerful offense and defense even without using any power. What a monster. He is still holding back. Everyone, proceed to plan B!”
“””YES!”””
They are well synchronized. This time everyone back out to recover stamina. And then…
“Hey now…aren’t you guys too fired up?!”
Three people are now approaching.
One is the listless hit man who is emitting spine-chilling blood thirst.
One is a maid that has a belittling look on her eyes with a cold gaze.
One is the usual gloomy woman, now in a crazed state that’s about to go in a carnage.
“With this line up…this is going to be a bit of a challenge!”
“Here we come…”
FAST!
Susanoo, with one leap, is already trying to stab Fon at his back. He quickly turned around grabs his arm and flings him and then sends a series of shockwaves which Susanoo dodges.
“Oh my, filth, do you have the leisure to turn your back on us?”
“Shi--!”
Fon is already surrounded by black holes. After a few seconds, they collided with each other and…
BOOM
Dust rises from the ground, we still don’t have any idea what happened to Fon but…
“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”
Mana charges with her giant axe making a loud sound upon impact! Fon was fine all along. It seems he simultaneously sends shockwave precisely to all the point of explosion. He fended the axe with a shockwave again. Because his weapon is a wooden sword, he cannot use it directly as it will break against soul weapons and magic.
Mana didn’t stop the attack. She immediately changes weapon. She is now using a chakram with many teeth. She spins around and slashes at everywhere. Fon is only dodging by millimeters difference and he can’t find the timing to fire off a shockwave.
“Hey, filth of a king, can you even dodge this now?”
“King Fon…”
The two spoke. Mana is keeping him busy and can’t find the right timing to fend her off.
There are dark bullets scattered everywhere. It was produced my Susanoo and Priscilla.
“Hehe… you got me good….but…”
The bullets fly right straight to him. Mana promptly evaded the spot and changes her weapon to a whip and waited. A cloud of dust again rises.
After some time pass…
“Haa..that hurts…a little…hahahaha!”
There he is, standing with a refreshing smile. His clothes are now tattered and his body looks like it receives considerable damage. No, a normal person would definitely die and get shredded to pieces.
“Now, I will pay you guys back!”
He seems…really fired up… Violetta-san muttered, “Ayiiee.. not this again…”
BOOM!
BOOM!
WHISH!
EH?! Before I knew it, the three were all blown away up to the barrier. They look fine but it seems they were knocked out.
“Come at me!!”
He shouted, this king…
Shun then spoke…
"Of course your Majesty, the preparations are done. Bacarra!!!”
“HAHAHA! IT’S TIME TO UNLEASH MY FURY!
Oh! This time, a large circle forms below Fonn. It seems everyone, from here on out, will use their one hundred percent!
[The Magus Diary! Heaven and Earth! Sun, Moon, and Stars! The collision of the Elements! Come forth!]
A blinding light suddenly came, Violetta-san panics and strengthened her barrier. She then covers my eyes. then…
[Ragnarok!]
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It seems Violetta covered the entire arena with her barrier. So strong… she even soundproofed it for the sake of the viewers. What we saw after the blinding light…
The whole place where Fon is standing is burnt to ashes. But despite the skill directly hitting him, he is still standing there.
“That was really nice! Too bad… it’s far from defeating me.”
“Tsk, tenacious motherf*cker. And I’m already out of juice. You guys can take it from here. I have already learned many things in this battle."
Four have already retired. What will the others do?
“EAT THIS!”
OH! Mito ascended from the sky! He already knows how to fly! He thrust his sword downwards and fills it with magic. It’s leaving a trail of red lights. It seems to be an ancient magic that imbues power to weapons. Then a vortex of flame covered him. Then it formed into a dragon.
Wow…
“You guys are now coming at me one by one with your trump cards huh! Well too bad!”
BOOM!
Another shockwave is sent to Mito decreasing his falling speed. No, the power he puts into the attack was already stopped. After another series of shockwaves, he landed to the ground but was caught by Dreg who also receives damage from catching him.
“Mito! Dreg!”
Rose run towards them to heal them, but another shockwave was sent and it hits her. It seems the shockwave was a bit weaker than usual but it still rendered her immobile for a while.
“Shouko!”
“Shouta!”
“”Heart Piercer!””
Shouko shot an extremely thin shot that seems to pinpoint the heart. Shouta’s spear shot is the same as well. That’s a really dangerous skill. The piercing light is then dispersed by Fon’s sword and he sent a shockwave to them too.
Why are you sending shockwaves mercilessly?! I know that it is your only means of attack from afar but… it’s getting lame…
“Well, well, well…There are only four left! What do you say Hero Kouta?”
“Hahaha…what a cheat! You are not even using your power and yet…we got merciless whipping from you but… we won’t stop!!! Let’s go Ruri!”
“SURE DO!”
“I don’t think so!”
They approach fast while shifting locations. Ruri then charges with fast attacks. Her claws seem to be sinking slightly in Fon’s skin. There is some blood to be seen already. Everytime Fon will send shockwaves that visibly stronger than ever, Kouta will catch the attack that was intended for Ruri. It seems Kouta’s selling point is his vitality.
“It’s time to end this I think…”
While muttering that, he sends a chop with his empty hand to Ruri’s nape. It was so fast that our reaction lagged to it. Ruri immediately falls. Then he quickly kicked Kouta’s guts, knocking him back several meters away. He squats to quell the pain…
“What now, Hero Shun?”
“Haa… and I told them not to charge recklessly like that… No, even if my plan was followed, there is a sheer difference in battle strength and experience. As for me, if that Bacarra’s spell didn’t even flinch you, then I don’t even stand a chance.”
“Good observation.”
When I thought everything is over.
“Not yet!”
“Hero Ichirou…”
“Not yet! I have to get stronger! Stronger than before!”
“…”
Ichirou charges, his slashes are fierce. Fon exchange blows with him with the wooden sword in his hand. He is just casually parrying it but Ichirou is giving his everything with every blow. But after a while, his attacks deviated with spinning, stabbing the sword, side stepping. He even rolls to dodge attacks but…
“Hero Ichirou…this is the end…”
“DAMN!”
He was on his knees, breathing heavily. Striking the ground with his fist…
Ichirou…
“Hero Kouta! This was a fun battle! But this concludes it!”
“Hehehe…hahahaha! MWAHAHAHA!”
“W-what?!”
“You are solely mistaken your Majesty!”
“You! You still have a trump card hidden?!”
“Of course! We won’t charge in a reckless battle like this without backup!”
“What do you mean by that!?!?!”
“Hehehe… Enter the battle! Our last hope!”
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That is actually my cue… I had Violetta open a way in her barrier. She had a complicated expression but she let me go in nevertheless.
I am, right now, holding a wooden sword. I don’t know what to do with it. I can’t even make a full swing with it. I don’t know what this idiot Kouta is saying! Earlier, he told me…
“Asagao, please defeat the king for us! Only you could do it!”
Is what he said. What can I even do with this monster in front of me?!
Fon looks confused…
“Hero Kouta…what is the meaning of this?”
“Didn’t I tell you?! The We, the summoned heroes right?!”
“Guh… you… you tricky bastard…!!”
…I really don’t know what to say… for starters, I tried hitting him with this wooden sword.
PLOP
It didn’t even make a hard sound. That was harsh… my hands are already shaking waving this sword at him…
“What will you do now, King Fon!! Hit her with your shockwaves?! Are you really evil to do that to poor and tiny Asagao?!”
“I…”
“Come on! Just a tap from you and she will be blown away you know!! Do it!”
“Guh…”
“Or are you planning to hit her in the nape too! What a brutish thing to do to your little sister!!”
“That…”
This is… I see… it’s really embarrassing to be used this way. But if I can help them in any way, then I will do this. I thrust my sword towards Fon. I hit him with my sword but because this body is not for swinging a sword or to even use any weapons, I am just hurting myself with it.
“Hngg!”
“K-King Fon! T-that wasn’t my intentions…”
“Asagao! Stop…if you hurt yourself furthermore… I… I…”
What kind of drama is this?! Everyone looks sad and worried…
“Okay! I get it! I give up! I surrender! Please stop Asagao!”
“HELL YEAH!”
The crowd cheers! The heroes who are still conscious have complicated faces.
That was the conclusion of the match. Since everyone is happy with the end result, no one complained. After that, we gather in the training ground. The three royal guards will give their evaluation. Of course, Violetta takes the lead.
“I shall now give the evaluation for all of you. First, of all…”
“””*Stare*”””
“Susanoo and Priscilla… won’t you two take things seriously?! I know you guys cared for the battle the least and did the minimal things you can do! From the start, you two are powerful already, and even without proper training, you guys can surpass everyone here with little effort!”
“…is that so…”
“Oh, my…is it really that obvious earlier?”
“Haaa…”
These two oddballs… Violetta can do nothing but sigh. They really don’t do any much training. In Susanoo’s case, he just sleeps most of the time and will only train when he feel like it.
Priscilla is pretty much the same. She trains and commands every maid and servants in this castle and never trains. I wonder how come they are so strong…
“Next, Hero Mana, Hero Bacarra, and the Twins…you guys are really powerful too from the start… you guys have a little coordination from the start. First, Hero Bacarra, you used too much magical power with your spells, you should know more efficient magic for assaulting the enemy from afar. Hero Mana… you are too crazed in the battle that you couldn’t coordinate well with the plan Shun drew up. The twins, you two coordinate with each other very well but you two go by yourselves. Please try to cooperate with the others too.”
“Un, I just learned that from experience.”
“Haa… I was just imagining I am massacring my bosses *mumble mumble*…”
”Aye! Aye!”
“Aye! Aye!”
Bacarra’s race gave her a large amount of magic power but she guzzles on it. Mana, I think she is just stress driven that imagining murdering your boss in the battle…that’s a little too much… the twins, well, they do have their own training themselves. I am really not in the position to judge too much.
“Hero Shun, you seem to be a tactician type of a man. I do think you are good in strategizing, but this time, your plan was just foiled by brute force so there is nothing I can say against you.”
“Haaa… why is that King is so monstrous, to begin with…”
“Well…King Fon have a strong magic resistance. He nullifies magic attack damage by ¾ if my estimate is correct.”
“That’s…cheating you know…”
Bacarra bats an eye. Isn’t that too much of a resistance?! Violetta is basically saying that Bacarra’s magic damage was reduced to ¼ right from the start!?
“Next is, Hero Kouta, you have an impressive defense and you are really tricky. But there are times that you don’t even need to block damage but instead, you should dodge. It was a waste of energy to block incoming damage if you can dodge it. You can improve more.”
“Yosh!”
“Hero Dreg and Ruri, you guys have a somewhat coordination too but, Hero Dreg should take a more active role and Hero Ruri should make variations to your attacks. If they get repetitive too much, your movements will be read and you will be easily countered.”
“Geez! I already know that!!”
“…will do…”
“Hero Mito…”
“W-what?!”
“Stop being reckless and do what Hero Rose told you.”
“Guh!”
“Hero Rose, you should learn how to use heal from a greater distance so even if you don’t run around the battle, your heal will reach everyone and it will save you time and energy.”
“Un. I understand Miss Violetta.”
“Overall all of you improved leaps and bound in just more than one month!”
Well, I really don’t have any idea how strong they are from the start. Hm? Wait…
“Hero Ichirou…”
“Yes…”
“I am sorry to say this but, you have the least improvement. Determination won’t cut it. You should try to break your limit. That’s all.”
“I see…”
Ichirou…even though you trained the hardest…
What the other royal guards said was identical to Violetta’s evaluation. They all told Ichirou the same thing over and over. After that, the evaluation ended.
Kouta then speaks and it seems to be about the talk he had with Fon the other day.
“OKAY! If we need to get stronger, we need to have a stronger bond!"
“Hey, hey, Kouta, what do you mean by that?!"
“King Fon already gave me his permission!! A mixed bath!”
“A-a mixed bath!?”
“That’s right my friend Mito! Mixed bath!!”
Everyone was dumbfounded. Is this what you are talking about earlier?! It is something idiotic like a mixed bath?!!?!
“You are the worst you otaku!”
“Filth! I should wipe the floor with your face right now.”
“M-mixed bath?! W-with Mito…”
Most voiced out their opinions. Violetta bats an eye to Fon. He has an apologetic face that turns into a face of asking for mercy. Why did you even agree to it?!
“I didn’t actually think that I would lose! I had no idea that Asagao will enter the battle!!!”
“Fon, do you regrets your actions?!”
“I-I am you know!!! But I already gave my words!”
Violetta's anger rises.
However, on our side, Kouta is in frolic state.
“Hehehe… I can’t wait for the lucky pervert route!!! Seeing women’s body!!! Rose-sensei innocently shaped body! Lily-san and Edelweiss-san’s slender but curvy bodies! Ehehehe…”
S-such vulgar imagination! Even I as a previous man can’t be something as perverted as him! He is flaunting his desire right now! What a guy! All of us look at him with disgust.
“Violetta’s hourglass body! Awawawa! Hehehe… Priscilla and the unripe body of Asag--!”
T-this sensation… Kouta’s word was cut off. We look at the source of the blood thirst that suddenly came gushing out. It’s the two oddballs in the back.
“You…are you…serious about what you are about…to say?”
“Kouta Minea, I can’t ignore your words anymore. What were you about to say, filth?”
“Ah--... Y-you, see… I—“
In the face of absolute terror, his face is drained of blood. Everyone got cold feet. This is… we knew that this is not a normal situation anymore. Kouta may die if he answers poorly. Lily, Edelweiss, and Violetta are ready to jump at the situation if it breaks out in a blood bath by these two.
“Ah… I—, I was… actually…kidding…hehehe… I just.. got carried away…no…I’m… I’m sorry…it…it won’t happen again…”
“Are you certain about that filth?”
“Carried away you say…”
“Yes! Yes! I was kidding about the Mixed bath too! Right, King Fon!”
AH! He just tried to drag Fon. It seems this idiot of a king is already numb to such things as blood thirst and such. He just looks quizzically at Kouta. Read the mood a bit would you?!
“Hm? It is?!”
“Yes! It’s just a joke! Right?!”
“Hm, Ah okay. It’s a joke.”
“Right! Right! It’s just a joke! It won’t be happening!”
This dangerous situation became comical. What are you guys doing…
“If that is the case then I won’t pursue the topic anymore.”
“I’m already sleepy… I shall go now…”
The case is dismissed. Kouta limply fell down trembling. No, you don’t look pitiful. This is what you get for being an overperv. Everyone was relieved and so, they already left the scene to either rest or make a revision with their skills and abilities. What a diligent people. Kouta was still here curling in the ground, Bacarra approaches him.
“That’s what you get you stupid otaku! In the first place! Why didn’t you…even..mentioned….m-my…name…at…all…”
“Hah!? That impure body of yours?!”
SLAP!
“I-idiot Kouta!!”
“Eee…”
I didn’t see anything…
I left the scene. Everybody already left. Before I knew it, Milin is already walking behind me. How diligent. I wish you will always be like this.
“Milady, it’s soon going to be dinner. For the meantime, what shall you do?”
“Eh? Is it really that late? Hmm, I want to take a stroll in the garden.”
“Confirmed.”
We walk towards the garden. Now that she mentions it, the sun is already setting. I didn’t notice it at all.
Arriving at the garden, I saw a figure of someone sitting on the marble bench. It was him. I gestured Milin to leave me alone. She already guessed what I want to do so she distances herself quietly.
I approach quietly. I tap him on the shoulder. He turned his head to look at me.
“Ichirou, good evening now, I think.”
“A-Asagao?!”
Tears are visible in his reddish eyes.
“Ahahaha… there is some dust that got in my eyes.”
“Both eyes?”
“Ahahaha… I’m sorry… for me to be seen like this…”
“Ichirou, are you alright? No, how do you feel right now?”
That was rude of me. He is obviously not okay.
“Ahahaha… I wanted to show some cool side of me…but all I did was to flaunt how pathetic I am… in front of you, in front of Lily-san, in front of everyone…they are right, it’s just show how weak I am.”
“That’s not true Ichirou! I am weaker than you!”
“Ahahaha! Said by someone who defeated the King.”
“Geez… you’re on it again.”
“Asagao, even though you are trying to cheer me up, I can’t help it.”
“So, Ichirou…”
“I’m averting my eyes again from reality… pathetic…truly pathetic. My training is still insufficient. My hard work still bore no fruit.”
“…”
“When I was a kid, I always aspire to be a hero. A hero who will defend the weak and guide them to be strong, guide people who lost their ways. When my parents… were became victims of a serial killer… I was lost. I don’t know what to do. I was taken cared by relatives. I didn’t have any problems with them. But my beliefs, the things I want to believe. It crumbled… My life turned black and white.”
“…”
“I then turned fifteen years old. The serial killer was caught. Rage surged in through my body. I charged to the jail with my relatives. I was already out for blood.”
“Ichirou…”
“But, I saw that man. The light in his eyes is gone. Lifeless eyes deprived of hope. I was told of his circumstances. He has a large amount of debt because his wife was a gambling addict. His wife then left him with the debt. He tried to raise their kid alone. But in the end, he wasn’t able to take it. Because of it, he killed people for their belongings. And long after, before he knew it, his child drifted away from him and now is being taken cared by his relatives. He lost everything. I saw myself in his position. I knew that his actions can’t be justified by his life circumstances. But… I sympathize him. I, who was driven by rage, forgave him, talk to him that he should change. He should still try to change. That life will still give him chance to reform himself. From that time, I decided to be someone who will help people. To guide them, to give them direction in life, and now, I want to be strong, so I can do convey and teach these values to others, to give hope to people wherever I go. That’s what I want.”
“…”
“Eh…what am I saying to you… I’m pathetic, trying to find comfort from Asagao.”
“No, it is not. Your beliefs, your drive, they are all incredible.”
“Thanks…thanks, Asagao…*sob*…this is…this time…this will just be a challenge for me…*sob*”
“It sounds really pretentious though.”
“Ahahaha! You never fail to make a comeback against me!”
From the start, he doesn’t need any encouragement. He will stand up by his self. I am envious of his mental fortitude but I really don’t dwell on it.
This is just a simple challenge of strength.