After Cyrus says this, the minus with its flaming katana swings directly at him.
“DODGE!” I scream.
But Cyrus blocks the blow, from the katana taking the full shockwave of the impact, and absorbing the flames.
“You’re interesting. To think a human is this strong” the minus says as Cyrus knocks it back.
I move up to Cyrus and ask, “How did you do that.”
Sporadically he says, “I j-j-just got my s-s-sword then I thought I couldn’t let you d-d-die, then black mist appeared. L-L-Legacy active sword changed darkness came out minus defeated.” When he finishes saying all this, I feel like steam is coming out of his head.
“It’s okay slow down. We will figure this out later, but we need to get past that monster because behind it is Suzuka.”
He starts panicking and says, “Is she ok? What is going on? Did t-t-t-that monster hurt her?” while getting close.
“Cyrus, you’re ruining the cool Aura you had. Clam down,” I say, pushing his face away.
“S-S-Sorry”
“I need someone to distract him as I get close. Will you be able to handle that?”
“Don’t worry. All dragons receive harsh military training from the age of three. Compared to that, this guy is easy.”
What the hell is going on in your homeland? As I think this, the monster sends a water current at us, and I freeze. Then I say, “well, if you say you can, follow me.”
So, the minus continues to throw attack after attack at us as we get closer. Every time it sends one of its significant attacks, I move behind Cyrus as he absorbs it. The closer we get, the more it seems to stay close to Suzuka as if it is protecting her.
When we get incredibly close, we charge forward with all our strength as the minus sends a giant wave of fire at us, but Cyrus absorbs it as we press on.
But the minus says, “It’s over for you both” Then I turn around to see the minuses two other swords. “Know taste this human, Sanmyō no ken shōtotsu” the other two swords, one of water and one of wind, came and tried to attack us, but at that moment, the remaining twinstars came and blocked the swords.
Then they scream “KEEP GOING” to us. Cyrus moves forward as fast as he can, Absorbs all the fire and cuts straight through the minus. In that gap, I use my legacy to create a large amount of snow under my feet to propel me forward, which enables me to get straight to Suzuka.
As I reach her, she is covered in the dense black spirit energy I saw before. Walking up to her, I yell, “SUZUKA!” but as I get close, her tails ward me off.
“DON’T COME ANYWHERE NEAR ME!”
Dodging her tails, I say, “Sorry, but you aren’t going to get your wish. I have no intention of leaving you in such a state, especially since you’re my amazing friend Suzuka.”
“NO, I AM NOT. I HATE MYSELF! I am the type of horrible human being who would ask more of the only people who had been nice to me. I wanted you and Cyrus to stay with me even more than that. I wanted you both to take me away from here, even now when I know what type of monster I am.”
“You’re no monster”
“Look around Orb; you can see it and hear it all the lives I have snuffed out by existing. I know why they were so scared of me. They just wanted to live without constantly fearing death. I understand that, yet seeing them all die fills me with nothing but happiness I hate them, I hate them so much. But the part that fills me with even more hatred is not the fact that they killed my parents, but it is the fact that no matter what I do or try to do to be liked and loved, no one will love me. They all hate me for existing, yet I so desperately want their love that I would almost kill myself. When I think about that, I hate myself even more.”
“Suzuka.”
“So, I am tired, Orb. I am done with their never-ending cycle of hatred. I want my life to end. So, in my utter selfishness, I will wait here until someone strong enough to kill me comes along, and I will curse that person with my last breath, and I am too much of a coward to go off on my own so everyone here can come with me.”
“Suzuka”
“You see Orb, that is the type of person. I am a selfish demon who is petty to her last breath.”
“WHAT’S WRONG WITH THAT!”
“Huh.”
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“There is nothing wrong with expecting people to be nice and to respect your life and to be understanding. Why the hell should you feel like you’re a horrible person for expecting humans to use their brains for one second.”
“But I know the chaos I can cause if I was to live.”
“I don’t remember learning the law of nature that states you have to die” getting up close to her, I say, “If all of the others go crazy, I will simply have to make sure that happiness surrounds you so completely that it will go overpower all of humanities feelings.” As I grab her hands.
“But who would care for someone like me.”
“You’re staring directly at one, and another is fighting his ass off against that monster back there. You made two in six days. I am sure in the rest of your life you can make many more.”
“I can’t Orb. If I go, I will be putting my only friends in danger.”
“Then, if you don’t go with me, I will stop being your friend.”
“But you promised.”
“If we aren’t friends, you can come along with me without worrying about my fate.”
With a little smile, she says, “Orb, that logic is very flawed.”
“Friends put up with each other idiocy, so put up with it. So if I am ready to take on all your problems, you need to accept some of the stupid things I say.”
“But-”
“No more buts from this moment on. I promise I will never let you question whether you want to live ever again. So, Suzuka Gozen, stop rejecting me and come with us. The only answer I will accept is yes Orb, so how about it.”
“Yes Orb” she says as the spirit energy all around her fades then she falls asleep. “I guess this must of taken a lot out of her. Picking her up, I walk over to Cyrus, where I see the minus slowly fade.
Before it ultimately fades away, it says, “Remember this boy’s, hatred doesn’t ever fade in the hearts that cause it and in the hearts that receive as long as that rule remains among you humans, my death is only ephemeral.” With that the minus fade from our sight.
Looking around, I see every last one of the twinstars are unconscious or dead, then I say “Cyrus we got to get out of here as quickly as possible.”
“B-B-But is it all right to leave them here in this state.”
“Don’t worry, the spirits should be able to sense the fighting is done and will come to help these guys. I wish we could do something more for them as well, but if they figure out it was Suzuka who caused this, it will be almost impossible to sneak her out of the country, so our only opportunity is now.” And with a heavy heart, me and Cyrus escaped from there.
When we arrive at the inn, Sparrow says “What happens.”
I told him, “I will explain later. Is everything ready to go”
“Umm, yes just a few more things.”
“Dammit,” I say as I start frantically getting everything ready.
But then I heard, “find her. It is the Norowareta who caused this. Find her and execute her.”
“If this country won’t defend us, then we will defend ourselves.”
“She couldn’t have gotten too far.”
“I saw that she has been interacting with some boys.”
“I think I saw those Boys staying at that inn.”
“Isn’t the owner of that inn.”
Crap, this is bad. “Cyrus, Sparrow, I am going to try leading them away. You run with Suzuka.” I say as I run out of the room.
These bastards, instead of rescue efforts for the people who put their lives on the line fighting for you they, choose to come after Suzuka instead. As I arrive at the entrance I see the inn owner with Zashiki by her side, talking to the crowds outside. Listening in, I hear.
“The norowareta-ko isn’t here,” she says
“Why should we believe you, she is your granddaughter, isn’t she.”
Her granddaughter.
“For all, we know, you have been aiding her all these years.”
Zashiki, about to flip out on them, is stopped by the owner and she says, “The norowareta-ko ruined my son and daughter’s life. It destroyed all of our family legacy and now I will die a woman who has had all her descendants die before her. Do you really think I would protect the CURSED EXISTENCE THAT BROUGHT THIS UPON ME! So if that is all you want to accuse me of leave right this second and go help the people who are injured or dying instead of foolishly letting your anger run rampant?”
With that, all the people disperse then she turns around and says, “Orb, where is she.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“I see, so she must be in your room.” Turning her head to Zashiki, she says “Take them through the secret passage.”
With that, Zashiki heads for my room, as the woman walks away. “Wouldn’t you like to see Suzuka before we go?”
“Why would I do that?”
“Since you’re her family, it would mean a lot to her.”
Turning around to face me, she says “Boy, I meant every word I said back there. I don’t even recognise that girl as my granddaughter, nor will I ever.”
“Then why did you help us.”
Stopping for a moment, she says “Till this day, I still love my son against all logic. No matter how stupid or how opposed I might be to some of his decisions I love him, and I can’t tell you why. I knew my son had that same nonsensical love for his child, and I knew it would be his end, so I tried to make him give all that up, but it was to no end. I will never love that child. It is impossible for me. So, at the very least, as one parent to another, I will respect my child’s decision to keep her alive.” She says as she walks away. As she does this I run back to my room.
Φ I still remember that wonderful day.
“Mom, Come hold our daughter.”
As I hold her in my arms, I am entranced by her eyes. They’re so small cute.
“We decided to name her Suzuka.”
“That is a splendid name, Kuzanoha must have chosen it.”
“Mom, are you saying I couldn’t pick a competent name.”
“Oh, shut up, Inari I already know you plan to train her like she is a boy.”
“What’s wrong with her learning to fight a little.”
“You idiot, this is why you are so stupid. I am going to raise this girl to be the most exemplary lady, just watch. I hope we spend lots of time together little Suzuka.”
Even when I saw Suzuka seven years later, she was still adorable. But still, I simply cannot bring myself to be her family, so goodbye forever, my granddaughter.
Φ As Zashiki leads us through a secret entrance, I ask her, “Where are you taken us.”
“To just a little something, we prepared if this situation ever arose. Ahh this is so exciting, I never get to do things like this.”
As we continue running further, someone eventually comes down from the sky and blocks our path. As the dust clears, I see it is the commander of the twinstars.
We don’t have time for this. I should attack him as quickly as possible. But as I try to do this, Cyrus stops me.
“What are you doing,” I say, looking at him. But I see Cyrus shaking.
But then Zashiki says, “Since you can’t sense spirit energy, you wouldn’t know, but this man right in front of us is much worse than that spirit just appeared, and all of us except you can feel it.”
Tch, what are we going to do?