Chapter 16
Mind Is Full Of Wonders, Having Unnecessary Thoughts Now and Then!
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「So you can use Gravity Magic, huh boy~. Then, don't disappoint me~~!」< Num >
Num said while giving a smile.
「!」
Perhaps, coming to his sense; Yuno suddenly leap back and uses, '《Gravity Magic: Supreme》', to crush Num.
Where Num was standing, a small impact happen 'causing sand to float around.
「...I don't know how you manage to save them but I'm amaze~! So don't die easily, you human!」< Yuno >
But suddenly, when dust cleared around him. Yuno's eyes widen in shock to see Num still standing; albeit his feet was under the sand now...
「!!」
Yuno knew that the Magic he had used on him, had sixty times more than earth's gravity. So no humans should've been able to stand it...
「Hmm? Did you just do something?」< Num >
But Num, who was standing still asked Yuno a question, while putting his hand on his chin and tilts his head sideways.
Without replying, Yuno chant his another magic, '《Gravity Magic: Gravitational Sphere》', and produce five white sphere and launched at Num.
Every one of sphere was lashing out fifty times more gravity than earth itself. And if combine them then, it had 250 times more gravity than earth. And on top of that, Num was already under another magic of Yuno's.
With a loud bang; a gust of wind exploded around Num, creating a large smokescreen.
Yuno seemed to convinced that he killed Num, and smirks at site.
However, when dust cleared, Num was alive but this time his whole body was underneath the sand, and only his head was outside.
「*Cough* *Cough* Sand is in my mouth!! *Cough* *Cough*」< Num >
Without waiting for any moment, Yuno closed his distance, while holding his double-edged sword to end Num's life.
With an huge impact, dust again covers them both.
When dust cleared, Yuno was still holding to his sword to cut, but it had already been stopped by Num who had came outside of the sand real quick and hold Yuno's sword with his two fingers.
Suddenly, Num brings his face closer to Yuno, where they could hear their breathing.
「I see~. So you're using gravity as a powerup to make your body and weapon lighter or heavier based on you situations, huh~! I like your fighting style, boy~! But~~ It's still not enough to beat me, though~~!」< Num >
Num smile at Yuno as to mock him.
「! Don't you dare to mock me!!」< Yuno >
However.
(...It feels as if he could predict every one of my moves....) < Yuno >
On back of Yuno's mind, he felt unsecured fighting with Num.
But he dismisses this thoughts, and tries to kick Num on his abdomen with his right leg, making it heavier than dozens of big rocks. But-- next moment, Num grabbed Yuno's leg and throws him like a small pebble, several yards away.
「*Gwah*」
(!? E-Even in such intense gravity, he could move his body at ease!!?) < Yuno >
Yuno quickly stood up in his feet, and watches Num's next move to counterattack.
As for Num, he was picking his ear while looking at Yuno.
「Hmm? It seems my momentum gotten a little bit slower than before, huh... Hey boy~! If you can stop this in its track then, I'll fight with you for real~~!」< Num >
The hand which was picking his ear stop and took out a small piece of metal from his ear.
The mental length was less than 1mm.
「Here it comes~~!」< Num >
Num throws the piece of metal at Yuno.
Piece of metal was approaching at Yuno with such speed that it was cutting air like paper and leaving the dust behind covering its track in aftermath.
Yuno puts gravity around him making everything hundred times more lighter.
When the piece of metal closed its distance towards Yuno.
He grabbed the small metal.
「!!」
But the piece of metal was so heavy and charging with such speed, that it had exceed Yuno's expectation.
The next moment; Yuno was pulled away by that small metal, landing with a big thud, several yards away again.
「*Gwah*!」
Num who was looking at scene, finally starts to walk slowly towards Yuno, while thinking some other things...
(..I wonder~ How's my clones are doing~~?) < Num >
For a moment, Num looks at other side of battlefield direction, and turns again at Yuno.
◆◆◆
Both; Zo and Mary took their battle stance.
In an instant, at the same time they unsheathe their weapons.
Zo enhanced his magic to his sword, glowing yellowish. And Mary also did the same, making her sword glow reddish.
Next moment; when Zo and Mary closes their distance and slashed at each other, creating a little wind pressure around them.
But neither of them heard sound of their swords clashing....
「「!!?」」
They both wanna know why, when.... They both got flabbergast to see a young man with messy hair, was middle of them, holding their swords with his fingers.
「! N-Num-dono!!?」
Zo looked at Num in bewilderment.
「...」
As for Mary, when she noticed Num front of her, she quickly leap back to her previous spot and kept looking at Num with narrowed eyes.
「Yo~ Zo-san! What's up~~!」
「...I-I'm fine and all.... But more importantly, what are you doing here, Num-dono!!」< Zo >
「Ah~ I just happen to be nearby, when I thought of saying 'Hello'~!」< Num >
After saying this, Num looks at Mary with a smile.
Seeing Num's face, Mary was taken a step backward.... Was it by suddenness, or was it by fear, she didn't knew......
「...I don't know how you stop my attack... But! I can see you're strong...!」< Mary >
「Hm? Ah no! I'm not that strong~!」< Num >
Num scratched his head while replying to Mary.
「? What do you mean by that..?」< Mary >
Mary said while taking her battle stance again.
「? Ah yes~ Before we talk--」< Num >
Num puts his one hand in front of Mary to stop her from attacking, and turns his head towards Zo.
「Here, Zo-san~ Heal yourself~~ And after that, can you take care of Demons and Monsters around us~?」< Num >
Zo, who was stunned by sudden appearance of Num, came to his sense. When Num throws him Healing Potions, and got up on his feet and look around.
「Leave it me, Num-dono! And after the battle, let's get ourselves some drinks!」< Zo >
「Now, that's what I'm talking about~! Then, I'll also make sure to win this battle fast as possible~~!」< Num >
Zo nodded at Num and goes off to deal with other enemies around them.
Num turns his attention to Mary again.
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「Now then~ Let's talk--?」
Before Num could finished saying, Mary had already closed her distance.
「Let's see, if you can survive this, 《Fire Technique: Scorching Slash》!」< Mary >
Mary slashed her sword at Num single handedly which was glowing deep crimson now. Every slash she was sending had hot pressure to it which was enough to kill A+ Adventurer easily in no time.
But-- Without even moving his body, Num was dodging every single slash from Mary, only by moving his upper body...
「I see~! You certainly have quite a technique in your sleeve~!」< Num >
While dodging, Num calmly judge her attack with one hand on his chin.
Mary, who was agitated by sudden appearance of Num, and now, was frustrated that it wasn't going as she planned...
「Tch! You lowly human.... How dare you to get in my way, 《Fire Magic: Blazing Sun》!」< Mary >
While veins popping out of her forehead in anger, she chant Magic for her next attack.
In an instant, a huge fireball appear behind her, the fireball height was about a mountain, way larger than the ones she was using previously.
The huge fireball temperature had crossed over 10000°C, which was easily enough to burn everything.
「Take this, you fucker!!」< Mary >
「...」
With that, she launches the huge fireball at Num.
The huge fireball was heading towards Num at rapid speed, burning everything insight, burning the very oxygen, and making the wind around it way hotter than normal.
But Num just stood still, while raising his one eyebrow.
When the fireball was near enough Num, he did a spinning hook kick sending the fireball towards the sky, way beyond the clouds, never to be seen again...
「Wha!? I-impossible! I-It should've burn you alive!!」< Mary >
Mary got shocked that her magic got deflected by a mere kick, which was enough to burn a whole country to ash....
「Sheesh~ It seems, you really are looking down on me, huh? Then, how about this; I'm resistance to fire. So the only way to defeat me is; by raw strength or by Techniques, choose anyway you like~~!」< Num >
Mary gritted teeth in frustration, after listening to Num's words.
But--
Before she knows it... Num closed his distance in an instant, straight looking into her eyes.
「I've been eager to ask you.... You aren't human or demon, are you?」< Num >
「!? H-How did you k-know!!」< Mary >
But without giving an reply, Num lunches a light punch to Mary...
When Num fist was closing in, she put her sword between them to stop his attack... However, when Num hit her sword, it not only crack but it broke in pieces and even still Num's fist wasn't stopping.
So Mary puts her one hand to block it, while with other hand she clinched her broken sword handle more and stab it to his incoming fist, before sending flying away.
「Your reaction speed is good~!」< Num >
Num said in amusing voice while pulling out the broken sword from his fist.
「..H-How did you know...?」< Mary >
Mary asked the same question, while standing up, with her left hand covered and dripping from bloods.
「Well~ The smell you were giving off is kind of a rotten flesh, so you're quite standing out, y'know~~!」< Num >
「...」
Mary look at Num's face, without talking.
「Should I take this as a 'yes'?」< Num >
A Ghoul; in perspective, was the opposite of Spirits.
Ghouls resides in The 'Underworld'. They once had a normal life which comes to an end. Some souls were reincarnated in different era with new memories, and there's also the ones who couldn't or to be precise; the souls who had lost their sanity and only live for what they used to believe in, which turn them into 'Souls' from 'Ghouls'.
As for spirits: they were born from their surrounding environment, and there were three stages to differentiate them.
First one is 'Low-Spirits'; they are new born spirits with no ego. Second one is 'Medium-Spirits'; the ones who lived long enough will gradually gain an ego and they were quite compatible with Humans.
And the last one is 'High-Spirits'; the ones who had lived for more than a millennium and had a physical body are called 'High-Spirits'. Some of them started as normal spirits, and some of them born from rich mana and would gain an ego in few months or in days...
「Yeah, I am....So what about it!?」< Mary >
「Nothing really~ Just wanted to confirm~~!」< Num >
Num spoke in casual manner while scratching his head.
「...」
Without saying anything, Mary just stared at Num for upcoming attack.
To which, Num just crossed his arms and looked at her with a grin.
◆◆◆
Few hours earlier.
Few km away from the battlefield: Tom, Ino, Kira and Mark were looking at battlefield calmly, without having anyone guarding them.
When Demon blew the 'Shankha' and ran forward, most of them caught in explosions.
「You guys did a good job setting up the explosion crystals, I gave you.」< Tom >
Tom looked at Ino, Kira, and Mark and gave them a genuine smile.
「I'm happy to hear, Tomoki-sama!」< Ino >
「Heh~ I knew you'll be happy, Mister Tomoki~~!」< Mark >
「So, what do we do now, 'Aniki*'?」< Kira >
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'兄貴 '(Aniki) is a Japanese word which means – One's Older Brother, One's Senior.
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Ino spoke in casual tone than the one where she usually be cold-hearted.
Mark talked as usual, in cheerful manner.
And Kira asked Tom about their next move.
「Nothing. Let's just watch for now.」< Tom >
「Hoh~ You've became quite a man, huh, Tomoki~.」
But then, suddenly they heard a feminine voice echoing around them.
Tom and others put their guard up and looks around their surroundings with keen eyes.
「There!!!」
When Mark shouted, everyone looked at the same direction as Mark.
『.........』
They saw a woman who's been hiding her identity by a mask and crossing her arms. She was wearing a deep blue kimono and around it was a white dragon printed on it. And her hair was sliver with light blue on end, was fluently floating around.
「Fuhuhu~ You've become sharp- de gozaru~.」
Woman said while snickering.
『.....』
Everyone at sight were confused, but they somehow recognize the woman voice, but where..? They couldn't tell....
「...Have we met somewhere before..?」< Tom >
Tom step forward and asked her question.
「How rude~ It seems that you're still lacking manners as before~ *Sigh* I guess, I can forgive you this time, since we're meeting after a long years- de gozaru~~!」
Woman said while putting her hand on her mask and turns it around her head to reveal her face.
『!!?』
Everyone got shock and looked at her with their wide eyes.
「! M-M-Ms.Jyoti!!?」
Suddenly, Tom spoke in trembling voice.
Perhaps, remembering how he used to train under her struck fear in him, or who she really was, turn his face pale even more.
「Ah~! You've finally remember me- de gozaru~~!」< Jyoti >
「...」
Tom stood still and kept looking at Jyoti in surprise.
「...I-Is that really you, J-Jyoti-sensei?! You've changed a lot!!」< Mark >
Mark said in bewilderment.
「Um-hmm~ And you've all also changed a lot- de gozaru~!」< Jyoti >
Jyoti said while giving off a smug face.
「....So, Ms.Jyoti...What are you doing in this continent? Aren't you supposed to be at Kiran-Land?」< Tom >
Suddenly, Tom step forward without caring about her mood and dare to ask her a question.... Even though, he knew the consequences of ruining her mood.
「Jeez...You're such a boring guy Tomoki, you know that~? And besides, I have my own question to ask you- de gozaru~!」< Jyoti >
Jyoti suddenly stopped smiling and looked straight at Tom with keen crimson eyes, like; it was ready to kill its prey anytime she wanted.
Everyone froze in fear by Jyoti's gaze, that they were unable to move their body....
「..Can you explain the mark that is in your heart?」< Jyoti >
『!!?』
Ino, Kira and Mark got surprised upon hearing Jyoti's words and looked at Tom with their wide eyes...
「A-Aniki! What is Sensei's saying? I don't understand...」< Kira >
「W-What does that even mean, Jyoti-sensei?!」< Mark >
「...Tomoki-sama.....」
Kira tries to ask Tom, and Mark was trying to ask Jyoti. As for Ino, she muttered as she looks at Tom with worried face.
「Oh my~ It seems you haven't told them- de gozaru~?」< Jyoti >
「...Yeah...And more importantly, how did you even know about this, Ms.Jyoti..?!」< Tom >
「It's simple~ Nothing hides from me~~.」< Jyoti >
Jyoti looked at Tom and others with her deep crimson eyes and smile.
Ino, Kira and Mark suddenly got so petrified by her gaze that they taken a step back.
But Tom stood still, tryna control his fear inside and look straight back at Jyoti.
「...Does that mean....You know about this all along, Ms.Jyoti...?」< Tom >
「Yep~!」
「I see...So I can no longer keep this a secret, huh....」< Tom>
(But before I talk.....I first want to find out were Gluttony is hiding....Without any presence, it's hard for me to find him....) < Tom >
After talking with Gluttony in alone a few days ago. Since then, Tom couldn't find his whereabouts...
Tom looks around his surroundings to feel any presence of Gluttony, but he couldn't. So he assume that Gluttony was using some kind of Magic to hide his presence, or he might be somewhere at the battlefield.
To which Tom sighed tirelessly.
「Is something bothering you, Tomoki~?」< Jyoti >
Picking up Tom's unusual behavior, Jyoti spoke up.
「! W-Well.... Say, Ms.Jyoti, have you seen a chubby guy with short height in butler uniform while coming here..?」< Tom >
Tom didn't tried to hide his thoughts and spoke up to her.
「Hmm..... Ah yes, I did~ He was hiding a little bit far behind sand dunes and filming you~ and since, I don't like any disturbance during our talk, so I just killed him with surprise attack~ Although, that guy was just a clone and I didn't find the real one anywhere near us- de gozaru~!」< Jyoti >
「!!」
Upon hearing Jyoti's words, Tom got so surprise that he couldn't hide his expression any longer.
After all, he even couldn't able to feel any presence of Gluttony's clone, let alone finding the real one... And somehow, Jyoti was able to sense Gluttony's presence and killed it faster than one expected. Albeit, that guy was just a clone.
「*Sigh* I see.... Well, if you guys wanted to know, then....」< Tom >
『....』
Everyone looks at Tom without saying a word.
Tom looked at his feet with dark expression and open his mouth slowly...
• • •
• •
•
When Tom finished his story of how he got deceived by Demon Lord Ruiyuko into killing Mech-Country's Guardian.
Ino, Kira and Mark who were listening closely had their eyes wide open in shock after hearing Tom's story...
But Jyoti had other things going on her mind.
「..So you're saying, Ruiyuko used 'Blood Binding Ritual' on you- de gozaru?」< Jyoti >
Tom respond in nod to her question.
「I see. Then, let me give you guys a brief summary on this- de gozaru~!」< Jyoti >
Jyoti turns her attention towards Ino, and others and began to give an explanation on 'Blood Binding Ritual'.
'Blood Binding Ritual' is a forbidden magic, where caster will use his/her blood as an offering, in order to perform this ritual.
It was basically a downgraded version of 'Contract'.
In 'Contract'; both parties must come to an agreement before they could active it and it solely depends on one's mana of which type of contract they will get. If one has lower manas than other one, then, they will become their servant but if both parties have equal manas then, they can stand on equal footing.
Even though, every little details was on many various books. No one actually can use it.... And only four individuals could use it perfectly, they were: 'Guardians Of Humanity'. But it all changed when Sub used this on Kitsune for first time about five years ago, and it was more than perfect than Jyoti's. But no one knew about this....
(Oh Master~~ You are just a quick-learner as before- de gozaru~~) < Jyoti >
Jyoti suddenly stop explaining and dazed about her master and chuckles remembering her past, while blushing slightly...
「...M-Ms.J-Jyoti..?」
When Tom and others looked at Jyoti, they were caught off guard by her expression. So Tom step forward and called out her name...
「Hm? Ah yes~!」
Jyoti looks back and continue to explain...
On the other hand: If you want 'Blood Binding Ritual' a success then, first: you had to break down the will of the host so they can't resist it and after that host will become a mere puppet. But if done without preparation then, it will most likely to be a failure.
But unlike 'Contract'; the caster of 'Blood Binding Ritual' can kill or drain their host anytime, without even lifting a finger.
「That's all.」
After giving a full explanation to other, Jyoti looked at Tom alone with dubious eyes for a moment before again opening her mouth.
「..How come.... You're still able to keep your will? As far as I know, if what you've said is true then....You shouldn't have- de gozaru.」< Jyoti >
Ino and others tilts their heads in question, listing to Jyoti.
「 *Nod* Yes! Actually.... Demon Lord Ruiyuko didn't took away my free will.....Even then, there's more individuals on his side, which he didn't took their will either.... And whenever I was near him, I always got gut-wrenching feeling from him so I tried to distance myself from him....」< Tom >
「And that's how you ended up travelling all over the world- de gozaru?」< Jyoti >
「...Yeah, that's right.....」< Tom >
Tom revealed his reasoning for going one contient from to another.
Jyoti listens to him silently while lilting up a rolling paper.
「So... How you're able to stay young despite living for this long- de gozaru~? You're human right?」< Jyoti >
「Of course I am, Ms Jyoti! Are you already feeling high!!」< Jyoti >
「I'm not~ Will you tell me or not~?」< Jyoti >
Before anyone could react. In an instant, Jyoti closed her distance to Tom and whisper to his ear.
(No! You're definitely high!!) < Tom >
「...Fine! Now, can you stay away from me? Your smoking is killing me! *Cough*」< Tom >
「Sure~」
Jyoti jump back from Tom, while taking a puff.
「 *Sigh* You must've heard about 'CC-1800', right, Ms.Jyoti..? That guy or his clone I mention earlier always followed me around whenever I go and gave me that device so I could use it on me and at these kids. So we wouldn't die from natural causes...」< Tom >
「Ah~ Do mean by 'Cell Changer-1800'? I thought Charles had destroyed every piece of information along with the machine itself... So he didn't, huh- de gozaru~!」< Jyoti >
「....I don't know about that... But I'm pretty sure, Demon Lord Ruiyuko have devices like that...... And kids, there you have it... My whole story.....」< Tom >
Tom revealed his reasoning, while looking at Ino, Kira and Mark, feeling guilty inside...
「...I'm so happy to finally know your whole story, Tomoki-sama!」< Ino >
「What's with that face, Mister Tomoki~? I'm always telling you I'm happy as long as I can travel with you~~!」< Mark >
「I could care less about your past, Aniki.... The reason I followed you is because I truly believe on the person which I'm seeing it right now..!」< Kira >
But-- what Tom heard was completely different than he expected, which causes his heart to melt down with difffernet types of emotions...
「...You guys....」
Ino said while tears falling out....
Mark said in cheerful voice as ever.
Without caring about the world, Kira spoke what was inside his heart.
Ino, Kira and Mark slowly walk towards Tom and hugged him, without saying anything.... And just hugged him more tightly.
「Aww~ I feel like I'm watching some kind of a drama in 3D- de gozaru~~!」< Jyoti >
Suddenly, Jyoti breaks in, in their emotional moment while taking a long puff from her rolling paper.
「M-M-Ms.Jyoti!!? You don't have to be so blunt about it!!」< Tom >
「Well yeah... But, duh~ I obviously couldn't control myself~~!」< Jyoti >
But Tom frowns at Jyoti words, while raising his voice.
「Don't lie! You obviously don't have a emotional scene like this since the series started, so you're making fun of others!!」< Tom >
「! W-What did you just say, you punk!!?」< Jyoti >
「Admit it! You don't even have a proper past like other supporting characters have!!」< Tom >
Tom bluntly roast Jyoti that she was twitching her eyebrow in frustration.
「..D-Don't get ahead yourself, Tomoki! I'm pretty sure Mr.Writer is taking his time to write my awesome background as a finale! I can smell it!!」< Jyoti >
(...Yeah, 'The Rock' is cooking in your imagination......And how could you even put so much faith on him and he even put the series at 'Hiatus' so many times just because he was lazy.....And more importantly, how come your background story can be a finale!? And you're not even the, 'MC*' of this story.....!) < Tom >
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So for those people who don't know what 'MC' mean. It means: 'Main Character'
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「Yes yes~ Let's just hope, he could stay on this series 'till the very end...」< Tom >
「...W-What did you just--?」< Jyoti >
But before Jyoti could finish her dialogue, she suddenly received a 'Thought Communication' from Num.
(..H-Hey Jyoti!? Are you listening?!) < Num >
(....Yeah, I'm listening~?)
(..Listen! We have a problem in our hands!!) < Num >
(? What do you mean- de gozaru?) < Jyoti >
Thought Communication got cut off before Jyoti could ask the problem with Num.
But before Jyoti could react to it, she suddenly sensed huge amount of Mana gathering towards battlefield.
She quickly turns her head around to see, what's unfolding.....
Perhaps, sensing same as Jyoti; Tom and others also turns their heads towards the source.
「!!? T-That's!!!」
Jyoti looks with her eyes wide open in shock......
From the battlefield: A single bright light emerge from the ground which was going towards the sky with illuminating light....
And even the whole battlefield stop fighting and looks at the light going beyond the sky....
When the bright light crossed over the troposphere, it suddenly released countless light beam raining down at the whole battlefield.
In a mere second; more than hundred light beams were lashing down by one bright light.
The reason Jyoti was shock because that attack was originally created by her alone, in fact her any Magic, or Techniques wasn't even written in books or anywhere...... And everytime she uses it cost absurd amount of Mana which can easily killed amateur humans.
...But now, she saw something impossible front of her.
And what's more surprising was; of how every light beams were refined and well-compressed, compare to her own...
If Jyoti were to use this Magic then it would've easily devastated the surface of battlefield in single light beam......But this time; the light beams were only raining down on Demon and Monsters only, without even injuring humans in process.
(.....Who would've thought that I'd be seeing my own magic in such a refine way.....) < Jyoti >
But before she could think, something suddenly felt heavy on her left shoulder.
She quickly held her Katana with hand and turn around....
「!!?」
But what she saw, shook her whole body to its core with goosebumps...
「Hey Jyoti, can I know for how many chapters I've been gone?」
「!!? M-M-M-M-Master!!!!」
That one person Jyoti didn't want to be here, was here, putting one arm around Jyoti shoulder....
Sub was wearing his plain white mask and a causal dress with slipper.
On the other hand: Jyoti was starting to sweat a lot that now, her calm mind was full of unnecessary thoughts.....
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I hope you enjoy it and sorry for my bad grammar and I hope it's understandable.
I'm trying my best to improve and if you find some mistakes or anything like that, then let me know on the comment.
Peace:)