The wind was crying.
The wind was not flowing properly, it was clashing everywhere, making creaking, causing twisters and, the wind blew around in rage while making buzzing around like creating a warped spiral.
The whirlwind was screaming.
The Deity of [Violent Wind]---Ryura Vega.
Her mental image turned into raging winds and controlled the world.
“…………………”
Ryura silently descended to the Fior plains.
There were no emotions in her expression. She was covered with a sharp air that would slice apart anything that touches her and her eyes were as cold as ice.
(……….looks like we have to fight again)
She suppressed the hesitation and discord rising inside her.
She had to accomplish her role like a soldier while being emotionless like a doll.
The information of a troop consisting of 3000 spirit knights from the Empire, has already reached her ears.
No matter if it’s Ryura, having to take on that force would be tough for her.
She has no leisure to control the battlefield anymore. It’s possible that she would trip over if she’s considerate about the opponent and hold her strength back so that there won’t be any deaths.
If she doesn’t fight seriously then, there’s enough risk of losing.
(But, I have no choice but to fight. In order to protect this land---)
Ryura closed her eyes, concentrated her consciousness and gathered the surrounding Ether. The wind then covered her body and turned into glowing armors.
After changing to her battle-mode, Ryura swung the rapier held with one hand, causing a great tremor in the air and it played a sound similar to a howl of a wind beast.
As if they were lured by the voices of the wind, the Spirits living in the land appeared.
In order to attack an army of 3000, Ryura made flawless preparations with her as the center.
Soon----the time for war will come.
The wind blowing in the plains, told her about the enemy she had to defeat.
“-----Eh?”
After lifting her face because of the weird feeling she got from the wind’s tale-------she was able to confirm her enemy’s appearance.
There were only 2 humans there.
One of them was a girl in a military uniform. Her age is about 15. She has a rapier on one hand while a dagger on the other. There was slight presence of thunder covering her equipment’s. She’s probably a Spirit knight that uses thunder attribute Spirits to fight.
The other one was-----
“Tooi…………..”
Ryura opened her eyes wide and let out those words.
It was her previous master that was walking together with the military clothed girl.
Tooi and the other girl walked for a while longer before stopping. Only 2 people were confronting the army that Ryura was controlling.
“Why are you here………….”
“You thought 3000 Spirit knights were coming weren’t you?”
“Uh”
“…………seeing that reaction, I guessed correct”
Tooi narrowed her eyes in loneliness.
“I knew it; you have been communicating with the Lectar Republic”
“…………”
“Lectar was also told that the Spirit Knight brigade will be moving out today. Having heard that, you planned on attacking the Empire’s military here right? But well, rest assured. The 3000 Spirit knights’ brigade----was a lie. The Empire gave Lectar false information”
Tooi easily said that.
“Of course, there was no credibility if it’s just false information so there was a lot of work needed to be done. In order to trick the eyes of Lectar, we really had about 3000 military personals gather at a nearby city but, all of them were privates or apprentices, about that level. Apparently they gathered there as military exercise”
Those matters are outside of my control so I don’t know much of it, Tooi said that. After that, his expression turned sorrowful and he slightly lowered his head.
“……….I am sorry for tricking you. I feel that you will never meet me again unless I do something like this”
That’s------exactly correct.
Ryura planned to never meet Tooi ever again. With the chance meeting at the spring fountain as the last, she planned to never talk to him ever again.
If she didn’t do that then-----her determination will dull down.
As if he was speaking to himself, Tooi continued talking towards Ryura who was not saying anything.
“The idea that you were communicating with Lectar………….we were having a tough time reaching that. You have no reason to obey after all. I thought they had some kind of weakness against you but, I could not imagine what that weakness was-----but, I finally understood”
Tooi said it.
He did it while looking at Ryura with a passionate gaze.
“It was all for me”
“…………..”
“I remember now………Ryura’s Shrine of [Violent Wind]. The scenery we saw together at the balcony there. Everything in the scenery we saw was glowing-------and this Fior region was included inside too. This region’s plain, river, forest-------everything here, a part of the scenery I loved was burdening you”
The door of memories inside Ryura’s heart opened.
A page of an ended story.
The Shrine of [Violent Wind].
The balcony at the highest floor.
The beautiful scenery she was looking at together with the master she acknowledged.
A scenery that no one else is able to witness other than Tooi and Ryura.
A scenery that only belongs to them.
A time that only belongs to them.
The scenery they saw at that time where the whole world was glowing, was the symbol of the golden days representing the battlefields Tooi Cross and Ryura Vega went through together-----
“………..That is correct”
Ryura nodded powerlessly.
“I, wanted to protect…….the scenery that you said was [Beautiful]”
1 month ago. In Laila’s office.
“……It’s quite a romantic story”
After Tooi told them about Ryura Vega’s goal (Prediction), Alua made a somewhat entranced expression.
“……..Tooi. it’s going to be embarrassing if you make a mistake on this”
“I-it’s alright, I think”
It’s true that if he get this wrong, then he would be considered as a crazy self-conscious bastard but-----his speculations should be correct.
The Ryura Vega knew, would move for this kind of goals.
She is born gentle, and has a kind of mature personality but, on the contrary, she’s a Deity with a maiden-like romanticist side to her as well.
“Well, if the reason why Ryura Vega is that fixed on Fior region is according to what Tooi said…………..aah, I see. I can see the logic behind this now”
Laila finished thinking after a few seconds and started explaining her reasoning after some fixes.
“Most probably, a deal of [If you continue attacking the Empire military then, we will not agricultural cultivate this land] was done between the Lectar military and Ryura Vega. For the scenery from the shrine, Ryura had no choice but to listen to orders because she wants to preserve the nature in Fior”
“Eh? But, Onee-chan. You said Lectar had no plans to cultivate Fior just now………….”
“Yes. This is basically a threat. Ryura Vega is a Deity that has been living alone without human interactions until she met Tooi. She is ignorant on human agricultural techniques. She probably has no knowledge on whether or not that region is suitable for agriculture. In the first place, she probably has no clue where the Lectar and Empire are located on the border. Using her lack of knowledge, the Lectar military made up a fake story about agricultural cultivation and wanted to use Ryura Vega”
“……..bu-but, why did Ryura Vega listen to the threat? If she wants to protect Fior then she should ignore the demands from Lectar and just fight them. Even if they really went through the agricultural cultivation, that Deity can easily stop them right?”
“That’s because Ryura, hates doing that, Alua-chan”
Tooi interrupted.
“She’s……..a kind one after all. She might not be knowledgeable about agricultural techniques but, she understands that agriculture work and agricultural land is important to humans. That’s why, since she is going to be disturbing Lectar’s agricultural cultivation because of her selfishness, she should have thought about paying something back in return……..ahh, but, I see------“
Tooi mumbled.
His voice was quiet but it was certainly oozing with anger.
“Lectar……….was using Ryura’s kindness huh”
Instantly------Alua, who was standing beside Tooi, twitched her body. Apparently, her body froze up after she was stolen away by his deep dark eyes.
Laila placed her hands on her head.
“Anyways, I now have a speculation on why the Lectar was so fixed on making us increase our personals. Their aim is probably the decline of the Empire’s national power”
“The decline of national power………………..”
“If we mobilize our soldiers several times to take on Ryura Vega, we would naturally, lose man power and we will have financial problems. But, we won’t be able to take down that Deity if we are stingy with our forces because of that reason. Which means, the Empire will sooner or later have no choice but to move a big-scale army to Lectar to maintain our reputation”
“And, that’s what Laila did”
“We would probably fall into this situation sooner or later even if I don’t say it. That’s because the diplomat Gaien, would not lend his ears to any revisions to the pact or allow replacement of other regions, and would constantly request for the increase of soldiers”
“I see. Which means, it’s their aim to make several thousands of soldiers to fight Ryura huh”
Money is needed to move soldiers and damages will occur if the soldier fights.
The national treasury would be pressured just by moving an army consisting thousands of Spirit knights; this is a double-edge sword.
What’s worse, the Empire would not gain any land or money in this fight after defeating Ryura. That’s because the Fior Region already belongs to the Lectar region.
Which means, the enemies plan had succeeded the moment we mobilized our Spirit knights---Tooi thought that.
“No”
Laila swung her head heavily.
“It won’t end there. If I was in their position then-----I will crush them down to bits”
She then lifted the edge of her mouth, making a smile of a crafty tactician.
“Mobilize the Spirit knight brigade and make them fight Ryura Vega. They don’t know who will win but, it’s clear that both sides will suffer great damages. Right when the Spirit knight brigade and Ryura Vega reach their limit of exhaustion, they would move a large army to destroy both sides”
“Wha”
Tooi shouted in reflex.
“Is that even allowed?”
“T-that’s right Onee-chan! That’s completely an act of unethical military actions!”
“Fior Region currently belongs to Lectar region by paper. It won’t be any problem if they move their own shoulders within their own land. If they use the [We judge the Empire to be insufficient to handle this so we will use our own army to take down the Deity] card then, it’s enough reason for them to do this. No matter how many of our soldiers gets killed, all they have to do is say that they were all killed by Ryura Vega”
“……We seriously got profited off while we fought huh”
Tooi got passed his anger and had no choice but to admire it.
He had to admire the Lectar’s military who gave careful thought to this.
And, also to Laila’s cleverness for noticing this.
“As a result, the Empire will lose many skilled Spirit knights, and the national strength will decline with precious assets and military forces gone. Once that happens…………we will become good prey for Lectar and the surrounding great forces”
10 years ago, the countries in the continent formed an alliance and joined forces to defeat the great evil known as the [Demon King].
Even though that’s how things started, it’s not impossible that the relationship formed by the alliance will become a mere shell after time passed. Every country are constantly interested in the land and resources of other countries, and were probably scheming to chip off their opponents fangs once they get their chance to do it.
“Fuun. Although they are the enemy, Bravos to them. They sure made a cunning and effective plan……but, victory is with us. It’s possible to overturn their plans and steal a march on them. We have a special secret weapon with us”
Laila then looked over to Tooi with a provoking gaze.
“They don’t know that Tooi Cross has returned to this world”
“I, wanted to protect…….the scenery that you said was [Beautiful]”
Tooi felt great pain after he saw Ryura sad expression.
The anger towards Lectar Republic for using her and the guilt that far surpasses that anger was filling his chest.
“10 years ago……Tooi went back to your own world after defeating Hadar. You did not listen to me…….even after I stopped you”
“…………..”
“I will not blame you for that. I know that you’ve been fighting hard to go back to your own world from the start. I knew it…………that should be it but, I lost myself on the spot”
Ryura said that before making a fleeting self-mocking smile.
“……..This is probably fate. Everything went back to its original state. Tooi returned to your own word, I live in my own Shrine again as the Deity of [Violent Wind]”
It couldn’t be helped.
Ryura said that as if she was saying this to herself.
“I could not get to live with you. That’s because, we live in different worlds”
They lived in different worlds.
A resident from a different world.
A summon, from another world.
“That’s why…..i…..wanted to protect……the scenery that you said you loved……the world that we saw together. I don’t want anyone defiling it. I only wanted to remember you…….while looking at that scenery covered by dusk and dawn from my shrine“
Ryura said this.
With eyes filled with overflowing affections, she said it with a trembling voice which sounded as if she was about to cry.
“I, have no other choice but to be with the you from my memories……..”
“Ryura………”
Several unbearable feelings started filling up and it feels as if his heart was about to be torn apart.
He thought he was hated.
He thought that it can’t be helped if he’s hated.
He thought that he was in a position where he could not complain anything at all even if he was showered with abusive insults because of his one-sided abandonment of the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses].
(But even after all that, Ryura was still----)
He was about to be crushed by the guilt and regret.
But---
“Thank you”
The first phrase that came out was his appreciation.
“…………you don’t need to thank me. This is just my selfishness”
In a somewhat slovenly manner, Ryura said that powerlessly.
“Did you listen to the Lectar’s military because of your personal selfishness?”
“…….Yes. They stopped the development of their civilization and canceled their agricultural cultivation which is able to help starving people, just because of my greed. It’s only normal………to repay this much”
“That’s wrong. Ryura”
Tooi clenched his fist, and squeezed those words out.
“Lectar had no intentions to use this place as an agricultural land at all”
“………Eh?”
“The land in Fior is not suited for agriculture. With the Empire’s and Lectar’s cultivation technique, the cultivation and maintenance cost more than the benefits gained by the agricultural land”
“…………….”
“You understand now, Ryura? You……got tricked. You’ve been used for their cause. Lectar’s military aim is to reduce the Empire’s military strength by using you”
Having presented a harsh reality, Ryura was opening her eyes wide while in loss of words.
But----
“…….aah, is that so”
After a few seconds, she made an expression as if she got over something.
“”Is that so”, wait…….don’t tell me, you knew?”
“No. But…….i knew that humans would never tell me the truth from the start. At times we are feared as monsters, at times we are worshiped as gods; we are unreasonable beings far from the realms of humans after all. It’s a usual occurrence that we are used for the convenience of humans, Tooi. Just like how it went with you”
“uh!”
Tooi gasped when he saw that frozen gaze.
“While saying that you love this world with your mouth………you picked your own world in the end”
“No. I----“
“No matter what it is………the action I have to take now will not change. I will protect this land, the scenery seen from my shrine. In order to protect the Tooi of my memories, I will treat you as my enemy”
The light of calm hostility was inside the Deity’s eyes.
As if to respond to that, the Spirits under her command instantly growled and directed their body weight towards their front legs.
Dog, lion, wolf, tiger……many of the Spirits living in the forest took those forms and attacked them all at once under Ryura’s orders.
“---Damn it”
The both of them immediately retreated and ran away from the Spirits who are pointing their fangs at them.
“Alua-chan”
“Yes!”
After making a strong nod, she raised her Rapier and dagger she held forward.
“Come here, Tritnix”
Responding to her call, a thunder coated lion manifested beside her.
The lion instantly exchanged gazes with its master and immediately hopped onto Alua’s Rapier.
[Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment]
With the weapon as its medium, the Spirit covered its master as armors and exteriors. The amor on her shoulders and arms that were covered with raging sparks were glowing brightly.
Formation speed and stability.
They had a drastic change compared to 1 month ago.
“Just like what we planned, I’ll leave the Spirits to you. Can you do it?”
“It’s okay! I trained hard for 1 month for this day!”
After Alua swung down her Rapier, the lighting gushed forward violently.
It fell onto the group of rampaging Spirits as if it was guided. However, the animals instantly dodged it after noticing its presence maybe because of their pure instinct.
The lightning did not hit its target and scattered everywhere after hitting the ground.
However-----
(Okay, just according to plan. Nice work, Alua-chan)
Tooi did not look panicked and Alua took the next steep calmly.
The lightning that pierced into the ground scattered in all directions mercilessly but, its glow did not dim down but instead it kept getting stronger and stronger.
While repeatedly firing lightning, she kept increasing the range.
It was not just a simple scatter, it’s a spark explosion.
“---Haaaaaa!”
Responding to Alua’s voice, the lighting expanded explosively while, *KAAA*causing a bright flash. With a brightness that does not allow the eye even open, the strong light temporarily filled the space.
Yes.
Their goal was a [Flashbang].
Of course for the animals, even Ryura braced herself and covered her eyes with her hands from the sudden blast.
It’s too short to call this a chance, it’s basically a slight error in calculations.
Taking that chance, Tooi ran.
She is completely blinded because she covered her eyes beforehand. He used the Spirit techs he gained 1 year ago and sprinted in the plains by borrowing the powers of the primitive Spirits dwelling in the land.
Even though he was back in his own world, he did not neglect the training which was available for him.
And in this 1 month, together with Alua, Tooi continued his Spirit tech training to regain his senses in the battlefield.
In terms of physical abilities, he has trained it to the point where he is extremely close to his condition when he was called the [Tyrant Slayer].
(………..Ryura)
Of course, no matter how much he personally trains, there’s no way Tooi would reach Ryura Vega in his current state. He has the [Zodiac] which he received from La Shii on his hips but, the legendary sword is just a decoration since he is missing his contract deities.
Currently, Tooi has no means to defeat Ryura. No, forget defeating her, he does not even have the means to defend her attack. In terms of inherent strengths, it’s the deference of an ant and an elephant.
However, Tooi was not feeling any sense of danger towards that.
(There’s no problem. It’s not like I am here to defeat Ryura)
Tooi ran towards her without any hesitation.
Ryura was in view when he first came over to this world.
Her voice was in reachable distance when he met her again at the spring near the Shrine.
That’s why.
It’s time for a distance where his hands could reach her—
“….. Tooi”
Ryura regained her composure from the flash bit the moment she looked over to him to confirm, they were already 200 meter in distance.
He was able to get close in one go thanks to Alua’s flashbang but, on the bad side, he was completely inside his opponent’s firing range.
(It’s okay. There’s nothing to worry)
Tooi believed.
Not towards himself. It was towards his opponent.
He believed Ryura without hesitation that she would not attack him.
(The thing the current powerless me can do now…….is to believe)
He can’t believe his own strength but, he can believe his comrades.
If it’s the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses] which are feared by everyone and is told to be the strongest Deity army.
“How can I believe someone……if I can’t believe my comrades…….!”
He strongly kicked the ground.
“Ryuraaaa----!”
Tooi accelerated and closed the distance.
He wasn’t attacking or defending, he extended his arms to her as he was seeking her.
He was completely oblivious to his opponent’s attacks and counters. There were no thoughts to counter back inside his head at all.
It’s not called aimless, its trust.
It’s not reckless, it’s bravery.
With his absolute trust towards his comrade and a firm bravery held in his heart, Tooi took a step towards Ryura Vega.
When he stepped in, he saw Ryura’s sword which was covered with a strong tornado there.
“Haaaaaa!”
“Guwaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
He kind of took a strong blow.
It was a really really strong blow.
The moment Ryura swung down her sword with a loud shout, the tornado covering the sword attacked Tooi’s body.
He was blown away like a scrap paper since he was not cautious at all. He pulled out the short sword on his hips by reflex and tilted forward but, it was completely meaningless.
“Gofuu”
Even though he fell to the ground, his momentum did not drop and he continued rolling down like a tumble weed from classical western cow-boy movies. By the time he was able to raise his body, Ryura looked over to him with a cold gaze.
“……….Tooi. Err……..what was that?”
“No well……yeah. How should I put this, I was kind of drunk with the “I must believe my comrades” stuff”
While mumbling those words, Tooi stood up.
“But well, I am glad I believed. I was not wrong”
He took a direct hit but, the damage was little. Tooi would be minced up by now if Ryura was serous.
With the fact that she was holding back and having it exposed to her opponent, Ryura made a sour face but, she soon glared at Tooi with a sharp gaze.
“I will be serious next”
“I was serious from the start”
Tooi undauntedly look at his opponent with a strong gaze.
“I will keep on extending my hands until you accept my hands”
Tooi took on a start dash posture again but, this happened at this moment,
“Ryura-san!”
Maybe this was to stop Tooi’s reckless charge, Alua, who was taking on the Spirits, shouted at the Deity.
“Please listen! It’s true that……..Tooi Onii-chan, chose his own world instead of this world 10 years ago. But, Tooi Onii-chan had something he had to do! It was not because he wanted to get rid of you all!”
Alua continued shouting as if to release everything.
“Also, didn’t Tooi Onii-chan come back to this world, and is here! He wants to start all over again with you all! So----“
Her life risking appeal was interrupted by the roaring wind.
Although it wasn’t as strong as what Tooi took, Alua ended up being pushed back after receiving a direct hit from the wind. She somehow managed to block it with the [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment] she materialized but, her face was covered with fear.
Apparently, she understood the absolute difference of their strength by that attack.
Alua knew it too.
That, the attack she barely blocked with the [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment] she polished to its maximum potential, was just a bug swiping [Breeze] to Ryura.
“Alua-chan!”
Tooi tried running over to her but----
A sword was swung down in front of him next.
“------uh!?”
He dodged the slash with perfect timing.
Ryura was standing in front of him with her sword prepared. She took only an instant to cover the distance which Tooi desperately tried to close in.
This unreasonable state is because ways of a Deity.
The difference was pure nonsense.
“That girl made some fair points”
While plainly saying that, Ryura swung her sword with a beautiful form.
There’s no way he could take it.
That’s because he would not be able to block the sword of wind coated on her sword even if he blocked her sword.
It’s because Tooi used that power freely before that he was able to perform evasive measures based on his experience but, it would turn out really difficult if he keeps on dodging.
“It’s true that Tooi came back to this world. It’s probably true that……he came back thinking about us. But, we don’t know whether if he would go back to his old world”
Ryura looked at Tooi with a criticizing gaze.
“Would you go back if there’s something you have to do happen again?”
“That’s……”
He stumbled on his worlds.
In this other world summon, Tooi came over to this world with the intentions to bury his bones here.
He felt that this world was more attractive compared to there and felt a reason for existing here.
But----
He might want to go back if [Something] happens over there.
Even though he lost his only family, there were other people that took care of him too. There were many he hated but, there were a small bunch that he liked.
If [Something] happened to the people who fulfilled his world then, Tooi would probably wish to go back and want to save them.
Of course, there’s no way he would now of the circumstances there if he’s in this world.
Because of that, this is a problem of the heart.
Ryura verbally attacked his indecisive weak heart because he could not completely throw away his old world.
The speed of her sword strikes increased and attacked him unrestrainedly like a hurricane.
“That’s the answer, Tooi”
“I said this just now before; I won’t blame you. It’s something that can’t be helped. It’s something natural. That’s why, please don’t deceive me……..anymore”
The eyes shown when she performed a storm of slashes had deep loneliness and despair dwelling within.
The moment he saw those eyes.
Something cleared up inside Tooi.
“In the end……. you are someone from a another world”
Instantly.
The attacks similar to a rampaging wind storm, stopped.
The reason was very simple.
Tooi raised the Zodiac and blocked her sword.
But, the only thing stopped was her sword.
Even though the sword is known to be the pinnacle of strength and quality, it’s just a study sword now since there’s no Deity or Spirits dwelling inside so, naturally, he could not block the wind coating her sword.
In the end, Tooi’s body was covered with injuries as if he was dragged inside the twister of the Kamaitachi[1G 1].
“Wha”
Ryura shrieked.
A human would instantly be turned into chunks of meat if they took on Ryura’s wind which could slice apart iron.
The reason why Tooi was safe was because she dispersed the wind by her own will.
His clothes and skin were sliced because she did not make it in time but, she managed to do it before he received critical wounds.
“What are you doing, Tooi…… if I didn’t erase the wind…..you would have died there……”
Ryura’s shout did not enter Tooi’s ears.
That’s because his head was filled up with regret and frustration.
Even though he was distorting his expression from the pain, Tooi told her.
“Someone, from, another world………?”
He repeated that sentence which has been smacked at him many times before as if he was crunching it.
“Don’t say something that lonely, Ryura. I am………..this close to you right now. I am so close to you that we could exchange blades and swords you know?”
He looked at his opponent’s eye through the gaps between the crossed swords.
“It’s true that…….i am not a human from this world. I came here with the intentions of never going back but………..just like what Ryura said, If something happened there, and I managed to get hold of it then……I might choose to go back again, to protect my real world”
“……..i knew it----”
Ryura said that while she narrowed her eyes in sadness but, Tooi covered her sentence with a [But].
“Facing you off like this, is also an action to protect my real world”
“………Eh?”
Ryura pulled her blade away together with a questioning voice. Tooi also pulled away his short sword and started talking fluently.
“This might sound like a stupid story but….. When I was young i thought the world did not exist other than the city I was born in”
The sky and mountains only exists in background settings and papier-mache, the news heard from the television and seen from the newspaper are all random, every adult are liars, and I can only find empty darkness once I took a step out from the city. There was a period of time when he was delusional with thoughts like that.
“I immediately found out that it was just my illusion…….but, I felt that the world I lived in was so small. I was satisfied inside the city and lived in a small and boring world”
His days were filled with trips between his school and house.
Even though I felt bored and closed in, I didn’t felt like going out for some reason.
Just like a fish stuck inside a water tank since birth, he does not know of the world other than there. He didn’t get the idea of [Wanting to come out from there], since he didn’t know.
It was boring but it wasn’t cramped.
Treating it like its normal, treating it as if it was destined, he lived inside a small world without questioning anything.
“While I was going through that, I was suddenly summoned here on one day”
A young man, who lived inside a small city, was not even knowledgeable about the countries in Japan forget overseas, has experienced another world.
“…….it sure is funny right. I came to this world, travelled the whole world by visiting many countries, crossed continents, oceans, and mountains; even though I had no interest in overseas and my country when I was in my own world”
In order to see off his grandmother, in order to return to his world, he defeated the demon king. Because of that important issue, his desire of having fun in another world was little and was completely focused in accomplishing his goal but, he somewhat felt some kind of happiness in his heart.
Inside a fantasy world which he has only seen inside games and mangas; he made contracts with Deities told to be the strongest to drastically increase his powers.
He felt an indescribable thrill off his actions.
However---
“……..But, I noticed something that time. Aah, it’s the same after all”
“The same……?”
“My old world and this world, is the same”
Tooi said that clearly.
“No matter how locked up I am inside a small city, no matter how many countries I traveled around the world, I don’t know of what I don’t know”
He has seen scenes he has seen before but, he don’t know of scenes that he has not seen before.
He has not heard of any news, other than the news he heard before.
He knows knowledge he knows but not knowledge he doesn’t know of.
“The reason why I felt there was no world outside my city when I was young was because, it’s probably fate in a sense. That’s because that’s the only place I knew. When I came over here, I travelled to many places, and experienced many thing so, my knowledge and views increased but…………..even though the world I am seeing increased in scale, it doesn’t mean that the world changed or anything”
And.
Tooi told her.
“I did not come to another world”
The young man that experienced his 2nd summoning to another world was completely denying his own scenery.
“……….what part of [Another] is this world. That does not exist. The world is always and absolutely one. I have been living in my world without changing at all”
--- I can’t fight for people who I have never seen before.
Tooi told Laila that a few days ago.
That was his true feelings.
Because.
People he has not seen before, people he has not talk before, does not exist in Tooi’s world.
Inside the technological revolutionized Japan, anyone can acquire the world’s situation and news with one Smartphone.
Calamities and sorrows spread out in the world, even the tragedies and disasters are all inside their hands.
But, no matter how far it goes, it’s just [News] to the end.
His heart won’t move no matter how many people die in the dark-side of the world.
The children starving painfully, the people crying from the losses from war, the citizens oppressed by a dictator, and the lands visited by natural disasters; all of them are fires at the opposite side of the shore. He feels pity, and it’s not like he doesn’t feel like wanting to lend a helping hand but, it’s not enough to make him want to move.
In the dark-side of the world----no, rather than the number of grand tragedies occurring outside his world, the death of his only family was heavier, sadder and caused a deep pain inside his heart.
“The other world and this world are included in my world. The range my eyes can reach, the range my voice can reach, and the range that my hands can reach, are my precious world…….”
Tooi then let go of the Zodiac which he has been holding on to the whole time. The black short sword fell to the Fior plains.
He then closed in the gaps between him and Ryura before he grabbed her hands.
He grabbed it tightly.
As if to display his existence to her.
“I am here, Ryura! So……..stop saying things like I am someone from another world”
As if to appeal to her, as if to wish for her, Tooi said that with his earnest feelings within the words.
“Tooi…………..”
Ryura’s eyes wavered and tear up. The cold iron mask expression she made distorted greatly as if it was melting down.
“I………am not a hero or the savior. I don’t have any reasons to place my life for strangers I have never even met before. But, I will do anything for you”
Abuelagrandma said this.
Heroes save countries.
The savoir saves people
And.
The one that can save the world is none other than yourself.
“It’s my job to save the world and protect the world. And you exist in that world, Ryura!”
While feeling the warmth from the hands he grabbed, Tooi shouted.
“Come with me, Ryura Vega. I want you in my world”
Those burning passionate eyes, pierced through Ryura’s heart.
(Aah----)
Ryura’s body twitched.
He has a sharp gaze brimming with brave Spirit which is unimaginable from his usual calm face. A man that is supposed to be powerless was overwhelming a Deity.
However, the reason why her body twitched was not from fear or anger but instead, it was from happiness.
(………...this is it. This is Tooi Cross)
He has not changed from before. She was treated as a [Monster] because she possesses tremendous and was either feared by many people or a beneficial target but, Tooi was the only one who saw her as a single woman.
He wanted Ryura not her powers of a Deity.
His sincerity is endless and so is his greed.
The only man she acknowledged as her master in this world, desired her once more. His cruel dominance and pulling force won’t let go of her heart.
The farewell from 10 years ago caused a deep scar inside Ryura’s heart. She has been tormented with loneliness the whole time until today. While telling herself that [It can’t be helped since we live in different worlds], she would spend her days consoling herself by running into her memories.
However, he just broke through everything.
She could feel his burning warmth from the hands grabbing her.
She could properly feel the presence of her master.
(……It’s just as what Tooi said)
Tooi Cross is right here at arm’s reach.
For this man, the difference of a world and another world holds no meaning apparently. He crossed 10 years of time, unreasonably stepped over every fences and obstructions, just to regain Ryura.
The part where she rejected her master because she was scared of being hurt again and the part where should could not honestly accept her master’s triumphal return, started to feel really stupid to her.
Ryura let out a soft smile and closed her eyes.
Her armor and sword turned into particles and disappeared. Having turned back to a goddess from a Valkyrie, she released all her weapons and slowly opened her eyes.
The expression she made was the smile of a loyal servant happy for her master’s return.
“Welcome home. Tooi”
Ryura said it.
The words that signifies the happiness of their reunion which she could not say this whole time.
“I’m home. Ryura”
Words were no longer need for them.
Both of them brought their face closer and looked at each other for an instant before, placing their lips together regardless of how initiated it. As if to desire each other, as if to indulge in the moment, they confirmed each other’s existence.
Soon, their surroundings started to glow. Light gathered and formed lines, the lines then joined and formed circles, the circles then joined together to make a formation.
It is need for a Spirit contract; a Contract circle.
The colorful circle of light expanded as if to cover them. While drawing complicated and mysterious patterns, it expanded, rotated and colored the space as if this was a dazzling light show.
The scene was as if the world was celebrating the reestablishment of their contract.
“……Okay. Emergency first-aid done”
“Un. Thanks, Alua-chan”
“No prob”
“……Hey Alua-chan? You like kind of steamy from just now so, are you perhaps mad?”
“Nope, not really”
“Perhaps, you were thinking about the last air blast? No it’s true that you did not have a good role in the ending. But, it’s thanks to Alua-chan attracting the Spirits that I could-----“
“That’s not it! What I was thinking about…..was, well…..the ki-ki kiss you did with Ryura-san………!”
“That’s for the contract”
“Th-there are other ways to do it!”
“No, well, that’s true but…….that’s actually the fastest way”
“………perhaps, the contracts Tooi Onii-chan did 10 years ago were……..”
“Ah………well, yeah”
“Everyone in……the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses]!?”
“Not all but, most of them”
“………O-obscene! How lewd! You’re a pervert!”
“Even if you tell me that…….but honestly, my first kiss is with your sister you know?”
“………eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?”
Alua showed a magnificent reaction after hearing the crazy news he let out to light.
They returned to the place where they stopped the motorbike.
As for Ryura, she was having a conversation with the forest’s Spirits she commanded. There are probably things she has to explain and apologize for.
“……..Un. The bandage is good to go. I can move easily with this”
Tooi turned his shoulders, twisted his hips to confirm the bandage’s condition.
“Tooi Onii-chan. What are we going to do now?”
While cleaning up the first-aid kit, Alua asked Tooi about future plans, with a carefree attitude he—
“Aah. Alua-chan you can go back first”
He Said that.
“I have a small business I need to take care off”
In the Lectar Republic region – Dean’s plain.
There was an army formation made by the Lectar’s military at the flat land beside the Fior region.
It’s a Spirit knight brigade formed to destroy Ryura Vega and the Empire’s military which appeared to bring her down.
There are about 2000 soldiers with spears carved with the emblem of the Lectar Republic.
The number is quite unreliable for defeating a Deity and 3000 Spirit knights but, they think that this amount is sufficient once both sides are exhausted after fighting with everything they got.
Adding on, the Lectar military which specializes in spears has a higher advantage than the Empire’s military which specializes in swords because the fight is on a flat land with less hills.
It’s the main style of the Spirit knights affiliated to the Lectar Military to activate their [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment] using the Military spear as their medium to manifest a full armor set and a charging spear. With giant spears readied at hands of the soldiers, the strategy where the soldiers charging towards their enemy at a single line, will display an unequalled force on the plains.
“…….Kuku”
As the republic’s military captain commanding the Spirit knight brigade --- Gaien accidentally let out a smile at the rear guard which was surrounded by elite members.
When he thought about the results that he was about to gain, his mouth just can’t help but to loosen down.
The reason why he was able to use Ryura Vega was because of several accumulated lucky events. Ryura Vega reached out to the people who were surveying Fior region for the agricultural cultivation and asked [Please don’t mess up this land].
Having heard that, Gaien came up with a plan to use her.
(I don’t know why that Deity is so fixed on Fior but…….i didn’t think it would go this well)
The Empire’s military power will drastically drop if 3000 of their Spirit knights are killed. The power struggle with their rival Lectar will definitely tilt towards Lectar’s side.
Also, Gaien’s name will definitely rise if they take down a Deity that has an attachment to the evil title [Nebulosa12 Goddesses]. Gaien was about to laugh loudly when he thinks about his bright future but, he was desperately suppressing it down.
He has not noticed this.
The fact that his plan was already foiled by his enemy.
And also the fact that a terrible disaster is about to visit him---
“Captain Gaien!”
The messenger that came from the front lines said it with a panicked voice.
“This is bad! We spotted suspicious shadows coming from the Fior region!”
“What? Is it soldiers from the Empire’s military that ran off?”
“No it’s……”
Turmoil occurred within the soldiers the same time Gaien frowned his eyebrows after hearing the messenger’s report.
The suspicious shadow had already reached to a point where the Lectar’s military was able to see them.
It was a young man. He was wearing the clothes from an unfamiliar country and was holding a black sword.
And the other person was the Deity of [Violent Wind], Ryura Vega.
The beautiful Deity who’s supposed to be currently in cooperation with the Lectar’s Military, was quietly walking behind the young man by one step.
As if she’s trying to show the world that this young man is her true master.
Tooi stopped right when he saw the Lectar army that filled up the plain. Following him, Ryura stopped too and the both of them stood side by side inside the southerly wind.
Even though they were facing an army over 2000, their expression shows no signs of danger.
Rather, they were making a small smile instead.
“It’s been one year”
“Correction, it’s been 10 year”
Both of them said it as if to crush that blank time.
“Let’s do this, Ryura”
“Yes My LordI follow you to the ends of the world”
Tooi raised the Zodiac.
At the same time, Ryura melted into the air and possesed the short sword.
Instantly, a hot feeling could be felt on his right hand holding the sword. The rarest metal and the closest material to the Spirits in this world- the Etherium, connected a human and Deity so unbelievably and shockingly well.
The senses when he fought at the [Tyrant Slayer] 1 year ago, resurfaced.
He dived deeply into his consciousness. It gave off a unique feeling as if everything was mixing together, like himself and the world, like himself and a Deity.
There was no need to dive deep into his memories.
His head, body and heart.
Every factors that used to construct his body, remembers this feeling vividly.
Within the unstable and uncertain feeling, he listened to the clear image floating in his mind to create his own personal weapon.
“[Nebulosa NemesisThe Divine Punishment of the 12], [PrimeraThe First Chapter]”
Tremendous amounts of Ether gushed out from the Etherium sword. The silver light gradually turned stronger and soon covered Tooi’s body.
With 12 deities under his command, this is the Deity knight that defeated the [Demon King], Tooi Cross.
One of the power he once possesed has manifested in this world once again.
“[Tempesta SancionThe Sanction of the Violent Wind]!”
Instantly, the wind blew loudly and the atmosphere creaked.
It’s as if the world was screaming from the foreign object that suddenly swooped down or it might be the opposite, it’s as if the world was sobbing from the happiness that a great power has resurrected.
What appeared there was a knight covered with a tornado and adorning armors.
His right arm and both his shoulders were covered with silver armor. An exterior was formed around the short sword to form a long sword with splendid decorations.
Having activated his [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment] after 1 year, Tooi raised his right hand and pointed the long sword towards the Lectar army.
“Message to the Lectar’s military”
Tooi said that while looking towards the 2000 man army.
“What I am going to do now isn’t war. There is no justice and principles; this will just be a meaningless and valueless fight. This is not an invasion nor is this for defense; this is not a purge nor is this for revenge. What I am going to now is plainly to an act to vent out my anger”
He said those words clearly and so coldly.
“You don’t need to surrender or apologize. We will be on a rampage until we are satisfied and trample all over you l. I repeat. This is not a war. This is just an act to vent out my anger”
His eyes had a sharp glint similar to a blade.
“It’s not even worth treating you fuckers as my enemy, because of what you did to Ryura”
The words Tooi proudly said…..actually, the Lectar’s Military did not hear a single thing from him.
His surroundings were loud from the raging wind because he manifested his [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment]. The screaming hurricane erased every trace of his voice.
It’s quite embarrassing that his opponents did not hear the declaration he made with a serious face but, he has not noticed this fact at all.
The line he said with anger sadly disappeared into the wind without even reaching his opponents.
However.
In reality, words weren’t really needed.
The Lectar’s Military did not hear a single word Tooi said but, their hearts were controlled by shock, fear, and astonishment.
His appearance when he’s wearing the [Dues Alma] spoke more fluently of his dreadfulness than words.
An absolute presence that would overwhelm anyone that lays eyes on him.
So adorning, so beautiful and more importantly so divinely.
From the front to the rear, the whole army was equally terrified.
[……O-oi, what the heck is that] [Did he……have a contract with Ryura Vega?] [It’s a lie, how can a brat like that……..] [Because, isn’t Tooi Cross the only person that made a contract with that Deity……] [Wait just a second, then, doesn’t that means he’s----]
Everyone there started letting out words of bewilderment and the moment the army was about to fall into chaos,
“Don’t falter!”
Gaien shouted at the army.
“Tooi Cross defeated the [Demon King] 10 years ago! There’s no way that brat is Tooi Cross! Don’t be tricked by his appearance!”
With no knowledge about the [Tyrant Slayer]’s truth, the army agreed with the commander’s speculation.
“The Ryura Vega we saw is probably just another fake. He probably used a shapeshifting Spirit to make a flashy armor. No matter what, we don’t have the free time to play with that brat!”
With the profits in front of him blinding him, Gaien gave priority to knowledge and common sense instead of the absolute presence released by the young man in front, and made a convenient speculation for himself.
“Front line’s 3rd squad! Mow down the brat that made fun of our military!”
Following orders from their commander, the team on the front lines started taking action.
Their contract sprits possesed their military spears and created their [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment]’s charging spear and full armor set.
After lining up with swift movements, they started charging at their target the same time their leader gave the signal.
The group of giant spears ran on the battlefield with tremendous speed.
But, a few seconds later.
“----[TorbellinoWhirlwind]
The front line 3rd squad that dashed like an arrow piercing into the air, ended up flying up in the sky like scrap paper next.
Alua Schut was at loss of words when she saw the scenes from the gap of the trees.
She was told that she can go back but, it’s kind of irritating that she has to go back after coming so far and it’s kind of lonely that she’s left outside the comrade circle at the very end. What’s more, she wants to see a [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment] with her eyes so Tooi allowed her to watch the fight but she has to witness from the forest while hiding herself.
[Tyrant Slayer]’s fight.
No.
The event happening in front of her might not be a fight. It was too beautiful and elegant to be called a fight and, it was too one-sided.
The young man covered with silver armor was freely dashing around the battlefield.
As if he’s the gust of wind.
He completely beat down the approaching shouting troops.
“[BrisaBreeze]”
Countless swords of wind step forth and were dropped to the battlefield like the early-summer rain.
“[VentarronStrong Wind]”
The strong wind wrapped around the long sword to form a small storm. The giant sword of wind that has compressed the wind until its limits, easily sliced through the enemies’ equipment.
“[TornadoTornado]”
A tornado occurred around Tooi to disperse long ranged attacks such as arrows and bullets fixed with fire and lightning element Ethers; it then blew away the surrounding soldiers all together at once.
“[RaafagaSquall]”
Wind gathered everywhere in the sky, turned into countless arrows with power piercing effect before it was accurately launched towards the enemies weapons which are located far away from him.
And.
He then jumped into the crowded area with movements like the champion of the wind.
In response to the sudden appearance of a mysterious young man inside the camp, the Lectar military after a slight pause, all went in to attack him like a snowstorm but, the giant sword instantly sliced the air and drew a half moon.
“----[TormentaViolent storm]”
The violent wind, raged.
With one sweep.
As if to response to the blade that drew a circle, a torrent of wind danced around Tooi and completely eliminated the crowd.
[Tempesta SancionThe Sanction of the Violent Wind]
Just like the invisible wind, he nullified every single attack, just like a disaster, he destroyed everything there.
(It’s like a dance……)
Alua let out her admiration unintentionally.
His sword skills were heroic as a war god, and his body movements were beautiful as a fairy. She fell in love instead of fearing their fight which possesed both of those factors.
No matter what powerful moves the Lectar’s Military Spirit knights performed, no matter how perfect they make their formation, everything was useless.
Amusingly enough, the number of soldiers decreased.
One after another fell, as if this was a play with the victor and losers were decided from the start.
(Ah)
Noticed suddenly noticed something.
A weird phenomenon occurred in the battlefield.
The scenery she’s seeing right now was too beautiful to call a battlefield.
Even though it’s exhilarating, it’s not gruesome.
Even though it’s heroic, it’s not sad at all.
There was no hint of brutality and sadness; this was just entertainment of a single young man satisfyingly mowing down an army as if to personify the word 1 against 1000.
Even though he’s trampling over enemy soldiers with a tarrying power describe as the incarnation of violent wind, all of his attacks were all fixated on destroying the weapons. He accurately destroys the weapons which is used as the medium for the [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment], and would pacify his enemies without causing any bodily harm.
(Tooi Onii-chan, is doing the same thing Ryura Vega has been----)
And.
“Do-don’t moveeeee!”
There was another person that noticed this at the same timing Alua did so too.
“Do-don’t move……don’t move. Do you know what would happen to this person if you don’t………!?”
Gaien pushed the short sword towards the female’s neck while saying that with a voice flowing with anxiousness. The woman that he held by the neck had a frightened expression and let out a shriek.
“………..uh!”
The raging wind stopped at that instant.
Tooi Cross, the incarnation of violent wind that no one could stop, halted his movements.
“………. Now you’ve done it”
Tooi mumbled with a click in his tongue and his expression was oozing with bitterness.
“……….Fu-fu-fuhahaha! I knew it! Fuhah. Hahahaha!”
Gaien laughed loudly while pointing his blade towards the hostage in his arms.
He’s using a hostage as his shield.
It’s not a plausible tactic but, it’s not rare. This is one of the conventional methods used in the battlefield and is too disgusting to even call it cowardly.
However, theirs was something weird in this situation.
And that’s, the choice of his hostage.
The person Gaien was pushing his blade towards to, was his female vice-officer.
To Tooi, she’s just another enemy that he is not acquainted with.
“…..Hii, Cap-captain Gaien…….wha-what are you…….”
Even though the female hostage tried to appeal to him, her superior did not even bat an eye. He was showering laughter of ridicule towards Tooi who’s in front of him.
“Fuhahaha! This is laughable! How can such a weird story like this exist! To think that this hostage would established!”
Of all things, Gaien threatened Tooi with a soldier from his country as a hostage. He pinioned the vice-officer who stood there as if to protect him, from behind and was pressing the blade on her neck.
“Apparently, the stories about Ryura Vega not killing her enemies were true. And, even you, who is able to use that monster’s power, don’t have the bravery to kill the enemy too……fuhahahaha! A brat that don’t have the determination to kill should not enter the battlefield”
He was using a soldier from his military as a hostage.
This is probably a bad plan to bet his ray of hope to, even for Gaien. This is his unavoidable last method since he has no other means to use in front of the incarnation of violent wind.
However, this tactic was displaying tremendous results.
To Tooi, who was controlling the battlefield to not allow any enemy deaths, this was the best tactic there is.
“……….you piece of shit”
Even though he disgustingly said that, Tooi could not do anything and was frozen in place.
“Woaah there, don’t more! I won’t allow you to control the wind! Try and make some weird moves! This woman will die!”
His threat echoed. Gaien pressed the short sword harder. It’s blade slightly cut her skin and caused blood to flow down the girl’s neck.
The no blood shed rule Tooi obstinately tried to prevent was broken in such a manner.
The girl shouted in an uninterpretable tone. Despair was shown in her eyes. However, Gaien did not stop. Blood flowed down and covered the blade as if it was squeezed out.
Or maybe, he might be thinking that it’s okay to kill her off.
There are many replacements even if he kills one.
Everyone in the army he commands can act as his hostage towards Tooi.
“Fuhahahahahahaha!”
Convinced on his victory, Gaien let out an offensive loud laugh.
In response, Tooi,
“………Fuuu”
He let out a small sigh.
It was a really bored sigh.
His eyes were terrifyingly cold.
He had thirsty eyes as if he was bored and completely lost all interest in him.
Those dark eyes were unimpressed and unemotional.
Gaien gasped after he saw Tooi, who looked at him as if he was looking at a really boring animal.
“Wha-what!? D-do you understand, what will happen to this hostage if----“
“I don’t really give a damn”
“Wha……..”
“I don’t care about what will happen to that stranger lady over there. For starters, she was trying to kill me like its normal just now you know. I have no reasons to save her”
Tooi said that plainly.
“Determination to kill……….i don’t have something that amazing in mind but, I don’t feel like protecting someone that tried to kill me”
“……………..”
Gaien became speechless. His expression which was distorted in joy just now was now in despair because the plan that he used to fix this hopeless situation ended in a failure.
“But----“
Tooi said.
Immediately, the [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment] he manifested turned into dusts of light and disappeared.
“This was to vent out my anger, not for war. Can’t help if I feel disgusted when I am venting out my anger”
There’s someone in the audience seat too after all.
Tooi said that after looking back at the forest behind for an instant,
Ryura appeared the same time his silver armor disappeared.
“Sorry, Ryura. About the after taste of this nasty ending”
“I don’t mind. I will only listen to Tooi”
After Tooi placed the Zodiac on his hips, he turned around and Ryura followed him.
As if everything ended, the both of them walked gallantly between the Lectar’s soldiers.
But.
Should this even be considered normal because, there’s no way things would end here.
“…………..D-don’t screw with meee! Oi, you bastards, do something!? Don’t let that brat get away!”
The enraged Gaien threw his rage to the surrounding Lectar soldiers.
A moment of hesitation appeared within the army. In response to how their superior used a vice officer as a hostage, they probably started to feel several doubts.
However in the end, they listened to their commander’s order due to their pride as military personals. They got into formation and formed a formation to capture Tooi from behind.
“You damn brat…… stay quiet and get captured. Try making any funny moves. You know what will happen right?”
Having reconfirmed the usefulness of having a hostage, Gaien send his words elatedly towards Tooi’s back. The blade he held was still pushed onto the hostage’s neck.
He was glaring at the short sword placed on the hip. He’s probably planning to kill the hostage the moment Tooi’s pull out the sword and activate the [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment].
At that moment, Tooi’s right hand moved.
He moved pass the sword on his hips which Gaien was staring at, and directed it to the pocket in his pants.
What he took out was a metallic silver oil lighter.
He opened the lip and lighted the cigarette he held with his mouth.
“Hmm? Did you smoke cigarette before?”
Maybe oblivious to the killing intents coming from behind, Ryura asked him casually. With the cigarette held between his left hand’s fingers, he lightly swung his head.
“Nope, I don’t smoke. Only lighting it. A cigarette won’t light up unless you suck it”
The impatient Lectar soldiers all attacked them while they were having a carefree conversation.
Right after.
Tooi flicked the cigarette he held with his left hand.
The cigarette was flicked off.
This action will probably give him a fine if this was Japan.
The lighted cigarette rode the wind and danced in the sky. While making traces of red, it reached to the space above the approaching Lectar soldiers.
Apparently, the soldiers noticed that too but, no one dodged it in fear of getting burned. Even swinging it away was a waste of time for them and they continued charging on the battlefield towards their target.
While not realizing what Tooi was plotting.
“---[Ignition]”
The Deity of [Violent Wind], Ryura Vega.
The controller of the air and wind flowing in the wind.
Intensity, speed, sharpness…….and density.
Basically, while possessing the power to control the wind in a grand scale to the level of a natural disaster, it is also possible for [Tempesta SancionThe Sanction of the Violent Wind] to precisely control the wind to atomic level.
He connected to the air as if to melt into it, perceive each and every microscopic sized atoms and controlled them.
He divided the gas from the atom’s property and disassembled the water to hydrogen and oxygen. He gathered and clumped all the combustible gas and further adjusted the oxygen concentration level.
Right before he released the [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment], Tooi set a [bomb] in the air.
All it needs left is a trigger to cause, the whole air to burn down.
BoomExplosion!
And.
The same time a bright light gushed out, an ear deafening explosion sounded.
The small flame he flicked off, was eaten by the prepared air before it combusted and caused a grand-scale explosion.
A giant explosion painted over the sky.
Since Tooi adjusted the firepower, the explosion did not directly burn the Lectar soldiers below but, they were blown away by the flaming shockwave and that made their formation to crumble miserably.
Of course, Gaien wasn’t an exception.
He lost the leisure to grab hold onto the hostage because of the unpredictable attack, and ended up rolling about the grass plain after being blown away by the sound of the explosion and the heatwave.
“…….uu-guuu! D-damn it……!”
By the time Gain managed to fix his posture and look up, a black sword was pushed onto his neck.
This was probably karma.
Just like how he used the female hostage just now.
“Hii”
Gaien’s expression stiffened up.
His body froze up after he saw the glowing blade and the young man looking down at him.
“…….You, bastard…….”
“You’re the commander right? Err……..hey, bearded old man whose name I don’t know”
“…..Wh-at……….?”
“Uuun…………what was it. I remember hearing your name but, I guess I forgot it. Aah, you don’t have to name yourself. I don’t feel like remembering it. I said this at the beginning but, I guess I’ll say it again since everything is settled”
Tooi told him.
“You guys weren’t even close to being my enemy”
His right arm flickered. He swung the short sword with fluid movements and lightly smacked the back of the man’s head with the handle. Gaien lost consciousness and fell onto the plain.
With a refreshed but still sad filled eyes, Tooi silently looked at the fainted commander.
With their commander gone, the soldiers started running away for their lives.
The army of 2000 Spirit knights, was forced to experience a miserable rout.
By a young man who was venting out his anger.
“……..err, Tooi, this is really hard to say”
After he put back the short sword to his hips and was about to walk off, Ryura got close to him out from nowhere.
“That bearded commander, had his hearing numbed because of the explosion you know”
“…….Eh? Wa-wait…..? Th-then, my voice……..”
“He probably did not hear what Tooi said. The finishing phrase you said with a serious face”
“……………”
“In the first place, the speech you expressed at the beginning of the battle did not reach the Lectar’s military because of the raging wind”
“Seriously!? Wai-wait just a second, Ryura….Then, is this it? The lines I said throughout this fight………..did not reach them at all?”
“Yes”
“………you’re joking”
“Ufufu. It’s okay, Tooi. Completely messing up your finishing phrase like this, is your cute part”
“………no, that’s not helping at all. That’s just pouring salt on my wounds.
Ryura was happily looking at Tooi’s depressed state. It was a gentle and lively atmosphere which seems impossible to imagine after a battle with an army of 2000.
They entered their own world without bothering about enemy and the losers.
Their surroundings were noisy because of the soldiers were busy running away but---to the two of them who remade their contract after a long time, this was none of their concerns.
The wind was crying.
The wind was not flowing properly, it was clashing everywhere, making creaking, causing twisters and, the wind blew around in rage while making buzzing around like creating a warped spiral.
The whirlwind was screaming.
The Deity of [Violent Wind]---Ryura Vega.
Her mental image turned into raging winds and controlled the world.
“…………………”
Ryura silently descended to the Fior plains.
There were no emotions in her expression. She was covered with a sharp air that would slice apart anything that touches her and her eyes were as cold as ice.
(……….looks like we have to fight again)
She suppressed the hesitation and discord rising inside her.
She had to accomplish her role like a soldier while being emotionless like a doll.
The information of a troop consisting of 3000 spirit knights from the Empire, has already reached her ears.
No matter if it’s Ryura, having to take on that force would be tough for her.
She has no leisure to control the battlefield anymore. It’s possible that she would trip over if she’s considerate about the opponent and hold her strength back so that there won’t be any deaths.
If she doesn’t fight seriously then, there’s enough risk of losing.
(But, I have no choice but to fight. In order to protect this land---)
Ryura closed her eyes, concentrated her consciousness and gathered the surrounding Ether. The wind then covered her body and turned into glowing armors.
After changing to her battle-mode, Ryura swung the rapier held with one hand, causing a great tremor in the air and it played a sound similar to a howl of a wind beast.
As if they were lured by the voices of the wind, the Spirits living in the land appeared.
In order to attack an army of 3000, Ryura made flawless preparations with her as the center.
Soon----the time for war will come.
The wind blowing in the plains, told her about the enemy she had to defeat.
“-----Eh?”
After lifting her face because of the weird feeling she got from the wind’s tale-------she was able to confirm her enemy’s appearance.
There were only 2 humans there.
One of them was a girl in a military uniform. Her age is about 15. She has a rapier on one hand while a dagger on the other. There was slight presence of thunder covering her equipment’s. She’s probably a Spirit knight that uses thunder attribute Spirits to fight.
The other one was-----
“Tooi…………..”
Ryura opened her eyes wide and let out those words.
It was her previous master that was walking together with the military clothed girl.
Tooi and the other girl walked for a while longer before stopping. Only 2 people were confronting the army that Ryura was controlling.
“Why are you here………….”
“You thought 3000 Spirit knights were coming weren’t you?”
“Uh”
“…………seeing that reaction, I guessed correct”
Tooi narrowed her eyes in loneliness.
“I knew it; you have been communicating with the Lectar Republic”
“…………”
“Lectar was also told that the Spirit Knight brigade will be moving out today. Having heard that, you planned on attacking the Empire’s military here right? But well, rest assured. The 3000 Spirit knights’ brigade----was a lie. The Empire gave Lectar false information”
Tooi easily said that.
“Of course, there was no credibility if it’s just false information so there was a lot of work needed to be done. In order to trick the eyes of Lectar, we really had about 3000 military personals gather at a nearby city but, all of them were privates or apprentices, about that level. Apparently they gathered there as military exercise”
Those matters are outside of my control so I don’t know much of it, Tooi said that. After that, his expression turned sorrowful and he slightly lowered his head.
“……….I am sorry for tricking you. I feel that you will never meet me again unless I do something like this”
That’s------exactly correct.
Ryura planned to never meet Tooi ever again. With the chance meeting at the spring fountain as the last, she planned to never talk to him ever again.
If she didn’t do that then-----her determination will dull down.
As if he was speaking to himself, Tooi continued talking towards Ryura who was not saying anything.
“The idea that you were communicating with Lectar………….we were having a tough time reaching that. You have no reason to obey after all. I thought they had some kind of weakness against you but, I could not imagine what that weakness was-----but, I finally understood”
Tooi said it.
He did it while looking at Ryura with a passionate gaze.
“It was all for me”
“…………..”
“I remember now………Ryura’s Shrine of [Violent Wind]. The scenery we saw together at the balcony there. Everything in the scenery we saw was glowing-------and this Fior region was included inside too. This region’s plain, river, forest-------everything here, a part of the scenery I loved was burdening you”
The door of memories inside Ryura’s heart opened.
A page of an ended story.
The Shrine of [Violent Wind].
The balcony at the highest floor.
The beautiful scenery she was looking at together with the master she acknowledged.
A scenery that no one else is able to witness other than Tooi and Ryura.
A scenery that only belongs to them.
A time that only belongs to them.
The scenery they saw at that time where the whole world was glowing, was the symbol of the golden days representing the battlefields Tooi Cross and Ryura Vega went through together-----
“………..That is correct”
Ryura nodded powerlessly.
“I, wanted to protect…….the scenery that you said was [Beautiful]”
1 month ago. In Laila’s office.
“……It’s quite a romantic story”
After Tooi told them about Ryura Vega’s goal (Prediction), Alua made a somewhat entranced expression.
“……..Tooi. it’s going to be embarrassing if you make a mistake on this”
“I-it’s alright, I think”
It’s true that if he get this wrong, then he would be considered as a crazy self-conscious bastard but-----his speculations should be correct.
The Ryura Vega knew, would move for this kind of goals.
She is born gentle, and has a kind of mature personality but, on the contrary, she’s a Deity with a maiden-like romanticist side to her as well.
“Well, if the reason why Ryura Vega is that fixed on Fior region is according to what Tooi said…………..aah, I see. I can see the logic behind this now”
Laila finished thinking after a few seconds and started explaining her reasoning after some fixes.
“Most probably, a deal of [If you continue attacking the Empire military then, we will not agricultural cultivate this land] was done between the Lectar military and Ryura Vega. For the scenery from the shrine, Ryura had no choice but to listen to orders because she wants to preserve the nature in Fior”
“Eh? But, Onee-chan. You said Lectar had no plans to cultivate Fior just now………….”
“Yes. This is basically a threat. Ryura Vega is a Deity that has been living alone without human interactions until she met Tooi. She is ignorant on human agricultural techniques. She probably has no knowledge on whether or not that region is suitable for agriculture. In the first place, she probably has no clue where the Lectar and Empire are located on the border. Using her lack of knowledge, the Lectar military made up a fake story about agricultural cultivation and wanted to use Ryura Vega”
“……..bu-but, why did Ryura Vega listen to the threat? If she wants to protect Fior then she should ignore the demands from Lectar and just fight them. Even if they really went through the agricultural cultivation, that Deity can easily stop them right?”
“That’s because Ryura, hates doing that, Alua-chan”
Tooi interrupted.
“She’s……..a kind one after all. She might not be knowledgeable about agricultural techniques but, she understands that agriculture work and agricultural land is important to humans. That’s why, since she is going to be disturbing Lectar’s agricultural cultivation because of her selfishness, she should have thought about paying something back in return……..ahh, but, I see------“
Tooi mumbled.
His voice was quiet but it was certainly oozing with anger.
“Lectar……….was using Ryura’s kindness huh”
Instantly------Alua, who was standing beside Tooi, twitched her body. Apparently, her body froze up after she was stolen away by his deep dark eyes.
Laila placed her hands on her head.
“Anyways, I now have a speculation on why the Lectar was so fixed on making us increase our personals. Their aim is probably the decline of the Empire’s national power”
“The decline of national power………………..”
“If we mobilize our soldiers several times to take on Ryura Vega, we would naturally, lose man power and we will have financial problems. But, we won’t be able to take down that Deity if we are stingy with our forces because of that reason. Which means, the Empire will sooner or later have no choice but to move a big-scale army to Lectar to maintain our reputation”
“And, that’s what Laila did”
“We would probably fall into this situation sooner or later even if I don’t say it. That’s because the diplomat Gaien, would not lend his ears to any revisions to the pact or allow replacement of other regions, and would constantly request for the increase of soldiers”
“I see. Which means, it’s their aim to make several thousands of soldiers to fight Ryura huh”
Money is needed to move soldiers and damages will occur if the soldier fights.
The national treasury would be pressured just by moving an army consisting thousands of Spirit knights; this is a double-edge sword.
What’s worse, the Empire would not gain any land or money in this fight after defeating Ryura. That’s because the Fior Region already belongs to the Lectar region.
Which means, the enemies plan had succeeded the moment we mobilized our Spirit knights---Tooi thought that.
“No”
Laila swung her head heavily.
“It won’t end there. If I was in their position then-----I will crush them down to bits”
She then lifted the edge of her mouth, making a smile of a crafty tactician.
“Mobilize the Spirit knight brigade and make them fight Ryura Vega. They don’t know who will win but, it’s clear that both sides will suffer great damages. Right when the Spirit knight brigade and Ryura Vega reach their limit of exhaustion, they would move a large army to destroy both sides”
“Wha”
Tooi shouted in reflex.
“Is that even allowed?”
“T-that’s right Onee-chan! That’s completely an act of unethical military actions!”
“Fior Region currently belongs to Lectar region by paper. It won’t be any problem if they move their own shoulders within their own land. If they use the [We judge the Empire to be insufficient to handle this so we will use our own army to take down the Deity] card then, it’s enough reason for them to do this. No matter how many of our soldiers gets killed, all they have to do is say that they were all killed by Ryura Vega”
“……We seriously got profited off while we fought huh”
Tooi got passed his anger and had no choice but to admire it.
He had to admire the Lectar’s military who gave careful thought to this.
And, also to Laila’s cleverness for noticing this.
“As a result, the Empire will lose many skilled Spirit knights, and the national strength will decline with precious assets and military forces gone. Once that happens…………we will become good prey for Lectar and the surrounding great forces”
10 years ago, the countries in the continent formed an alliance and joined forces to defeat the great evil known as the [Demon King].
Even though that’s how things started, it’s not impossible that the relationship formed by the alliance will become a mere shell after time passed. Every country are constantly interested in the land and resources of other countries, and were probably scheming to chip off their opponents fangs once they get their chance to do it.
“Fuun. Although they are the enemy, Bravos to them. They sure made a cunning and effective plan……but, victory is with us. It’s possible to overturn their plans and steal a march on them. We have a special secret weapon with us”
Laila then looked over to Tooi with a provoking gaze.
“They don’t know that Tooi Cross has returned to this world”
“I, wanted to protect…….the scenery that you said was [Beautiful]”
Tooi felt great pain after he saw Ryura sad expression.
The anger towards Lectar Republic for using her and the guilt that far surpasses that anger was filling his chest.
“10 years ago……Tooi went back to your own world after defeating Hadar. You did not listen to me…….even after I stopped you”
“…………..”
“I will not blame you for that. I know that you’ve been fighting hard to go back to your own world from the start. I knew it…………that should be it but, I lost myself on the spot”
Ryura said that before making a fleeting self-mocking smile.
“……..This is probably fate. Everything went back to its original state. Tooi returned to your own word, I live in my own Shrine again as the Deity of [Violent Wind]”
It couldn’t be helped.
Ryura said that as if she was saying this to herself.
“I could not get to live with you. That’s because, we live in different worlds”
They lived in different worlds.
A resident from a different world.
A summon, from another world.
“That’s why…..i…..wanted to protect……the scenery that you said you loved……the world that we saw together. I don’t want anyone defiling it. I only wanted to remember you…….while looking at that scenery covered by dusk and dawn from my shrine“
Ryura said this.
With eyes filled with overflowing affections, she said it with a trembling voice which sounded as if she was about to cry.
“I, have no other choice but to be with the you from my memories……..”
“Ryura………”
Several unbearable feelings started filling up and it feels as if his heart was about to be torn apart.
He thought he was hated.
He thought that it can’t be helped if he’s hated.
He thought that he was in a position where he could not complain anything at all even if he was showered with abusive insults because of his one-sided abandonment of the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses].
(But even after all that, Ryura was still----)
He was about to be crushed by the guilt and regret.
But---
“Thank you”
The first phrase that came out was his appreciation.
“…………you don’t need to thank me. This is just my selfishness”
In a somewhat slovenly manner, Ryura said that powerlessly.
“Did you listen to the Lectar’s military because of your personal selfishness?”
“…….Yes. They stopped the development of their civilization and canceled their agricultural cultivation which is able to help starving people, just because of my greed. It’s only normal………to repay this much”
“That’s wrong. Ryura”
Tooi clenched his fist, and squeezed those words out.
“Lectar had no intentions to use this place as an agricultural land at all”
“………Eh?”
“The land in Fior is not suited for agriculture. With the Empire’s and Lectar’s cultivation technique, the cultivation and maintenance cost more than the benefits gained by the agricultural land”
“…………….”
“You understand now, Ryura? You……got tricked. You’ve been used for their cause. Lectar’s military aim is to reduce the Empire’s military strength by using you”
Having presented a harsh reality, Ryura was opening her eyes wide while in loss of words.
But----
“…….aah, is that so”
After a few seconds, she made an expression as if she got over something.
“”Is that so”, wait…….don’t tell me, you knew?”
“No. But…….i knew that humans would never tell me the truth from the start. At times we are feared as monsters, at times we are worshiped as gods; we are unreasonable beings far from the realms of humans after all. It’s a usual occurrence that we are used for the convenience of humans, Tooi. Just like how it went with you”
“uh!”
Tooi gasped when he saw that frozen gaze.
“While saying that you love this world with your mouth………you picked your own world in the end”
“No. I----“
“No matter what it is………the action I have to take now will not change. I will protect this land, the scenery seen from my shrine. In order to protect the Tooi of my memories, I will treat you as my enemy”
The light of calm hostility was inside the Deity’s eyes.
As if to respond to that, the Spirits under her command instantly growled and directed their body weight towards their front legs.
Dog, lion, wolf, tiger……many of the Spirits living in the forest took those forms and attacked them all at once under Ryura’s orders.
“---Damn it”
The both of them immediately retreated and ran away from the Spirits who are pointing their fangs at them.
“Alua-chan”
“Yes!”
After making a strong nod, she raised her Rapier and dagger she held forward.
“Come here, Tritnix”
Responding to her call, a thunder coated lion manifested beside her.
The lion instantly exchanged gazes with its master and immediately hopped onto Alua’s Rapier.
[Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment]
With the weapon as its medium, the Spirit covered its master as armors and exteriors. The amor on her shoulders and arms that were covered with raging sparks were glowing brightly.
Formation speed and stability.
They had a drastic change compared to 1 month ago.
“Just like what we planned, I’ll leave the Spirits to you. Can you do it?”
“It’s okay! I trained hard for 1 month for this day!”
After Alua swung down her Rapier, the lighting gushed forward violently.
It fell onto the group of rampaging Spirits as if it was guided. However, the animals instantly dodged it after noticing its presence maybe because of their pure instinct.
The lightning did not hit its target and scattered everywhere after hitting the ground.
However-----
(Okay, just according to plan. Nice work, Alua-chan)
Tooi did not look panicked and Alua took the next steep calmly.
The lightning that pierced into the ground scattered in all directions mercilessly but, its glow did not dim down but instead it kept getting stronger and stronger.
While repeatedly firing lightning, she kept increasing the range.
It was not just a simple scatter, it’s a spark explosion.
“---Haaaaaa!”
Responding to Alua’s voice, the lighting expanded explosively while, *KAAA*causing a bright flash. With a brightness that does not allow the eye even open, the strong light temporarily filled the space.
Yes.
Their goal was a [Flashbang].
Of course for the animals, even Ryura braced herself and covered her eyes with her hands from the sudden blast.
It’s too short to call this a chance, it’s basically a slight error in calculations.
Taking that chance, Tooi ran.
She is completely blinded because she covered her eyes beforehand. He used the Spirit techs he gained 1 year ago and sprinted in the plains by borrowing the powers of the primitive Spirits dwelling in the land.
Even though he was back in his own world, he did not neglect the training which was available for him.
And in this 1 month, together with Alua, Tooi continued his Spirit tech training to regain his senses in the battlefield.
In terms of physical abilities, he has trained it to the point where he is extremely close to his condition when he was called the [Tyrant Slayer].
(………..Ryura)
Of course, no matter how much he personally trains, there’s no way Tooi would reach Ryura Vega in his current state. He has the [Zodiac] which he received from La Shii on his hips but, the legendary sword is just a decoration since he is missing his contract deities.
Currently, Tooi has no means to defeat Ryura. No, forget defeating her, he does not even have the means to defend her attack. In terms of inherent strengths, it’s the deference of an ant and an elephant.
However, Tooi was not feeling any sense of danger towards that.
(There’s no problem. It’s not like I am here to defeat Ryura)
Tooi ran towards her without any hesitation.
Ryura was in view when he first came over to this world.
Her voice was in reachable distance when he met her again at the spring near the Shrine.
That’s why.
It’s time for a distance where his hands could reach her—
“….. Tooi”
Ryura regained her composure from the flash bit the moment she looked over to him to confirm, they were already 200 meter in distance.
He was able to get close in one go thanks to Alua’s flashbang but, on the bad side, he was completely inside his opponent’s firing range.
(It’s okay. There’s nothing to worry)
Tooi believed.
Not towards himself. It was towards his opponent.
He believed Ryura without hesitation that she would not attack him.
(The thing the current powerless me can do now…….is to believe)
He can’t believe his own strength but, he can believe his comrades.
If it’s the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses] which are feared by everyone and is told to be the strongest Deity army.
“How can I believe someone……if I can’t believe my comrades…….!”
He strongly kicked the ground.
“Ryuraaaa----!”
Tooi accelerated and closed the distance.
He wasn’t attacking or defending, he extended his arms to her as he was seeking her.
He was completely oblivious to his opponent’s attacks and counters. There were no thoughts to counter back inside his head at all.
It’s not called aimless, its trust.
It’s not reckless, it’s bravery.
With his absolute trust towards his comrade and a firm bravery held in his heart, Tooi took a step towards Ryura Vega.
When he stepped in, he saw Ryura’s sword which was covered with a strong tornado there.
“Haaaaaa!”
“Guwaaaaaaaaaaaa!”
He kind of took a strong blow.
It was a really really strong blow.
The moment Ryura swung down her sword with a loud shout, the tornado covering the sword attacked Tooi’s body.
He was blown away like a scrap paper since he was not cautious at all. He pulled out the short sword on his hips by reflex and tilted forward but, it was completely meaningless.
“Gofuu”
Even though he fell to the ground, his momentum did not drop and he continued rolling down like a tumble weed from classical western cow-boy movies. By the time he was able to raise his body, Ryura looked over to him with a cold gaze.
“……….Tooi. Err……..what was that?”
“No well……yeah. How should I put this, I was kind of drunk with the “I must believe my comrades” stuff”
While mumbling those words, Tooi stood up.
“But well, I am glad I believed. I was not wrong”
He took a direct hit but, the damage was little. Tooi would be minced up by now if Ryura was serous.
With the fact that she was holding back and having it exposed to her opponent, Ryura made a sour face but, she soon glared at Tooi with a sharp gaze.
“I will be serious next”
“I was serious from the start”
Tooi undauntedly look at his opponent with a strong gaze.
“I will keep on extending my hands until you accept my hands”
Tooi took on a start dash posture again but, this happened at this moment,
“Ryura-san!”
Maybe this was to stop Tooi’s reckless charge, Alua, who was taking on the Spirits, shouted at the Deity.
“Please listen! It’s true that……..Tooi Onii-chan, chose his own world instead of this world 10 years ago. But, Tooi Onii-chan had something he had to do! It was not because he wanted to get rid of you all!”
Alua continued shouting as if to release everything.
“Also, didn’t Tooi Onii-chan come back to this world, and is here! He wants to start all over again with you all! So----“
Her life risking appeal was interrupted by the roaring wind.
Although it wasn’t as strong as what Tooi took, Alua ended up being pushed back after receiving a direct hit from the wind. She somehow managed to block it with the [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment] she materialized but, her face was covered with fear.
Apparently, she understood the absolute difference of their strength by that attack.
Alua knew it too.
That, the attack she barely blocked with the [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment] she polished to its maximum potential, was just a bug swiping [Breeze] to Ryura.
“Alua-chan!”
Tooi tried running over to her but----
A sword was swung down in front of him next.
“------uh!?”
He dodged the slash with perfect timing.
Ryura was standing in front of him with her sword prepared. She took only an instant to cover the distance which Tooi desperately tried to close in.
This unreasonable state is because ways of a Deity.
The difference was pure nonsense.
“That girl made some fair points”
While plainly saying that, Ryura swung her sword with a beautiful form.
There’s no way he could take it.
That’s because he would not be able to block the sword of wind coated on her sword even if he blocked her sword.
It’s because Tooi used that power freely before that he was able to perform evasive measures based on his experience but, it would turn out really difficult if he keeps on dodging.
“It’s true that Tooi came back to this world. It’s probably true that……he came back thinking about us. But, we don’t know whether if he would go back to his old world”
Ryura looked at Tooi with a criticizing gaze.
“Would you go back if there’s something you have to do happen again?”
“That’s……”
He stumbled on his worlds.
In this other world summon, Tooi came over to this world with the intentions to bury his bones here.
He felt that this world was more attractive compared to there and felt a reason for existing here.
But----
He might want to go back if [Something] happens over there.
Even though he lost his only family, there were other people that took care of him too. There were many he hated but, there were a small bunch that he liked.
If [Something] happened to the people who fulfilled his world then, Tooi would probably wish to go back and want to save them.
Of course, there’s no way he would now of the circumstances there if he’s in this world.
Because of that, this is a problem of the heart.
Ryura verbally attacked his indecisive weak heart because he could not completely throw away his old world.
The speed of her sword strikes increased and attacked him unrestrainedly like a hurricane.
“That’s the answer, Tooi”
“I said this just now before; I won’t blame you. It’s something that can’t be helped. It’s something natural. That’s why, please don’t deceive me……..anymore”
The eyes shown when she performed a storm of slashes had deep loneliness and despair dwelling within.
The moment he saw those eyes.
Something cleared up inside Tooi.
“In the end……. you are someone from a another world”
Instantly.
The attacks similar to a rampaging wind storm, stopped.
The reason was very simple.
Tooi raised the Zodiac and blocked her sword.
But, the only thing stopped was her sword.
Even though the sword is known to be the pinnacle of strength and quality, it’s just a study sword now since there’s no Deity or Spirits dwelling inside so, naturally, he could not block the wind coating her sword.
In the end, Tooi’s body was covered with injuries as if he was dragged inside the twister of the Kamaitachi[1G 1].
“Wha”
Ryura shrieked.
A human would instantly be turned into chunks of meat if they took on Ryura’s wind which could slice apart iron.
The reason why Tooi was safe was because she dispersed the wind by her own will.
His clothes and skin were sliced because she did not make it in time but, she managed to do it before he received critical wounds.
“What are you doing, Tooi…… if I didn’t erase the wind…..you would have died there……”
Ryura’s shout did not enter Tooi’s ears.
That’s because his head was filled up with regret and frustration.
Even though he was distorting his expression from the pain, Tooi told her.
“Someone, from, another world………?”
He repeated that sentence which has been smacked at him many times before as if he was crunching it.
“Don’t say something that lonely, Ryura. I am………..this close to you right now. I am so close to you that we could exchange blades and swords you know?”
He looked at his opponent’s eye through the gaps between the crossed swords.
“It’s true that…….i am not a human from this world. I came here with the intentions of never going back but………..just like what Ryura said, If something happened there, and I managed to get hold of it then……I might choose to go back again, to protect my real world”
“……..i knew it----”
Ryura said that while she narrowed her eyes in sadness but, Tooi covered her sentence with a [But].
“Facing you off like this, is also an action to protect my real world”
“………Eh?”
Ryura pulled her blade away together with a questioning voice. Tooi also pulled away his short sword and started talking fluently.
“This might sound like a stupid story but….. When I was young i thought the world did not exist other than the city I was born in”
The sky and mountains only exists in background settings and papier-mache, the news heard from the television and seen from the newspaper are all random, every adult are liars, and I can only find empty darkness once I took a step out from the city. There was a period of time when he was delusional with thoughts like that.
“I immediately found out that it was just my illusion…….but, I felt that the world I lived in was so small. I was satisfied inside the city and lived in a small and boring world”
His days were filled with trips between his school and house.
Even though I felt bored and closed in, I didn’t felt like going out for some reason.
Just like a fish stuck inside a water tank since birth, he does not know of the world other than there. He didn’t get the idea of [Wanting to come out from there], since he didn’t know.
It was boring but it wasn’t cramped.
Treating it like its normal, treating it as if it was destined, he lived inside a small world without questioning anything.
“While I was going through that, I was suddenly summoned here on one day”
A young man, who lived inside a small city, was not even knowledgeable about the countries in Japan forget overseas, has experienced another world.
“…….it sure is funny right. I came to this world, travelled the whole world by visiting many countries, crossed continents, oceans, and mountains; even though I had no interest in overseas and my country when I was in my own world”
In order to see off his grandmother, in order to return to his world, he defeated the demon king. Because of that important issue, his desire of having fun in another world was little and was completely focused in accomplishing his goal but, he somewhat felt some kind of happiness in his heart.
Inside a fantasy world which he has only seen inside games and mangas; he made contracts with Deities told to be the strongest to drastically increase his powers.
He felt an indescribable thrill off his actions.
However---
“……..But, I noticed something that time. Aah, it’s the same after all”
“The same……?”
“My old world and this world, is the same”
Tooi said that clearly.
“No matter how locked up I am inside a small city, no matter how many countries I traveled around the world, I don’t know of what I don’t know”
He has seen scenes he has seen before but, he don’t know of scenes that he has not seen before.
He has not heard of any news, other than the news he heard before.
He knows knowledge he knows but not knowledge he doesn’t know of.
“The reason why I felt there was no world outside my city when I was young was because, it’s probably fate in a sense. That’s because that’s the only place I knew. When I came over here, I travelled to many places, and experienced many thing so, my knowledge and views increased but…………..even though the world I am seeing increased in scale, it doesn’t mean that the world changed or anything”
And.
Tooi told her.
“I did not come to another world”
The young man that experienced his 2nd summoning to another world was completely denying his own scenery.
“……….what part of [Another] is this world. That does not exist. The world is always and absolutely one. I have been living in my world without changing at all”
--- I can’t fight for people who I have never seen before.
Tooi told Laila that a few days ago.
That was his true feelings.
Because.
People he has not seen before, people he has not talk before, does not exist in Tooi’s world.
Inside the technological revolutionized Japan, anyone can acquire the world’s situation and news with one Smartphone.
Calamities and sorrows spread out in the world, even the tragedies and disasters are all inside their hands.
But, no matter how far it goes, it’s just [News] to the end.
His heart won’t move no matter how many people die in the dark-side of the world.
The children starving painfully, the people crying from the losses from war, the citizens oppressed by a dictator, and the lands visited by natural disasters; all of them are fires at the opposite side of the shore. He feels pity, and it’s not like he doesn’t feel like wanting to lend a helping hand but, it’s not enough to make him want to move.
In the dark-side of the world----no, rather than the number of grand tragedies occurring outside his world, the death of his only family was heavier, sadder and caused a deep pain inside his heart.
“The other world and this world are included in my world. The range my eyes can reach, the range my voice can reach, and the range that my hands can reach, are my precious world…….”
Tooi then let go of the Zodiac which he has been holding on to the whole time. The black short sword fell to the Fior plains.
He then closed in the gaps between him and Ryura before he grabbed her hands.
He grabbed it tightly.
As if to display his existence to her.
“I am here, Ryura! So……..stop saying things like I am someone from another world”
As if to appeal to her, as if to wish for her, Tooi said that with his earnest feelings within the words.
“Tooi…………..”
Ryura’s eyes wavered and tear up. The cold iron mask expression she made distorted greatly as if it was melting down.
“I………am not a hero or the savior. I don’t have any reasons to place my life for strangers I have never even met before. But, I will do anything for you”
Abuelagrandma said this.
Heroes save countries.
The savoir saves people
And.
The one that can save the world is none other than yourself.
“It’s my job to save the world and protect the world. And you exist in that world, Ryura!”
While feeling the warmth from the hands he grabbed, Tooi shouted.
“Come with me, Ryura Vega. I want you in my world”
Those burning passionate eyes, pierced through Ryura’s heart.
(Aah----)
Ryura’s body twitched.
He has a sharp gaze brimming with brave Spirit which is unimaginable from his usual calm face. A man that is supposed to be powerless was overwhelming a Deity.
However, the reason why her body twitched was not from fear or anger but instead, it was from happiness.
(………...this is it. This is Tooi Cross)
He has not changed from before. She was treated as a [Monster] because she possesses tremendous and was either feared by many people or a beneficial target but, Tooi was the only one who saw her as a single woman.
He wanted Ryura not her powers of a Deity.
His sincerity is endless and so is his greed.
The only man she acknowledged as her master in this world, desired her once more. His cruel dominance and pulling force won’t let go of her heart.
The farewell from 10 years ago caused a deep scar inside Ryura’s heart. She has been tormented with loneliness the whole time until today. While telling herself that [It can’t be helped since we live in different worlds], she would spend her days consoling herself by running into her memories.
However, he just broke through everything.
She could feel his burning warmth from the hands grabbing her.
She could properly feel the presence of her master.
(……It’s just as what Tooi said)
Tooi Cross is right here at arm’s reach.
For this man, the difference of a world and another world holds no meaning apparently. He crossed 10 years of time, unreasonably stepped over every fences and obstructions, just to regain Ryura.
The part where she rejected her master because she was scared of being hurt again and the part where should could not honestly accept her master’s triumphal return, started to feel really stupid to her.
Ryura let out a soft smile and closed her eyes.
Her armor and sword turned into particles and disappeared. Having turned back to a goddess from a Valkyrie, she released all her weapons and slowly opened her eyes.
The expression she made was the smile of a loyal servant happy for her master’s return.
“Welcome home. Tooi”
Ryura said it.
The words that signifies the happiness of their reunion which she could not say this whole time.
“I’m home. Ryura”
Words were no longer need for them.
Both of them brought their face closer and looked at each other for an instant before, placing their lips together regardless of how initiated it. As if to desire each other, as if to indulge in the moment, they confirmed each other’s existence.
Soon, their surroundings started to glow. Light gathered and formed lines, the lines then joined and formed circles, the circles then joined together to make a formation.
It is need for a Spirit contract; a Contract circle.
The colorful circle of light expanded as if to cover them. While drawing complicated and mysterious patterns, it expanded, rotated and colored the space as if this was a dazzling light show.
The scene was as if the world was celebrating the reestablishment of their contract.
“……Okay. Emergency first-aid done”
“Un. Thanks, Alua-chan”
“No prob”
“……Hey Alua-chan? You like kind of steamy from just now so, are you perhaps mad?”
“Nope, not really”
“Perhaps, you were thinking about the last air blast? No it’s true that you did not have a good role in the ending. But, it’s thanks to Alua-chan attracting the Spirits that I could-----“
“That’s not it! What I was thinking about…..was, well…..the ki-ki kiss you did with Ryura-san………!”
“That’s for the contract”
“Th-there are other ways to do it!”
“No, well, that’s true but…….that’s actually the fastest way”
“………perhaps, the contracts Tooi Onii-chan did 10 years ago were……..”
“Ah………well, yeah”
“Everyone in……the [Nebulosa12 Goddesses]!?”
“Not all but, most of them”
“………O-obscene! How lewd! You’re a pervert!”
“Even if you tell me that…….but honestly, my first kiss is with your sister you know?”
“………eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!?”
Alua showed a magnificent reaction after hearing the crazy news he let out to light.
They returned to the place where they stopped the motorbike.
As for Ryura, she was having a conversation with the forest’s Spirits she commanded. There are probably things she has to explain and apologize for.
“……..Un. The bandage is good to go. I can move easily with this”
Tooi turned his shoulders, twisted his hips to confirm the bandage’s condition.
“Tooi Onii-chan. What are we going to do now?”
While cleaning up the first-aid kit, Alua asked Tooi about future plans, with a carefree attitude he—
“Aah. Alua-chan you can go back first”
He Said that.
“I have a small business I need to take care off”
In the Lectar Republic region – Dean’s plain.
There was an army formation made by the Lectar’s military at the flat land beside the Fior region.
It’s a Spirit knight brigade formed to destroy Ryura Vega and the Empire’s military which appeared to bring her down.
There are about 2000 soldiers with spears carved with the emblem of the Lectar Republic.
The number is quite unreliable for defeating a Deity and 3000 Spirit knights but, they think that this amount is sufficient once both sides are exhausted after fighting with everything they got.
Adding on, the Lectar military which specializes in spears has a higher advantage than the Empire’s military which specializes in swords because the fight is on a flat land with less hills.
It’s the main style of the Spirit knights affiliated to the Lectar Military to activate their [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment] using the Military spear as their medium to manifest a full armor set and a charging spear. With giant spears readied at hands of the soldiers, the strategy where the soldiers charging towards their enemy at a single line, will display an unequalled force on the plains.
“…….Kuku”
As the republic’s military captain commanding the Spirit knight brigade --- Gaien accidentally let out a smile at the rear guard which was surrounded by elite members.
When he thought about the results that he was about to gain, his mouth just can’t help but to loosen down.
The reason why he was able to use Ryura Vega was because of several accumulated lucky events. Ryura Vega reached out to the people who were surveying Fior region for the agricultural cultivation and asked [Please don’t mess up this land].
Having heard that, Gaien came up with a plan to use her.
(I don’t know why that Deity is so fixed on Fior but…….i didn’t think it would go this well)
The Empire’s military power will drastically drop if 3000 of their Spirit knights are killed. The power struggle with their rival Lectar will definitely tilt towards Lectar’s side.
Also, Gaien’s name will definitely rise if they take down a Deity that has an attachment to the evil title [Nebulosa12 Goddesses]. Gaien was about to laugh loudly when he thinks about his bright future but, he was desperately suppressing it down.
He has not noticed this.
The fact that his plan was already foiled by his enemy.
And also the fact that a terrible disaster is about to visit him---
“Captain Gaien!”
The messenger that came from the front lines said it with a panicked voice.
“This is bad! We spotted suspicious shadows coming from the Fior region!”
“What? Is it soldiers from the Empire’s military that ran off?”
“No it’s……”
Turmoil occurred within the soldiers the same time Gaien frowned his eyebrows after hearing the messenger’s report.
The suspicious shadow had already reached to a point where the Lectar’s military was able to see them.
It was a young man. He was wearing the clothes from an unfamiliar country and was holding a black sword.
And the other person was the Deity of [Violent Wind], Ryura Vega.
The beautiful Deity who’s supposed to be currently in cooperation with the Lectar’s Military, was quietly walking behind the young man by one step.
As if she’s trying to show the world that this young man is her true master.
Tooi stopped right when he saw the Lectar army that filled up the plain. Following him, Ryura stopped too and the both of them stood side by side inside the southerly wind.
Even though they were facing an army over 2000, their expression shows no signs of danger.
Rather, they were making a small smile instead.
“It’s been one year”
“Correction, it’s been 10 year”
Both of them said it as if to crush that blank time.
“Let’s do this, Ryura”
“Yes My LordI follow you to the ends of the world”
Tooi raised the Zodiac.
At the same time, Ryura melted into the air and possesed the short sword.
Instantly, a hot feeling could be felt on his right hand holding the sword. The rarest metal and the closest material to the Spirits in this world- the Etherium, connected a human and Deity so unbelievably and shockingly well.
The senses when he fought at the [Tyrant Slayer] 1 year ago, resurfaced.
He dived deeply into his consciousness. It gave off a unique feeling as if everything was mixing together, like himself and the world, like himself and a Deity.
There was no need to dive deep into his memories.
His head, body and heart.
Every factors that used to construct his body, remembers this feeling vividly.
Within the unstable and uncertain feeling, he listened to the clear image floating in his mind to create his own personal weapon.
“[Nebulosa NemesisThe Divine Punishment of the 12], [PrimeraThe First Chapter]”
Tremendous amounts of Ether gushed out from the Etherium sword. The silver light gradually turned stronger and soon covered Tooi’s body.
With 12 deities under his command, this is the Deity knight that defeated the [Demon King], Tooi Cross.
One of the power he once possesed has manifested in this world once again.
“[Tempesta SancionThe Sanction of the Violent Wind]!”
Instantly, the wind blew loudly and the atmosphere creaked.
It’s as if the world was screaming from the foreign object that suddenly swooped down or it might be the opposite, it’s as if the world was sobbing from the happiness that a great power has resurrected.
What appeared there was a knight covered with a tornado and adorning armors.
His right arm and both his shoulders were covered with silver armor. An exterior was formed around the short sword to form a long sword with splendid decorations.
Having activated his [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment] after 1 year, Tooi raised his right hand and pointed the long sword towards the Lectar army.
“Message to the Lectar’s military”
Tooi said that while looking towards the 2000 man army.
“What I am going to do now isn’t war. There is no justice and principles; this will just be a meaningless and valueless fight. This is not an invasion nor is this for defense; this is not a purge nor is this for revenge. What I am going to now is plainly to an act to vent out my anger”
He said those words clearly and so coldly.
“You don’t need to surrender or apologize. We will be on a rampage until we are satisfied and trample all over you l. I repeat. This is not a war. This is just an act to vent out my anger”
His eyes had a sharp glint similar to a blade.
“It’s not even worth treating you fuckers as my enemy, because of what you did to Ryura”
The words Tooi proudly said…..actually, the Lectar’s Military did not hear a single thing from him.
His surroundings were loud from the raging wind because he manifested his [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment]. The screaming hurricane erased every trace of his voice.
It’s quite embarrassing that his opponents did not hear the declaration he made with a serious face but, he has not noticed this fact at all.
The line he said with anger sadly disappeared into the wind without even reaching his opponents.
However.
In reality, words weren’t really needed.
The Lectar’s Military did not hear a single word Tooi said but, their hearts were controlled by shock, fear, and astonishment.
His appearance when he’s wearing the [Dues Alma] spoke more fluently of his dreadfulness than words.
An absolute presence that would overwhelm anyone that lays eyes on him.
So adorning, so beautiful and more importantly so divinely.
From the front to the rear, the whole army was equally terrified.
[……O-oi, what the heck is that] [Did he……have a contract with Ryura Vega?] [It’s a lie, how can a brat like that……..] [Because, isn’t Tooi Cross the only person that made a contract with that Deity……] [Wait just a second, then, doesn’t that means he’s----]
Everyone there started letting out words of bewilderment and the moment the army was about to fall into chaos,
“Don’t falter!”
Gaien shouted at the army.
“Tooi Cross defeated the [Demon King] 10 years ago! There’s no way that brat is Tooi Cross! Don’t be tricked by his appearance!”
With no knowledge about the [Tyrant Slayer]’s truth, the army agreed with the commander’s speculation.
“The Ryura Vega we saw is probably just another fake. He probably used a shapeshifting Spirit to make a flashy armor. No matter what, we don’t have the free time to play with that brat!”
With the profits in front of him blinding him, Gaien gave priority to knowledge and common sense instead of the absolute presence released by the young man in front, and made a convenient speculation for himself.
“Front line’s 3rd squad! Mow down the brat that made fun of our military!”
Following orders from their commander, the team on the front lines started taking action.
Their contract sprits possesed their military spears and created their [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment]’s charging spear and full armor set.
After lining up with swift movements, they started charging at their target the same time their leader gave the signal.
The group of giant spears ran on the battlefield with tremendous speed.
But, a few seconds later.
“----[TorbellinoWhirlwind]
The front line 3rd squad that dashed like an arrow piercing into the air, ended up flying up in the sky like scrap paper next.
Alua Schut was at loss of words when she saw the scenes from the gap of the trees.
She was told that she can go back but, it’s kind of irritating that she has to go back after coming so far and it’s kind of lonely that she’s left outside the comrade circle at the very end. What’s more, she wants to see a [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment] with her eyes so Tooi allowed her to watch the fight but she has to witness from the forest while hiding herself.
[Tyrant Slayer]’s fight.
No.
The event happening in front of her might not be a fight. It was too beautiful and elegant to be called a fight and, it was too one-sided.
The young man covered with silver armor was freely dashing around the battlefield.
As if he’s the gust of wind.
He completely beat down the approaching shouting troops.
“[BrisaBreeze]”
Countless swords of wind step forth and were dropped to the battlefield like the early-summer rain.
“[VentarronStrong Wind]”
The strong wind wrapped around the long sword to form a small storm. The giant sword of wind that has compressed the wind until its limits, easily sliced through the enemies’ equipment.
“[TornadoTornado]”
A tornado occurred around Tooi to disperse long ranged attacks such as arrows and bullets fixed with fire and lightning element Ethers; it then blew away the surrounding soldiers all together at once.
“[RaafagaSquall]”
Wind gathered everywhere in the sky, turned into countless arrows with power piercing effect before it was accurately launched towards the enemies weapons which are located far away from him.
And.
He then jumped into the crowded area with movements like the champion of the wind.
In response to the sudden appearance of a mysterious young man inside the camp, the Lectar military after a slight pause, all went in to attack him like a snowstorm but, the giant sword instantly sliced the air and drew a half moon.
“----[TormentaViolent storm]”
The violent wind, raged.
With one sweep.
As if to response to the blade that drew a circle, a torrent of wind danced around Tooi and completely eliminated the crowd.
[Tempesta SancionThe Sanction of the Violent Wind]
Just like the invisible wind, he nullified every single attack, just like a disaster, he destroyed everything there.
(It’s like a dance……)
Alua let out her admiration unintentionally.
His sword skills were heroic as a war god, and his body movements were beautiful as a fairy. She fell in love instead of fearing their fight which possesed both of those factors.
No matter what powerful moves the Lectar’s Military Spirit knights performed, no matter how perfect they make their formation, everything was useless.
Amusingly enough, the number of soldiers decreased.
One after another fell, as if this was a play with the victor and losers were decided from the start.
(Ah)
Noticed suddenly noticed something.
A weird phenomenon occurred in the battlefield.
The scenery she’s seeing right now was too beautiful to call a battlefield.
Even though it’s exhilarating, it’s not gruesome.
Even though it’s heroic, it’s not sad at all.
There was no hint of brutality and sadness; this was just entertainment of a single young man satisfyingly mowing down an army as if to personify the word 1 against 1000.
Even though he’s trampling over enemy soldiers with a tarrying power describe as the incarnation of violent wind, all of his attacks were all fixated on destroying the weapons. He accurately destroys the weapons which is used as the medium for the [Ray AlmaSpirit Equipment], and would pacify his enemies without causing any bodily harm.
(Tooi Onii-chan, is doing the same thing Ryura Vega has been----)
And.
“Do-don’t moveeeee!”
There was another person that noticed this at the same timing Alua did so too.
“Do-don’t move……don’t move. Do you know what would happen to this person if you don’t………!?”
Gaien pushed the short sword towards the female’s neck while saying that with a voice flowing with anxiousness. The woman that he held by the neck had a frightened expression and let out a shriek.
“………..uh!”
The raging wind stopped at that instant.
Tooi Cross, the incarnation of violent wind that no one could stop, halted his movements.
“………. Now you’ve done it”
Tooi mumbled with a click in his tongue and his expression was oozing with bitterness.
“……….Fu-fu-fuhahaha! I knew it! Fuhah. Hahahaha!”
Gaien laughed loudly while pointing his blade towards the hostage in his arms.
He’s using a hostage as his shield.
It’s not a plausible tactic but, it’s not rare. This is one of the conventional methods used in the battlefield and is too disgusting to even call it cowardly.
However, theirs was something weird in this situation.
And that’s, the choice of his hostage.
The person Gaien was pushing his blade towards to, was his female vice-officer.
To Tooi, she’s just another enemy that he is not acquainted with.
“…..Hii, Cap-captain Gaien…….wha-what are you…….”
Even though the female hostage tried to appeal to him, her superior did not even bat an eye. He was showering laughter of ridicule towards Tooi who’s in front of him.
“Fuhahaha! This is laughable! How can such a weird story like this exist! To think that this hostage would established!”
Of all things, Gaien threatened Tooi with a soldier from his country as a hostage. He pinioned the vice-officer who stood there as if to protect him, from behind and was pressing the blade on her neck.
“Apparently, the stories about Ryura Vega not killing her enemies were true. And, even you, who is able to use that monster’s power, don’t have the bravery to kill the enemy too……fuhahahaha! A brat that don’t have the determination to kill should not enter the battlefield”
He was using a soldier from his military as a hostage.
This is probably a bad plan to bet his ray of hope to, even for Gaien. This is his unavoidable last method since he has no other means to use in front of the incarnation of violent wind.
However, this tactic was displaying tremendous results.
To Tooi, who was controlling the battlefield to not allow any enemy deaths, this was the best tactic there is.
“……….you piece of shit”
Even though he disgustingly said that, Tooi could not do anything and was frozen in place.
“Woaah there, don’t more! I won’t allow you to control the wind! Try and make some weird moves! This woman will die!”
His threat echoed. Gaien pressed the short sword harder. It’s blade slightly cut her skin and caused blood to flow down the girl’s neck.
The no blood shed rule Tooi obstinately tried to prevent was broken in such a manner.
The girl shouted in an uninterpretable tone. Despair was shown in her eyes. However, Gaien did not stop. Blood flowed down and covered the blade as if it was squeezed out.
Or maybe, he might be thinking that it’s okay to kill her off.
There are many replacements even if he kills one.
Everyone in the army he commands can act as his hostage towards Tooi.
“Fuhahahahahahaha!”
Convinced on his victory, Gaien let out an offensive loud laugh.
In response, Tooi,
“………Fuuu”
He let out a small sigh.
It was a really bored sigh.
His eyes were terrifyingly cold.
He had thirsty eyes as if he was bored and completely lost all interest in him.
Those dark eyes were unimpressed and unemotional.
Gaien gasped after he saw Tooi, who looked at him as if he was looking at a really boring animal.
“Wha-what!? D-do you understand, what will happen to this hostage if----“
“I don’t really give a damn”
“Wha……..”
“I don’t care about what will happen to that stranger lady over there. For starters, she was trying to kill me like its normal just now you know. I have no reasons to save her”
Tooi said that plainly.
“Determination to kill……….i don’t have something that amazing in mind but, I don’t feel like protecting someone that tried to kill me”
“……………..”
Gaien became speechless. His expression which was distorted in joy just now was now in despair because the plan that he used to fix this hopeless situation ended in a failure.
“But----“
Tooi said.
Immediately, the [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment] he manifested turned into dusts of light and disappeared.
“This was to vent out my anger, not for war. Can’t help if I feel disgusted when I am venting out my anger”
There’s someone in the audience seat too after all.
Tooi said that after looking back at the forest behind for an instant,
Ryura appeared the same time his silver armor disappeared.
“Sorry, Ryura. About the after taste of this nasty ending”
“I don’t mind. I will only listen to Tooi”
After Tooi placed the Zodiac on his hips, he turned around and Ryura followed him.
As if everything ended, the both of them walked gallantly between the Lectar’s soldiers.
But.
Should this even be considered normal because, there’s no way things would end here.
“…………..D-don’t screw with meee! Oi, you bastards, do something!? Don’t let that brat get away!”
The enraged Gaien threw his rage to the surrounding Lectar soldiers.
A moment of hesitation appeared within the army. In response to how their superior used a vice officer as a hostage, they probably started to feel several doubts.
However in the end, they listened to their commander’s order due to their pride as military personals. They got into formation and formed a formation to capture Tooi from behind.
“You damn brat…… stay quiet and get captured. Try making any funny moves. You know what will happen right?”
Having reconfirmed the usefulness of having a hostage, Gaien send his words elatedly towards Tooi’s back. The blade he held was still pushed onto the hostage’s neck.
He was glaring at the short sword placed on the hip. He’s probably planning to kill the hostage the moment Tooi’s pull out the sword and activate the [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment].
At that moment, Tooi’s right hand moved.
He moved pass the sword on his hips which Gaien was staring at, and directed it to the pocket in his pants.
What he took out was a metallic silver oil lighter.
He opened the lip and lighted the cigarette he held with his mouth.
“Hmm? Did you smoke cigarette before?”
Maybe oblivious to the killing intents coming from behind, Ryura asked him casually. With the cigarette held between his left hand’s fingers, he lightly swung his head.
“Nope, I don’t smoke. Only lighting it. A cigarette won’t light up unless you suck it”
The impatient Lectar soldiers all attacked them while they were having a carefree conversation.
Right after.
Tooi flicked the cigarette he held with his left hand.
The cigarette was flicked off.
This action will probably give him a fine if this was Japan.
The lighted cigarette rode the wind and danced in the sky. While making traces of red, it reached to the space above the approaching Lectar soldiers.
Apparently, the soldiers noticed that too but, no one dodged it in fear of getting burned. Even swinging it away was a waste of time for them and they continued charging on the battlefield towards their target.
While not realizing what Tooi was plotting.
“---[Ignition]”
The Deity of [Violent Wind], Ryura Vega.
The controller of the air and wind flowing in the wind.
Intensity, speed, sharpness…….and density.
Basically, while possessing the power to control the wind in a grand scale to the level of a natural disaster, it is also possible for [Tempesta SancionThe Sanction of the Violent Wind] to precisely control the wind to atomic level.
He connected to the air as if to melt into it, perceive each and every microscopic sized atoms and controlled them.
He divided the gas from the atom’s property and disassembled the water to hydrogen and oxygen. He gathered and clumped all the combustible gas and further adjusted the oxygen concentration level.
Right before he released the [Deus AlmaDeity Equipment], Tooi set a [bomb] in the air.
All it needs left is a trigger to cause, the whole air to burn down.
BoomExplosion!
And.
The same time a bright light gushed out, an ear deafening explosion sounded.
The small flame he flicked off, was eaten by the prepared air before it combusted and caused a grand-scale explosion.
A giant explosion painted over the sky.
Since Tooi adjusted the firepower, the explosion did not directly burn the Lectar soldiers below but, they were blown away by the flaming shockwave and that made their formation to crumble miserably.
Of course, Gaien wasn’t an exception.
He lost the leisure to grab hold onto the hostage because of the unpredictable attack, and ended up rolling about the grass plain after being blown away by the sound of the explosion and the heatwave.
“…….uu-guuu! D-damn it……!”
By the time Gain managed to fix his posture and look up, a black sword was pushed onto his neck.
This was probably karma.
Just like how he used the female hostage just now.
“Hii”
Gaien’s expression stiffened up.
His body froze up after he saw the glowing blade and the young man looking down at him.
“…….You, bastard…….”
“You’re the commander right? Err……..hey, bearded old man whose name I don’t know”
“…..Wh-at……….?”
“Uuun…………what was it. I remember hearing your name but, I guess I forgot it. Aah, you don’t have to name yourself. I don’t feel like remembering it. I said this at the beginning but, I guess I’ll say it again since everything is settled”
Tooi told him.
“You guys weren’t even close to being my enemy”
His right arm flickered. He swung the short sword with fluid movements and lightly smacked the back of the man’s head with the handle. Gaien lost consciousness and fell onto the plain.
With a refreshed but still sad filled eyes, Tooi silently looked at the fainted commander.
With their commander gone, the soldiers started running away for their lives.
The army of 2000 Spirit knights, was forced to experience a miserable rout.
By a young man who was venting out his anger.
“……..err, Tooi, this is really hard to say”
After he put back the short sword to his hips and was about to walk off, Ryura got close to him out from nowhere.
“That bearded commander, had his hearing numbed because of the explosion you know”
“…….Eh? Wa-wait…..? Th-then, my voice……..”
“He probably did not hear what Tooi said. The finishing phrase you said with a serious face”
“……………”
“In the first place, the speech you expressed at the beginning of the battle did not reach the Lectar’s military because of the raging wind”
“Seriously!? Wai-wait just a second, Ryura….Then, is this it? The lines I said throughout this fight………..did not reach them at all?”
“Yes”
“………you’re joking”
“Ufufu. It’s okay, Tooi. Completely messing up your finishing phrase like this, is your cute part”
“………no, that’s not helping at all. That’s just pouring salt on my wounds.
Ryura was happily looking at Tooi’s depressed state. It was a gentle and lively atmosphere which seems impossible to imagine after a battle with an army of 2000.
They entered their own world without bothering about enemy and the losers.
Their surroundings were noisy because of the soldiers were busy running away but---to the two of them who remade their contract after a long time, this was none of their concerns.
